Koffiefontein, Xhariep Region
The first thing that strikes you about the Karoo is the huge distances between towns. The Grassy Karoo, also known as the 'false Karoo', is the eastern part, which, as its name suggests, is fundamentally grasslands that stretch from Jacobsdal to Somerset East. Despite the grass, hardy fragrant shrubs manage to make their presence known, and historic little towns pepper a landscape dominated by grass and distant mountains.
Koffiefontein, which lies in this region, is situated where the R48 meets the R704 on the Riet River, north east of the little town of Trompsburg. Just as you drive into the town one is faced with a rather idiocyncratic looking coffee can fountain, complete with cup and saucer, which may or may not work, depending on some unexplicable whim. When it does, it's rather charming.
The town, which started out as a coffee stop for transport riders, still has little eateries and shops with names like 'Try-itsi' - a great place to stock up on different sorts of snacks if you're on the road somewhere - and 'Kos Kaia' (food dwelling), which apparently serves heavenly pancakes. But what Koffiefontein is really about, and what makes it so attractive to visitors, is the incredible Karoo Free State hospitality; a real willingness to share their place with you, and the sense that they really love the place.
Ettienne Leroux, who also used the nom de plume of Stephanus Petrus Daniel le Roux and wrote 'Magersfontein, O Magersfontein!' that created such a stir it was banned a year after publication, had a farm in Koffiefontein, which you can see as you drive into the town close to where you swing off the road towards Jacobsdal. Today the farm belongs to a farmer called Schreuder, according to the board on the road.
Travellers' Reviews
2 Reviews from SA-Venues.com travellers. All reviews are verified.
Verified review
I grew up in Koffiefontein till the age of 12 years old before moving to Port Elizabeth. I loved my childhood day there. As we where the only Portuguese/English people there, I was like any other child growing up in a real small loving community.
TEREZA LENDIA (Port Elizabeth)
Verified review
My heart is in Koffiefontein because that is where my father Dirk Louw taught me the real beauty of this town and its surrounding farms. He was a farm boy in this area and then successfully farmed on his own farm called Weltevrede before he died at the age of 94 years on 10 September 2012. His grave between two rows of tall threes next to green pastures and waters of piece will always remind me of the wonderful life he experienced in this Koffiefontein district. To pass through this area is an experience on its own and recommended to those walking this earth with a love for simplicity .
Louise Louw (Bloemfontein)
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Springfontein House
Springfontein House is ideally situated for travellers from Pretoria to Cape Town and the other holiday resorts of the Western and Eastern Cape C...
Stoneridge Guesthouse
Stoneridge Guesthouse is neatly nestled on the hills of Gariep Dam and overlooks the intriguing valleys of the Bo-Karoo. Stoneridge's peaceful st...
Gariep N1 Chalets
Gariep N1 Chalets are situated approximately 15km to 20km north of the Gariep Dam. Sleeping a total of 17 guests, the Gariep N1 Chalets are spaci...
Vultures Lodge
Vultures Lodge, nestles in the shade of the spectacular sandstone mountain, Aasvoëlberg. At 2207m (approximately 7240 feet), it is the highest pe...
Buckleys Guest House
Buckleys Guest Accommodation offers bed & breakfast accommodation in Smithfield. This quaint area has a number of unique shops, plenty of culture...
Royal Hotel Bethulie
The Royal Hotel aims to offer guests the complete Bethulie experience. Highlights include musical recitals, visits to artists, stargazing and a g...
Raptor Ridge Lodge
Raptor Ridge Lodge offers you comfortable bed only accommodation overlooking the Gariep Dam. Here you can enjoy nature at its finest; the lodge i...
Rondefontein Guest Farm
Rondefontein Guest Farm is a retreat on a working sheep farm just 2.5 km from the N1 and 3 km from the town of Springfontein in the southern Free...
Noteworthy attractions
Karoo Gariep Conservancy
Karoo is a “quenna” word meaning “dry and hard”. Gariep is also a “quenna” word meaning “big water”or river. The Karoo Gariep Concervancy is foun...
Tankwa Karoo National Park
The 80 000 hectare Tankwa Karoo National Park, proclaimed in 1986 and still in a development stage, is at present in a veld recovery phase and it...
Gariep Dam Nature Reserve
The Free State's largest nature reserve is a combination of the 36 487 ha Gariep Dam on the Orange River and an 11 237 ha game sanctuary on its n...
Kalkfontein Dam Nature Reserve
Lying just south east of Koffiefontein in the south western Free State, Kalkfontein Dam Nature Reserve on the Riet River is not usually visited e...
Tussen die Riviere Game Reserve
Tussen die Riviere Game Reserve is one of the most accessible game reserves in the Free State. Situated in Bethuli, you can get there from Bloemf...
Oviston Nature Reserve
The Oviston Nature reserve lies close to the little Karoo towns of Venterstad and Oviston roughly two hours' drive from Bloemfontein. That it is ...
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