Merweville, Upper Karoo
For those who have not ventured into Merweville before, it is best described as: Edwardian dwellings meet the Gothic Merweville Moederkerk (mother church), in Hard Man's Karoo.
Set in the heart of possibly the driest part of the country, Merweville is all but dominated by its NG kerk, its imposing presence (the beams of the ceiling came from a shipwreck and the organ was built in Aberdeen, Scotland) all the more emphasised for its position on the slopes of Letterkop.
Far from flat, however, and despite the token rainfall of little more than 150 ml a year, this part of the northern Cape is a series of hills and valleys that seem to belie its aridness.
Lying north-west of the N1 where it meets the R353 east of Laingsburg, and south-west of Beaufort West, Merweville (or Mirville as the locals call it) sits in the gap between the Swart and Nuweveld mountains, the only water source the sometimes flowing, and somewhat distant, Buffels, Dwyka or Gamka Rivers. Hence the town's reliance on boreholes or windpumps, and the fact that few even pretend to farm here anymore.
Every road that leads into Merweville (there are several) is dirt, the sunburnt grit swept into eddies by cars that pass through. Few relate to this thirsty earth.
Don't assume all is muted stillness in Merweville. Word has it that the major annual event – the Dankfees – raises close to half a million for the church. And whilst nobody can claim the town is a Prince Albert in-the-making, the old-world charm and the few examples of Edwardian and Karoo-style homes make it worth a second glance.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
BakOond Cottage
Willemsrivier BakOond Cottage is a perfect little spot for a stay in Nieuwoudtville. The peaceful tranquillity of this unique farm life is all th...
Camp Nguni
Camp Nguni offers accommodation in a wildlife reserve and is the ideal place to visit for those wanting to explore the Karoo. The luxury accommod...
De Herberg Lodge
De Herberg Lodge is located in De Aar in the Northern Cape and offers accommodation for forty four guests. The lodge is a two hour drive from the...
Die Bankbestuurder
Die Bankbestuurder is a self-catering apartment the old Volkskas Bank, located in situated in Richmond, exactly halfway between Johannesburg and ...
Heydays Guesthouse
Heydays Guesthouse offers accommodation in Noupoort, a small Karoo town just off the N9 national route. The guest house offers picturesque mounta...
Papkuilsfontein Guest Farm
Soak up the peace and tranquility of this beautiful farm. Papkuilsfontein Farm, on top of a lovely plateau, nestles between the West Coast and Na...
Karoo Country House
Karoo Country Guesthouse in De Aar offers individually decorated guest rooms. The guest house is ideally situated in town centre, within close pr...
Karoo Rustigheid House
Karoo Rustigheid House is a self catering holiday house in Sutherland located on a farm in Roggeveld, 50km from the town. A quick getaway from th...
Wolskuur Cottage
Wolskuur was the original shearing barn of the Rogge Cloof farm, hence the name 'Wolskuur’ or ‘Woolshed’. The cottage is situated within the Rogg...
Noteworthy attractions
Karoo Gariep Conservancy
Karoo is a “quenna” word meaning “dry and hard”. Gariep is also a “quenna” word meaning “big water”or river. The Karoo Gariep Concervancy is foun...
Tankwa Karoo National Park
The 80 000 hectare Tankwa Karoo National Park, proclaimed in 1986 and still in a development stage, is at present in a veld recovery phase and it...
Gariep Dam Nature Reserve
The Free State's largest nature reserve is a combination of the 36 487 ha Gariep Dam on the Orange River and an 11 237 ha game sanctuary on its n...
Akkerendam Nature Reserve
Akkerdam Nature Reserve lies just outside the little town of Calvinia, which is found at the foot of the Hantam Mountain (mountain of the red bul...
Rolfontein Nature Reserve
Situated in the upper Karoo where an infinite sky and horizon seem to go on without end, the Rolfontein Nature Reserve is found roughly 16 kilome...
Doornkloof Nature Reserve
Lying peacefully in the mountainous upper Karoo of the Northern Cape, just outside the little town of Colesberg, Doornkloof Nature Reserve is pos...
Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve
Just 10 kilometres outside of the little town of Nieuwoudtville, between the towns of Van Rhynsdorp and Calvinia, lies the Oorlogskloof (war gorg...
Hantam National Botanical Garden
Established in 2007, the Hantam National Botanical Garden lies on the Bokkeveld Plateau just outside the town of Nieuwoudtville. It is regarded a...
Molteno Pass
Said to be South Africa's first mountain pass, Molteno Pass links Beaufort West to Loxton, in effect joining the oldest town in the area to the N...
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