De Rust, Karoo
The quaint little Victorian town of De Rust, on Route 62, is conveniently positioned at the southern entrance to Meiringspoort - a magnificent gorge through the Swartberg Mountain Range - and just a few kilometres from Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the country.
De Rust might be small but it is charming and has become something of a haven for artists and is famous for its dessert wines and cheeses. The area, though sometimes dusty and hot, is malaria-free, safe and boasts a fantastic climate with perfect summers and gorgeous winter days, with the chill factor striking only in the evenings. The streets are tree-lined and host to a number of wonderful examples of late 19th century architecture and the town’s drinking water comes from a mountain spring, which residents claim far surpasses that of bottled water. A visit to De Rust would be incomplete if it didn’t include a stop at Tolbos Trading where Ilse Pringle takes ordinary sheets of glass and turns them into enchanting bits and pieces.
Whilst the resort tends to get very busy during school holidays, it is a wonderful escape out of season and the picnic spots are clean and well looked after all year round. The great waterfall, in particular, makes a wonderful picnic backdrop.
And if you’re still short of things to do, then Red Hills, on Rietvlei farm just a few kilometres outside of De Rust, is a Natural Heritage site with red coloured open caves and something of a unique experience. This is the only spot in the world where conglomerate stone enon appears above the earth and a hiking trail on the farm allows you to explore the phenomenon.
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Featured Attractions in (or near) De Rust
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
Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
Lying in the Little Karoo is the remote Gamka mountain range, isolated because of the conduit of the Gouritz River that slices between the Gamkaberg, and its nearest neighbour, the Rooiberg. The Gamkaberg Nature Reserve encompasses almost the whole mountain range, established in 1974 to ... more information
Kammanassie Nature Reserve
Lying in the Little Karoo between the Swartberg and Outeniqua Mountains, lies an inselberg or monadnock - an isolated hill or small mountain that rises abruptly from the surrounding plain - called Kammanassie Mountain. The entire mountain catchment area, and a large portion of state land, make up almost ... 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
Meiringspoort
Soaring cliff walls with spectacular rock formations line the 25 km tarred road which winds along the floor of the gorge, crossing the Groot River 25 times. Entry to the poort is via Klaarstroom, 55 kms east of Prince Albert en route to Oudtshoorn and the coast. Hardy plants cling to the precarious ... 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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Events and/or Festivals in De Rust
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On Holiday in De Rust
• De Rust Accommodation
• De Rust Guest Houses
• Karoo Accommodation
• Karoo Guest Houses
• Western Cape Accommodation
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