Oudtshoorn Archives - TRAVELBUCKET

HELL ON TWO-WHEELS

by Inge Triegaardt I was just out of school when the unexpected happened. I was getting ready to go to university and become a chic business woman, when I woke up one day and my adventurous father decided to spoil me with an old Yamaha 250XT scrambler. Gone were the days of working so hard to get rid of my sporty, tomboyish style and wearing my high-heels (which I never managed to master anyway) were put on hold. I was all to happy to follow in the footsteps of my forefathers. Exploration and traveling was in my blood, I was born that way. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity and nothing could stop me. I was going to ride around the world with the wind in my hair and not a care in the world. Dad started out with lessons in safety and responsibility (doing his parental duties),… Read more >

KAROOBOOM

Hit the road and pay this establishment on the famous Route 62 a visit. Driving in the direction of Cape Town it is approximately 33 km from the ostrich town of Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo on your left-hand side. When you see this old car you know you have found it. Coordinates: 33°33’24.8″S 21°53’07.2″E It was a nice and interesting Sunday morning breakfast run with the Garden Route BMW Motorcycle Club which ended at the Karooboom. The wind was really huffing and puffing when we left George along the Outeniqua pass where we had to hold on to the bikes. As soon as we reached the Waboomskraal valley the wind subsided and it was just a beautiful Karoo day. Today we followed the back roads via Kandelaarsrivier and De Hoop and so did the rain clouds. As we pulled in at Karooboom the heavens opened on us – time… Read more >

DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH VOLMOED

Just outside the town of Oudtshoorn you will find the settlement of Volmoed adorned with a beautiful sandstone church with an interesting history. The architect of this masterpiece is Watson Hall (1876 – 1941) and was ”compelled to come to South Africa for his health” arriving in Cape Town in 1897 at the age of 21. He first worked as an assistant in the famous Sir Herbert Baker’s office in Cape Town before he became an assistant in John Parker’s office in Cape Town. He lived in Claremont since his arrival in 1897 until his departure to Oudtshoorn in 1908 where he practised until 1920. In 1910 Hall won a competition for the Dutch Reformed Church in Calitzdorp but “owing to the dissatisfaction expressed by the congregation” the job went to the second prize winner, Wynand Louw. During 1920, at the age of 44, Watson Hall returned to Claremont. At… Read more >

GAMKABERG NATURE RESERVE

What do you do for a summer holiday break? Well we planned a camping trip to Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, tucked away in the mountains between Oudtshoorn and Calitzdorp, where the summer temperature easily soars to 40˚ C during summer. Arriving at reception and while checking in with the helpful staff I glanced at the visitors book and noticed that we were the first campers in over a week. Really not a favoured destination for the summer holidays! After buying wood from Willem at reception we set off via the 4×4 trail climbing up Lawsons Pass to Bakenskop at 1105 meter (which were our highest elevation) to enjoy lunch in the cool breeze and enjoy the views from the top. Arriving at Oukraal we found that the facilities really exceeded all our expectations. The camping huts and stone shelter, providing cover against the relentless sun, were spotlessly… Read more >

LIVINGSTONE AND STANLEY

While all wrapped up in winter woollies we traversed the Outeniqua pass towards Oudtshoorn before sunrise. Our aim for the day was Minwater 4×4 (owned by Louis Jordaan) near Oudtshoorn with Livingstone the Landy accompanied by Stanley (the coffee flask) – two true explorers side by side! As the sun was starting to lift its head there was time for a quick early morning cup of coffee and a rusk with Stanley providing the hot water source. It was on the chilly side so we did not linger long before we continued the drive. The sun was slow to rise and the shadows cold and deep. We had breakfast while the fog was still hanging low over Oudtshoorn and the valley down below. What a privilege to live in Africa and enjoy life from the window of your old Land Rover. We all enjoyed a nice day out in… Read more >

ROAD TRIPPING TO PRINCE ALBERT

Today is the first day of 2015 – a new year full of surprises, laughter, fun and hopefully interesting travels that awaits. We set off in George at a leisurely pace with clear blue skies, travel over the Outeniqua Pass via Oudtshoorn and aim for Prince Albert on the other side of the Swartberg Mountains. The road is quiet. I think the people are recovering from the New Year’s parties … Once over the Outeniqua Pass the temperature rises to 31 degrees Celsius in the Klein Karoo. It has been quite a while since I last traveled the iconic Swartberg pass, a gravel road, on the R328 but as all the previous times we were rewarded with stunning views of the mountains and yet again I am in awe of the skills of Thomas Baines – son of the famous Andrew Geddes Baines who built Bain’s Kloof Pass and many… Read more >

‘n BESOEK AAN OUDSTHOORN

Vandag moes ek weer ‘n paar uur in die Klein Karoo spandeer en het ek my ma in die ouetehuis gaan haal om die dorp te gaan verken. My roete vat my eers tot by die Rooms Katolieke Katedraal net so ‘n entjie vanaf Nostalgie en Gotland Huis. In vergelyking met die glorieryke standsteen geboue is die katedraal wat in 1964 gebou is nie baie indrukwekkend nie. (Ek het vandag eers uitgevind daar is ‘n Rooms Katolieke Katedraal op die dorp). Ek het begin oplees oor die geskiedenis van Oudtshoorn en vind toe uit dat daar ongeveer 100 Joodse gesinne in 1877 hierheen gevlug het tydens die Russies-Turkse oorlog – meestal vanuit Lithuania wat op daardie stadium ‘n Russiese provinsie was. Vandaar dat die sinagoge in Baron van Reedestraat in 1881 opgerig is met die hulp van die Afrikaanssprekende gemeenskap van Oudsthoorn. Die sinagoge is vandag nog in gebruik en… Read more >

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