Calitzdorp, Karoo
Once you've booked your Calitzdorp accommodation explore our pages for info on attractions and what to do in Calitzdorp.
The typical little Karoo town of Calitzdorp lies on Route 62, about four hours drive from Cape Town and roughly half way to Port Elizabeth. Calitzdorp is renowned in its own right for a number of reasons, not least of which is its bona fide Klein Karoo character.
The Klein Karoo is a gorgeous part of the Cape Floral Kingdom that functions as something of a mini desert - sparse, dry and arid countryside interjected by surprisingly fertile valleys, through which mountain streams meander to provide a source of water for the surprising amount of fruit grown in the area. Calitzdorp’s beauty is also largely attributable to the fact that it is bounded on three sides by mountain ranges - the Swartberg, the Rooiberge and the mountains of the Huisrivier Pass - that shelter the town and add to its character.
Queen Street is one of the oldest streets in town and begs a stroll to properly absorb the number of Edwardian and Victorian, and Karoo style buildings heavily influenced by English architecture. There are walking trails in the Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, the Redstone Hills and at Retreat at Groenfontein, and birding in the hillsides and the areas fynbos is more than rewarding.
Additional Reading
For more info see our article "Exploring Calitzdorp in South Africa's Karoo".
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Calitzdorp Reviews
"If you are travelling along the Cape Route 62 - then do yourself a favour and stay the night in Calitzdorp.
The stay allowed us to enjoy what the region is ..." - Mandy Johnson, Cape Town
Visitorials: We Love South Africa
Calitzdorp Visitorial
I Love Calitzdorp because ...
Featured in: Visitorials: We Love South Africa
We’ve asked those in the know to share their favourites things about Calitzdorp. Find out where locals go for the best cup of coffee, lunch suggestions and much more. We’re letting you in on all of their secrets ... I Love Calitzdorp because ...
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Featured Attractions in (or near) Calitzdorp
Anysberg Nature Reserve
Anysberg Nature Reserve lies in the Little Karoo between Ladismith, Laingsburg, Touwsrivier and Montagu, and is approximately four hours drive from Cape Town. The Anysberg reserve offers the visitor some of the most striking scenery in the Karoo as well as fascinating wildlife and plants and various ... more information
Bontebok National Park
Sheltered by the Langeberg Mountains and bordered to the south by the Breede River, the Bontebok National Park provides a refuge for not only bontebok, but also for other species such as the Cape mountain zebra, red hartebeest and grey rhebok. The park is situated within the Cape Floral ... more information
Cango Caves
Almost 30 kilometres outside of Outshoorn in the Klein Karoo, and certainly one of the main reasons for placing this little town on your itinerary, other than the prospect of riding an ostrich, lie the Cango Caves, some of the biggest stalagmite formations in the world set in Precambrian times ... more information
Gamkapoort Nature Reserve
Gamkapoort Nature Reserve lies to the north of the Swartberg Nature Reserve, whilst Towerkop Nature Reserve lies to the west. Together, they form part of the Greater Swartberg Protected Area, a World Heritage Site that lies between the Great and Little Karoos. This part of the Karoo is a huge swathe of mountainous ... more information
Gouritz Biodiversity Meander
The Gouritz Biodiversity Meander lies in the heart of the Succulent Karoo. It runs along the foot of the Swartberg Mountain Range, a World Heritage Site in its own right, and follows the Swartberg-Gamka-Rooiberg biodiversity corridor – an area incredibly significant in terms of ... more information
Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden
In Roux Road on the outskirts of Worcester, some 120 kilometres from Cape Town, lies a unique gem of a garden - the only truly succulent garden in the southern hemisphere, and indeed Africa, that displays one of the largest collection of indigenous succulents in South Africa. 155 hectares of ... more information
Klein Karoo Wine Estates
The dry, harsh conditions of the Klein Karoo are actually ideal for the production of excellent wines. The summers are very hot and dry, while winters can hit major lows. The range of wines produced here is extremely varied as a result of this unique climate, and includes many wonderful ... more information
Little Karoo Wine Route
A little surprising, perhaps - that grapes can grow in a semi-arid area - but grow they do in this region, renowned for its extremes in soils and climate. Despite the low rainfall for the area, viticulture happens in the riverine sites, kloofs and valleys of its spectacularly rugged mountains and produces ... more information
Rooiberg Pass
The beautiful Rooiberg Pass lies within the Rooiberg Conservancy, a 60 000 hectare mountainous area in the Klein Karoo. This conservancy in turn forms part of the Gouritz Biodiversity Meander, which aims to conserve this incredible meeting place of three biomes, one of only 35 biodiversity hot spots in the world ... more information
Route 62
Route 62 is modeled after the iconic US Route 66, made famous by the late, great Nat King Cole in the song of the mid 20th century. Travelers headed for the Garden Route will find that Route 62 offers a better alternative to the dull N2 motorway between Cape Town and George, being more scenic and ... more information
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Things To Do in Calitzdorp
Axe Hill
Where: Calitzdorp
How much (per person): On Request
Tony Mossop and his wife Lyn started Axe Hill on the outer regions of Calitzdrop in 1993. The name comes from stone hand tools which were fo ... more information
Withoek Wine Farm
Where: Calitzdorp
How much (per person): R1 to R100
The Withoek Wine Farm consists of 50 hectares of land and just over half of that (27 hectares) is vineyards. The vines are mainly Hanepoort ... more information
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Restaurants in Calitzdorp
The Red Coffee Pot
Where: Calitzdorp
The Red Coffee Pot is a small unlicensed restaurant and coffee shop situated in Vortrekker Street in Calitzdorp on the delightful Route 62, longest Wine Route in the world. The Red Coffee Pot serves b ... more information
Visit the 'What Not Shop'
Where: Calitzdorp
Visit the "What Not Shop" in Calitzdorp on the famous Route 62. It's an adventure of discovery - "what not can be found". With an amazing array of trinkets, souvenirs, accessories, clothing, hats, ... more information
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Events and/or Festivals in Calitzdorp
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