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Things to Do and See
Self-drive visitors to Leipoldt's Country Retreat can visit places of interest in the area on their own, or can alternatively choose from a number of tour options suggested by the hosts.
- Towns (Within 100 kilometres)
Although the Dutch discovered and explored this area within ten years of their 1652 arrival, the first colonials settled in the Olifants River Valley in 1725. The town was named Clanwilliam in 1814 by governor Sir John Cradock to honour his father-in-law, the Earl of Clanwilliam.
- The old Magistrate's Court (1808),
- The Dutch Reformed Church (1864)
- The Old Gaol (1808), which houses the Museum and Publicity Office.
- Anglican Church (1867) and cemetery.
- Die Kunshuis Art Gallery.
- Englishman's Grave and Leipoldt's Grave.
- Rooibos Tea Natural Products. Tours Mon-Thurs 10h00, 12h00, 14h00, 16h00, Fri 10h00, 12h00 and 14h00. Closed Sat & Sun. Tel (027) 482 2155/6.
- Strassberger Velskoen Factory
- Wild Flower Show over 10 days at the end of August and beginning of September.
- The Erf, the oldest farm house in the area.
- The Irish Settler House.
- Historical Walk
- Rock Art Hike
- Clanwilliam dam is known as the best dam in the Western Cape for water skiing and angling competitions are popular.
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Eland's Bay (20 km from the retreat)
'Elands' is a popular seaside resort well known for its delectable sea cuisine and for the natural wonders of Verlorenvlei situated between Elandsbaai and Redelinghuys; a bird watchers paradise and home to over 240 species of wild bird. Due to the variety of soils in the area, the wild flower displays in Spring are breathtaking.
The resort is also an ideal spot for Whale and Dolphin watching.
It is also an ideal location for both salt and fresh water angling, for which a license is required and can be obtained from the Post Office or Police Station at a nominal fee.
For the young-of-body-and-soul, it is a surfer's paradise and in season, one can also dive for Crayfish, subject to strict quotas. A license is also required for Crayfish diving..
Species The whale species one can most expect to see in this area are:
- Southern Right Whales - Viewing July to November
- Humback Whales - viewing July to September.
- Bryde’s Whales - viewing .
The most commonly seen dolphins include Heaviside’s, Dusky and Common Dolphins.
Heavyside's dolphins are limited to the west coast of South Africa.
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In 1910, Graafwater was built as a railway junction between Cape Town and Bitterfontein. Later, the local church congregation developed the town.
- Heerenlogement. Oloff Bergh discovered this cave on his first expedition to find copper.
- Oloff Bergh Stone. On Klipfontein Farm, 25km from Graafwater and 10km southeast of Heerenlogement.
- Zink Blockhouse on the farm Graafwaterplaas, built by the British Army during the South African War.
- De Jongh family Private Museum, on Mr. Erhard de Jongh’s farm Klipfontein. Visitors are welcome to come and view the museum by arrangement. This museum is situated close to the Heerenlogement-cave and Oloff Berg- fountain.
- There is a sandstone mine on the farm, Lambertshoek, on the Jakkelsvlei-road, 25km from Graafwater. Four colours of sandstone are currently being mined there. Tours can be arranged.
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Lamberts Bay (35 km from the retreat)
The fishing village of Lamberts Bay is one in a chain of West Coast villages whose natural harbour has been developed slowly over the years. The most valuable catch is Rock Lobster or Crayfish as it is called in South Africa. Other catches include anchovies, pilchards and long thin silvery snoek (of the barracuda family), and are either canned or processed into meal and oil.
INTERESTING FACTS The area was known as Otterdam until 1913 when Lambert's Bay was proclaimed and the first plots were sold. The town was named after a former British admiral, Sir Robert Lambert,who surveyed the coastline for the Royal British Navy between 1826 and 1840.
During the Anglo-Boer war British ships often visit the area and in 1901 the British gunboat, the "Sybille", ran aground at Steenboksfontein.
Salvaged items can be seen at the museum in Lambert's Bay and at the "Plaaskombuis" restaurant at Steenboksfontein.
Places To Visit
Sandveld Museum, depicts the history and lifestyle from the first settlers, the true pioneers who tried to tame the rugged west coast of South Africa. At Wadrift, a farm about 12km from Lambert's Bay, you will see memorabilia as old as 200 years, including a lock and key manufactured of wood, and get an idea of how people then lived. Linked to the shore by a breakwater is ‘Bird Island’, a massive slab of rock colonised by thousands of penguins, cormorants and cape gannets. A hide has been strategically placed for good viewing of this colony which produces over 300 tons of guano each year. Whale and dolphin watching. The world renowned Muisboskerm open air restaurant is a must for any visitor to the area. Lamberts Bay is also a breeding colony for mountain tortoises. English cemetery. A house built completely of whale bones can be seen at Wadrift. Steenboksfontein, An artists commune and gallery is also well worth a visit. Hiking trails, 4x4 routes, sand skiing and a 9 hole golf course are also available.
Wild flowers in season.
The picturesque village of Doringbaai is 8 kilometers from Strandfontein. Before the town was developed, the bay was used as an anchorage on the trade route, where supplies were offloaded and were transported to Van Rhynsdorp by camel.The town owes its existence to the crayfish industry and a view of the crayfish factory and of the harbour forms an indelible impression. The lighthouse is a beacon for fishermen and tourist alike.
This picturesque holiday and retirement village is located at the mouth of the Olifants river and provides a breathtaking view of the ocean.
Bird Island at Lambert's Bay is an important breeding site for Cape Gannets and the mass of birds that congregate there, is an amazing sight. The island is also important for the other marine birds such as African Penguins, Kep Gulls, Hartlaub's Gulls, White-breasted Cormorant and Common Tern. It is linked to the shore by a breakwater connected to the harbour and is therefore easily accessible to the public.The viewing platform on the Island has recently been replaced with a state of the art sunken hide, designed to blend in with the rocks of the area and is situated in such a way as to allow the colony to expand.
Another treat awaits bird watchers when the Jakkals River is in flood, and thousands of migrant water birds flock together on the serene waters of the vlei, to add even more colour to this already splendid little village
Verlorenvlei, Elandsbay
 A view of Elandsbay with Verlorenvlei stretching into the distance |
Verlorenvlei stretches from Elandsbay to Redelinghuys and is home to over 240 species of wild bird. |
The Cederberg Wilderness Area covers an area of approximately 71 000ha and is situated south of Clanwilliam. It derives its name from the numerous cedar trees that grow in the area, some of which are more than 1000 years old.
- Hiking trails.
- Home to various rare plant species such as the Clanwilliam Cedar and the Snowball Protea.
- Presently the only leopard conservation area in the country.
- Unique rock formations include the Wolfberg Arch, Townhall caves, Soldier's head, Maltese Cross, Lot's wife, Cedarberg wine cellar, etc..
- The Ramskop Nature Garden is home to countless endemic wild flower species and is open during August to October.
Rock art
4X4 routes, bowls, fishing, golf at an 18 hole course in Clanwilliam or a 9 hole course in Lamberts bay, hiking, horse riding, jogging, mountain biking, road running, , squash, tennis, trimgym, and water sports
The West Coast is transformed into a floral paradise during the months of August, September and October. A diverse range of flora can be seen in the National Park, Nature Reserves, Nature Gardens and along the roadsides. In early spring white arum lilies sweep the natural folds of hills and gentle breezes move softly through fields of daisies, as bokbaai vygies form a sea of colour contrasting with the blue of the ocean. To the north a unique vast, pebble-covered plain is home to indigenous and rare succulents. The slopes of the mountains and the areas closer to the coast boasts a large number of fynbos fine leaved species.
The Olifant's River Wine Region is currently represented by eight cellars producing wine under varied climatic and soil conditions. By staying abreast with state-of-the-art equipment and continually striving to improve their products, all the cellars have already positioned themselves well on the local and overseas wine market. The Olifant's River Wine Route is a 200km spectacular stretch of varying beauty and dramatic contrasts which make a visit worthwhile. The Olifant's River – life-giving artery of this fertile valley is ultimately associated with the breathtaking Cederberg Mountains, the unspoilt West Coast and the Namaqualand flower paradise.
- Cederberg Cellars
- Goue Vallei
- Klawer Winery
- Lutzville Vineyards
- Spruitdrift Winery
- Stoumann's
- Trawal Wine Cellar
- Vredendal Winery
| THE DUNES(20 km from
the retreat) ( A giant sandpit to play in)
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BIEDOUW(100 km from
the retreat)
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WUPPERTHAL (120 km
from the retreat)
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KROMRIVIER(130 km
from the retreat)
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Copyright 2002/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10 Leipoldt's Country
Retreat This page was last updated on the 10 October 2010 |
