Eendkuil, Swartland
Eendekuil lies in a valley not even half an hour's drive north west of Piketberg, in the northerly reaches of the Swartland (translated directly to mean 'black land' for the rhenosterveld found in the area).
Scenically, the valley is beautiful. Stands of yellow lupin leap into bloom during spring, whilst the Olifants River Mountains and Piketberg surround Eendekuil, giving it views that are worthy of any little wineland town.
As towns go, though, Eendekuil is small. Its major function is as a small rail centre. And, despite its size, it plays a significant role in the citrus industry as the station closest to the farms around Citrusdal (almost due west of Eendekuil - give or take a mountain pass). There is also a bus service between Citrusdal and Eendekuil.
Eendekuil also has its own hotel, originally built in 1900 (and then rebuilt in 1952), a well-known watering hole for Wild Dog Adventure Bikers.
Its name does have something to do with ducks (for those who don't speak Afrikaans, 'eend' is a duck) and refers to the huge numbers of water birds, particularly wild ducks, that use the stretches of the Verlorenvlei and Kruismans rivers that drain the Eendekuil basin.
Bird watching in the valley is of the best in the area.
Once upon a time Eendekuil produced fairly good cheeses at its Zebraskop Co-operative cheese factory. But several cheese factory mergers later, it no longer functions and locals get most of their work on citrus farms in the area.
Eendekuil does have its own annual gymkhana and a bicycle trail. And Winkelshoek wine cellar (producing wine from its farms Schenkfontein and Kliprivier) is worth a stop to sample their brandy, and wines.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Porterville Stay Cottage
Once used as stabling for oxen and horses in the early 1900's, Porterville Stay Cottage is a beautiful old building that has been lovingly renova...
Abbotts Hill
Abbotts Hill is a farmhouse on top of a hill, surrounded by vines and views of the rolling valleys in Swartland. Love yourself. Spoil yourself wi...
Highlands Eco Estate
Situated atop the picturesque Piketberg mountain in the Western Cape, surrounded by tranquil countryside, you'll find Highlands Eco Estate. The s...
Honey Badger at Fynbos Estate
Honey Badger Cottage is a large farm cottage 200 metres from the Farmhouse. The estate offers wonderful food and wine and a relaxed and easy atmo...
Merindol Manor
Merindol Manor is one of the oldest houses in the Valley. All rooms at Merindol Manor have a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Views of th...
Red Tin Roof
Red Tin Roof is one of the grand old dames of the valley; a 100-and-something year old manor house that guards Riebeek Kasteel's south eastern en...
Klipdrift Farm Stay
Klipdrift Farm Stay offers self catering Swartland accommodation on a working farm. It is located 16km outside of Riebeeck West, in the Swartland...
Blou Porselein Guestfarm
Blou Porselein Guestfarm offers comfortable self catering accommodation in two units on a working farm. Choose from our 6 sleeper Blou Porselein ...
Rockhaven Farmhouse
Rockhaven Farmhouse is located on the Rockhaven Farm. This is a working farm near the town of Porterville. Unlike a number of surrounding getaway...
Noteworthy attractions
Swartland Wine Route
Meaning ‘black country’ and named after the indigenous Renosterbos, which turns a dark colour at a certain time of the year, the wine route exten...
Dasklip Pass
Near the town of Porterville you will find Dasklip Pass, famous for its launching pad for experienced hang-gliders. Local paragliding championshi...
Renosterveld Reserve
Situated in the village of Darling, the Renosterveld Reserve, which you will find at the top of the village on a hill just behind the Darling Pri...
Tienie Versveld Reserve
The Tienie Versveld Reserve lies just outside Darling en route to Yzerfontein, part of a farm that was donated to the National Botanical Society ...
Berg River Region
North of the Berg River lie the little towns of Piketberg, Porterville, Wittewater, Goedverwacht, Veddrif, Aurora, Eendekuil and Redelinghuys. Kn...
Bartholomeus Klip Renosterveld Reserve
On Bartholomeus Klip's grassy plains you will find wild animals in one of the last spaces, so close to a city, that still allows for game to free...
Bothmaskloof Pass
Bothmaskloof Pass connects the towns of Malmesbury and Riebeeck Kasteel on the R46. Sometimes also known as Bothmanskloof, the pass takes one ove...
Nuwekloof Pass
The Nuwekloof Pass connects the town of Tulbagh with Riebeek-Kasteel and Wellington. Historically it has been called the Oudekloof, Tulbaghkloof ...
Verlorenvlei Heritage Settlement
What was once a thriving little hamlet on the shores of Verlorenvlei (40 buildings or ruins were still in evidence in 1992) is only a few survivi...
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