Visit George Archives - TRAVELBUCKET

DAY TRIP FROM GEORGE: COAST TO KAROO

Ready to experience something different for a day? It is time to escape to the slow life of the Karoo! Starting from George take the N12 towards Oudtshoorn. As you drive up the Outeniqua Pass enjoy the soft green folds of the mountains, because soon you will leave it behind you. Once you have reached the top of the pass and descend on the other side into the Waboomskraal valley the Klein Karoo slowly unfolds all its secrets. Take the Oudtshoorn turn-off as soon as you exit the Waboomskraal valley. As you approach Oudtshoorn you will notice the blue haze of the Swartberg mountains on the horizon. In winter it will be dusted with some snow and in summer the fynbos will be in full bloom. There are several things to do in and around the town of Oudtshoorn, but we will be heading to Prince Albert via the Swartberg… Read more >

A DAY HIKE IN WABOOMSKRAAL

As you approach from Oudtshoorn you will traverse a beautiful valley surrounded by the Outeniqua mountains where hops are grown. The name of this valley is Waboomskraal. It is home to about 75% of South Africa’s hops farms. There is a lesser known hiking trail called “Doringrivier” that takes you all the way to the Ronbinson Pass, which connects Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn, but today we only planned to take a shorter day hike up and over the mountains to a nearby trig beacon. Just as well, because with my unfit state I will never be able to complete a strenuous hike of 50 kilometres. Even the hike to the trig beacon is uphill all the time. (Remember that a trig beacon is normally at the highest point on a mountain!). Reading a description of the hike they mentioned that you can maybe see klipspringer, grey rhebuck, leopard and also… Read more >

THE OLD TOLL HOUSE, GEORGE

Are you wondering what to do in George on a wet or beautiful sunny Saturday morning? We took the gravel road up the historic Montagu Pass. – It is one of the four passes that traverse the Outeniqua mountains. You will stumble upon the old Toll House. The gravel road leads up the 8km long pass and is signposted from the N12 towards Oudtshoorn. Starting from the George side and travelling up the incline, it is the first and only building that you come across. Until the building of the Outeniqua pass as we know it today, the Montagu pass was the main route between Cape Town and Grahamstown. The Toll House dates back to the year 1855. According to old records the toll was as follow: a whopping two pennies per wheel a penny per draft animal two pennies for losloop animals and half a penny for each sheep,… Read more >

GEORGE – A PERFECT DESTINATION

LOOK OUT FOR THOSE GOLDEN OLDIES Do you like golden oldies with a story? Then this is just what you were looking for at Mauritz Lammers Antiques. From crockery brick-a-brac to stately old furniture and much loved books. Take your time to marvel at all the pieces on display and take some home if you wish. You just might find something that you like here. A good place to keep you busy on those unexpected rainy days. Where? On the N2 opposite the Sasol garage Kraaibosch, George. THE OLD TOLL HOUSE ON THE MONTAGU PASS This is a historic building that was lovingly restored by some local enthusiasts and also the very first toll road in the Garden Route. On a Saturday morning you can have pancakes and coffee to support a worthy cause. What to see? Admire the lush green mountainside and… Read more >

THE OLD DROSTDY, GEORGE

The story around the drostdy situated at the roundabout at the top end of York Street goes like this: apparently it was completed in 1815 to provide a residence and office for the first magistrate of George, Adriaan van Kervel. However, I could not find any confirmation in the history records of the exact date of completion. Then in 1826 when the second magistrate (Van der Riet) and his family was on holiday disaster struck. Nearly the whole building was destroyed in a fire, but some parts could be saved and it was rebuilt. History states that in 1897 the building was turned into a boarding house and in 1903 it took another change to become the Victoria Hotel which apparently served famous pub lunches. Meanwhile Charles Sayers started a museum in a rented room in Courtney Street. The museum quickly expanded due to generous donations and moved to the Old… Read more >

AUTUMN

Autumn must be my favourite time of the year! I love the rich tones of autumn, the leaves silently falling to the ground and forming a thik carpet and the rustling of the leaves when the dogs walk over it. In South Africa we have a tendency to rake up all the leaves – which my Malawian gardener is very good at by the way – to have a spotless garden in contrast to the European style where you get a leaf wonderland in autumn. Although I am a hardy South African I rather prefer the European image of a picture dotted with beautiful leafs. Winter is slowly creeping in on us. The days are getting shorter and chillier. Very soon it will be time to get the fire going in the hearth, tuck in with a glass of red wine and a nice book. —oOO— Autumn is a second… Read more >

HISTORIESE GEORGE

Die storie van George, wat na King George III vernoem is, begin reeds op 23 April 1811. Ek begin stap in Yorkstraat, wat vernoem is na die Duke of York en tweede seun van King Geroge III, by die Old Town House. Dit is reeds in 1847 opgerig en het eers die George Museum gehuisves, maar vandag dien dit as restaurant. Dan 100 jaar later in 1911 word daar op die hoek van Mark- en Hiberniastrate, ‘n gedenksaal opgerig wat vandag die Ingenieurs Departement van die George Munisipaliteit huisves. Ek kruis die straat en stap na die witgeverfde Poskantoor met sy mooi houtdeure en kenmerkende rooi posbusse. Nie net is dit in 1948 voltooi, maar spog ook met ‘n hout kloktoring. Dan verder op in die straat kry ek onverwags, agter mooi ysterhekke in ‘n lowergroen tuin, ‘n glimps van die statige Bishops Lea, huis van die Diocese of George…. Read more >

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