Norvalspont, Upper Karoo
Norvalspont, as the word 'pont' in its name suggests (a pont is a ferry boat or punt), lies on the southern banks of the Orange River minutes from the Gariep Dam. It is also really close to the border of the Northern Cape with the Eastern Cape, and the border of the Northern Cape with the Free State.
The town lies 39 kilometres from its nearest neighbour, Colesberg, to which it is connected by the R58. It is a pretty town surrounded by hills on a particularly beautiful section of the Orange River, with the Bethulie hills forming the skyline.
Because of all the water, and its position, Norvalspont is also the site of two historic bridges that bring rail and road into town. The reason for the town's existence goes back to the 1840s when John Norval, from Scotland, started a ferry service across the Orange River (we are talking a rather wide river), naming the pont service 'Glasgow' after the town from which he originated.
Interestingly, today there is a Facebook group dedicated to studying the genealogical research of the Norval family, focusing on Scotland and South Africa.
Norvalspont was also the site of a British concentration camp during the South African War of 1900 to 1902, one which Emily Hobhouse visited and wrote about extensively. It took on the overflow from what was a rather overcrowded Bloemfontein camp with a grave shortage of water. There is a memorial that one can visit today.
Nearby Colesberg is regarded as the halfway mark on the N1 between Cape Town and Johannesburg, deep in the heart of the Karoo.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Willemsrivier PersKussing
PersKussing is a two-bedroom farm cottage in Nieuwoudtville sleeping four guests. The bedrooms are furnished with two three-quarter beds. The roo...
The Artist Cottage
The Artist Cottage is a cosy two bedroom house found in the lovely area of Sutherland. This peaceful area is popular for star gazing, snowy winte...
De Lange Lodge
De Lange Lodge is situated in a small but warm (literally) and friendly town De Aar, in the Northern Cape. De Aar is the second-most important ra...
Boutique Guesthouse De Aar
The Boutique Guesthouse De Aar is a unique trendy guesthouse offering luxurious accommodation in De Aar, where you will find a number of exciting...
Chargo Boutique Lodge
Chargo Game Reserve and Lodge is a property with high hospitality standards that will leave you with a mesmerising experience, our home cooked me...
MuggefonteinKaroo
Offering self catering accommodation, Muggefontein is a working merino wool sheep and olive farm, situated on the R353 and a mere 40km from Frase...
Heydays Guesthouse
Heydays Guesthouse offers accommodation in Noupoort, a small Karoo town just off the N9 national route. The guest house offers picturesque mounta...
The Cedar Cottage
Cedar Cottage in Sutherland is located at an altitude of between 1400 to 1700 metres, with magnificent clear skies and expansive plains, Rogge Cl...
Karos Gastehuis
Karos Guest House offers luxury accommodation and genuine country hospitality. The guest house is located in the quaint town of Loxton in the hea...
Things to do in the area
Gariep Dam MTB Trails
Where: Gariep Dam Forever Resorts, near Venterstad or NorvalspontLevel: easy; trails for family on gravel roadsType of route: various out and bac...
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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