Ladismith, Karoo
The little town of Ladismith, not to be confused with the Natalian version of Ladysmith, lies in the shadow of the Towerkop Mountain peak on Route 62, 300 km from Cape Town in the Karoo. The pretty town of Ladismith is unique in a number of senses, not least of which is its unique ‘Ladismith’ style of architecture that has evolved from the hotchpotch mixture of several styles including Victorian, Neo-gothic, Edwardian, Cape Dutch Revival, Regency and Rural (that’s Karoo rural!).
Ladismith is essentially a prosperous farming community producing fruit (grapes, a third of South Africa’s apricots, and plums), milk, wine, flowers and mutton. The town has two cheese factories - Parmalat and Ladismith Cheese - and the Ladismith Wine Cellar is open for cellar tours and wine tasting during the week.
Ladismith takes her name from a woman with great fortitude. Young Juana Maria de los Dolores de Leon became the 14-year old bride of Sir Henry George Wakelyn Smith in the early 1800s - thereafter known simply as ‘Mrs Henry Smith’ or Lady Smith. A childless couple, their devotion to one another is legendary. Juana often set up camp close to battle scenes in a bid to remain close to her husband - they so hated being apart.
Towerkop is just one of the nearby peaks that make this area a nature lover and hiker’s delight. You can grace the split peak in a day, if you’re fit, or you can attempt the Elandsberg hiking trail, a 12 km route to Stanley’s light, which brings us to the final delightful myth of Ladismith. Stanley de Wit took upon himself in 1963 to tackle the Elandsberg Mountains with 200 metres of plastic pipe, a spray nozzle, bicycle dynamo, a 6-volt bicycle light and the tools to help him, after his climb of three-and-a-half hours, to set up his light in the path of a mountain stream, the force of which turns the dynamo and keeps the light burning both day and night. Local farmers will easily know when water is scarce.
Get the Scoop
Ladismith Reviews
"I live in Ladismith but work in the UK and have been here during the worst winter for years. The only thing that has kept me sane is thinking about the awesome ..." - Barbara Lee, Cirencester
Related Links
Featured Attractions in (or near) Ladismith
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
Aquila Nature Reserve
Aquila is a private Nature Reserve lying outside the town of Touwsriver; just less than two hours drive from Cape Town along a particularly scenic route on the N1. The reserve is named after the Black Eagle found in the area that is today rarely encountered and regarded as an endangered species. Aquila, whilst ... 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
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
Garcia's Pass
Garcia's Pass links the towns of Riversdale and Ladismith in the Karoo. Back in the old days the only route through the Langeberg Mountains was via the Plattekloof Pass, something of a detour for farmers who wanted to reach Riversdale and subsequently Mossel Bay for trade. Today Garcia's Pass takes travellers along a ... 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
Rooinek Pass
Perhaps because of the connotations of its name, the Rooinek Pass in the mountains around Laingsburg does look a little sunbleached, and wild (rooinek is the Afrikaans for 'red neck' meaning an English speaking South African, usually of British descent; it alludes to the sunburnt necks of the average ... 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
Towerkop Nature Reserve
Towerkop is named after the imposing split peak of the Towerkop that, together with the Seweweekspoort Peak, overshadows the beautiful reserve. Towerkop Nature Reserve lies west of the Swartberg Nature Reserve and together with Gamkapoort Nature Reserve are not open to the public. This is ... more information
Related Links
Things To Do in Ladismith
Visit the Wine Cellar at Hillock Wines
Where: Ladismith
How much (per person): On Request
As part of your Route 62 journey why not stop and visit Hillock Wines near Ladismith and sample the various wines in their cellar, or stay a ... more information
Related Links
Events and/or Festivals in Ladismith
Related Links
On Holiday in Ladismith
• Ladismith Accommodation
• Ladismith Guest Houses
• Karoo Accommodation
• Karoo Guest Houses
• Western Cape Accommodation
Visiting Ladismith?
Also see Things To Do in Karoo or check out Things To Do in Western Cape to view activities by category, including watersports, sightseeing activities, arts & crafts and many, many more.
- Introduction to the Western Cape
- Destination Guide
- Accommodation Guide
- Search by Map
- Cape Town Conferences
- Wedding Guide
- Touring the Western Cape
- Transport & Travel Arrangements
- Out and About
- Südafrika Reise
Für Deutsche Besucher
Suedafrika-Reise.net bringt Ihnen das umfangreichste Angebot an Links, um Südafrika zu "bereisen": hier und jetzt auf Ihrem Bildschirm.
Urlaub in Kapstadt
2. Search by Map
3. TGCSA Star Grading
4. AA Grading
5. Family Friendly
