Calitzdorp, Karoo

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Calitzdorp, Karoo

Calitzdorp
Calitzdorp, Klein 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.

Near Calitzdorp, Klein Karoo
But Calitzdorp is probably most well recognized for its production of some of the country’s best port wines due largely to the hot, dry climate regarded as similar to the Duoiro valley in Portugal. Vines apparently struggle to ripen here, which, contrary to expectation, actually results in a grape with an aroma-intensity and depth that is key to port making.

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

average visitor rating: 4/5"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

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Visitorials: We Love South Africa

Calitzdorp Visitorial

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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

event starts: 24 November 2013
November
TBC

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