Groblershoop, Green Kalahari
Situated in a land of contrasts, at the gateway to the Green Kalahari you will find the little village of Groblershoop. Imagine arid, undulating hills penetrated by the shimmering Orange River valley creating a green strip right through and providing life to its surroundings. The successful stock farming and wine production in the region is built on a solid foundation of hard work and a pioneering spirit of early residents. Both the people and the ancient donkey made its mark in the Groblershoop area!
On Charles Newberry's farm named Winstead, 7 graves tell the story of battles fought nearby during the Rebellion in 1914. Development in the region was really set in motion by the construction of the Boegoeberg dam and water channels in 1929. The project was used by the government at the time to create jobs for hundreds of very poor white people. The name of the dam originates from the Boegoe plant that grows wild in the surrounding undulating hills. The plant was widely used in traditional medicine. The holiday resort at this beautiful shimmering dam is like a green oasis in the desert and is a popular hotspot for camping, angling, superb accommodation, skiing, canoeing and sailing.
The Groblershoop region is a major wine producing area. The cellar outside the town is one of 5 of the Oranjerivier Wine Cellars and the first on the Orange River Wine route. Oranjerivier Wine Cellars is the largest co-operative cellars in Africa and the second largest in the world. Groblershoop is currently a main source of export for large table grapes and sultana's. A modern abattoir processes livestock from surrounding farms, while the local wine cellars boasts an annual intake of over 12 000 tons of grapes!
Situated just 30km south west of Groblershoop in the beautiful Esel Mountains, a natural ravine was formed. The water hole in the ravine fills up during the rainy season. This cycle must have been completed each year for centuries, as is witnessed by the mysterious footprint in the rock below the water hole. It seems as if some kind of donkey left its footprint in the mud. The mud then became fossilized which rendered the donkey's slippery path visible until today. At the bottom of the ravine one can find some evidence of remains of lava. These interesting footprints are situated on private land, but can be visited by appointment.
Groblershoop boasts rich cultural heritage, beauty as well as a thriving community and economy. Experience and taste their enormous grapes and fantastic wines or visit one of the many cultural and historical sites. Though small and tranquil, there is plenty to discover here.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Palmhof Chalets
Palmhof Chalets welcomes you to the Orange River Valley in Kakamas, where vineyards, palm trees and citrus surround the area, the contrast route;...
Casa Calida
Casa Calida is Spanish for 'house of quality and hospitality', and true to its name you will enjoy accommodation with the same radiant warmth and...
River Place Guesthouse
River Place Guesthouse is situated on one of Upington's wine estates, yet it lies only three minutes from the Upington town center. This exclusiv...
African Vineyard Boutique Hotel & Spa
African Vineyard Boutique Hotel & Spa is nestled in a lush landscape of vineyards at Kanoneiland. African Vineyard Guesthouse mixes its magical i...
Be My Guest Too
Be My Guest Too provides accommodation in Upington in comfortably furnished guest rooms. Guests can relax in the garden or enjoy a dip in the swi...
Postmasburg Inn
Postmasburg Inn in Northern Cape provides Postmasburg accommodation that is a great base for a day trip to Witsand Nature Reserve, Boesmansgat Si...
Bains House
At Bain's House tranquility meets timeless elegance. Our spacious en-suite bedrooms with all the conveniences that you need include satellite TV,...
The Cape Lodge
The Cape Lodge offers accommodation in Upington for business or pleasure. The Lodge is situated in a quiet area with secure parking, cctv camera,...
Abbiamo Guesthouse
Located in Upington, Abiammo Guesthouse offers accommodation in four modern, spacious guestrooms with either a King size or two single beds. In t...
Things to do in the area
Witsand MTB Route
For one of the most scenic mountain biking experiences, get to the Witsand Nature Reserve.Here you can see an abundance of wildlife and a large n...
Noteworthy attractions
Augrabies Falls National Park
The Khoi people called it 'Aukoerebis', the place of the Great Noise, referring to the Orange River thundering its way downwards for 60 metres in...
Spitskop Nature Reserve
The Spitskop Nature Reserve was named after Spitskop, an impressive granite koppie just outside the small town of Upington. Consisting mainly of ...
Witsand Nature Reserve
The Witsand (White Sands) Nature Reserve is a 2 500 hectares island of brilliant white sands surrounded by a sea of regular Red Kalahari sand. Al...
Upington Golf Club
Situated just outside of Upington on the N14 road to Johannesburg and Olifantshoek, next to Desert Palace Casino, is the Upington Golf Course. Th...
Orange River Wine Route
In a part of South Africa that is, for all intents and purposes, practically desert, one does not expect to find a wine route. But the Orange Riv...
Northern Cape Wine Estates
With a completely different climate to the Cape Winelands, the Northern Cape produces a number of ranges of wines that boast unique flavours. The...
Riemvasmaak Community Conservancy
North west of the town of Kakamas and bordering the Augrabies National Park is the Riemvasmaak Community Conservancy - 75 00 hectares of land bet...
Hakskeen Pan
Hakskeen Pan is a dry lake bed, and the world's largest unworked saltpan. It lies way up in the far north west of the Northern Cape, 300 km from ...
Kokerboom Food and Wine Route
The Kokerboom, or quiver tree, is one of the most idiosyncratic trees of the Kalahari (South Africa and Namibia). Also known, in scientific circl...
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