Porterville, Swartland
Porterville is a quaint town nestled on the slopes of the Olifant's River Mountains. Situated 140 kilometres from Cape Town, Porterville is a friendly, welcoming town which is well known amongst locals as the paragliding and hang gliding capital of the Western Cape.
Porterville attracts para gliding and hang gliding ethusiasts from all over the world when the active sky and powerful thermals provide ideal conditions for cross country flying. Porterville was first established in 1863 after Frederick John Owen, one of the original 1820 Settlers subdivided his farm into plots, naming the town after the then popular Attorney General of the Cape - William Porter. However, centuries before the arrival of Dutch Settlers, the region was inhabited by San and the mountains in the region contain numerous relics of the past, the most outstanding of which is a rock art painting of a sailing ship east of Porterville. (located on private land).
The Groot Winterhoek Wilderness area, with its extraordinary rock formations and popular hiking routes, is situated in the Groot Winterhoek mountain range just east of Porterville. Various examples of rock art, believed to be between 300 and 6 000 years old, can be found in the area. Rock paintings illustrate the religious and social life of the Bushman or San, whose ancestors have lived in southern Africa for more than 100 000 years.
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Featured Attractions in (or near) Porterville
Beaverlac Nature Reserve
This little talked about gem lies just 25 kilometres outside of Porterville, roughly 2 hours from Cape Town, in the Olifants River Mountains in the Cederberg. Over 5 000 hectares of wilderness gives one the opportunity to completely unwind amidst beautiful specimens of fynbos, naturally occurring waterfalls ... more information
Dasklip Pass
Near the town of Porterville you will find Dasklip Pass, famous for its launching pad for experienced hang-gliders. Local paragliding championships are held here, and the pass is thus usually busy, whatever the weather, for those who are here to jump or simply those who come to watch those prepared to jump ... more information
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
Groot Winterhoek Wilderness area, with its extraordinary rock formations and popular hiking routes, lies about 120 km north of Cape Town in the Western Cape. The Reserve is situated in the Groot Winterhoek mountain range, north of Tulbagh and east of Porterville. The greater Groot Winterhoek ... more information
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 extends from Darling on the west coast down to the Oliphants Mountain at Porterville in the east and includes Malmesbury, Riebeek Valley and Piketberg in the north ... more information
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Events and/or Festivals in Porterville
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On Holiday in Porterville
• Swartland Accommodation
• Swartland Hotels
• Western Cape Accommodation
• Musiek Oppie Lande Festival
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