Prince Albert is situated in the Karoo in the Western Cape

Prince Albert is a delightful South African village in the Karoo, which is part of the Western Cape. Although Price Albert is situated in an arid region the area is blessed with water from the Swartberg Mountains and the village is a little oasis.

Prince Albert enjoys a superb climate, with a high sunshine index and spectacular night skies. The village is a small gem, with beautifully preserved Cape Dutch, Karoo and Victorian buildings - 13 of which are National Monuments

There is ample hotel and guest house accommodation to suit all preferences and pockets In Prince Albert.

Prince Albert is known for its sun-ripened fresh and dried fruit, especially figs and apricots. In the Prince Albert Valley , to the south of the village, farmers are restoring vineyards last farmed in the 19th century. Karoo lamb, olives, olive oil and cheese are local delicacies.

Just 2kms from the foot of the awesome Swartberg Pass, Prince Albert is the perfect base for exploring all the wonders of the Swartberg including Gamkaskloof - "the Hell" and Meiringspoort

Activities for visitors include a guided historical walk through Price Albert, a ramble along the "Gordons koppie", a ghost walk in the evening, trips into the Swartberg Pass, a visit to the Prince Albert Gallery, where local artists display their work, local shops, the tannery and weavery, traditional Karoo meals, and a visit to the delightful Fransie Pienaar Museum where a local farmer distills "Witblits".

Just 2 km from the foot of the awesome Swartberg Pass, the pretty historic village of Prince Albert is the perfect base for exploring all the wonders of the Swartberg mountains including Gamkaskloof (‘Die Hell’) and Meiringspoort. Aside from a superb climate and spectacular night skies, the village itself is a small gem, with beautifully preserved Cape Dutch, Karoo and Victorian buildings. Bushmen were the earliest inhabitants of the area and remains of their culture are still to be found in the district. The scene of a frantic gold rush during the 1880’s, Prince Albert is known for it’s sun-ripened fresh and dried fruit, especially figs and apricots, Karoo Lamb, olives and homemade cheeses – all local delicacies.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Beaufort West 154 km, Bloemfontein 698 km, Cape Town 406 km, George via Meiringspoort 169 km, George via Swartberg Pass 134 km, Johannesburg 1093 km, Kimberley 656 km, Laingsburg 125 km, Matjiesfontein (Tar-road) 110 km, Oudtshoorn via Swartberg Pass (partly gravel road) 75 km, Port Elizabeth 421 km

Average Rainfall

170 mm per year and between 5 mm and 10 mm per month

Average Temperatures

Summer 17°c – 35°c; Winter 17°c – 35°c

Banks

Absa, Standard (No ATM”s)

Dams

Gamkapoortdam, Ou Kloof dam

Rivers

Dorps River, Dwyka River, Gamka River, Swart River, Traka River

HISTORICAL VIEW

In 1762 the first loanfarms were made available in this area and Kweekvallei, the farm on which Prince Albert late developed, was allocated to one Zacharias de Beer. The farm proved to be very fertile, and with plentiful water from the mountain stream. In 1842 a Dutch Reformed Church parish was established and in 1845 the little village was officially named Prince Albert in honour of Queen Victoria’s husband. Gold was discovered in the area and in 1891 there was a gold rush on the farm Spreewfontein. At the same time the ostrich feather market boomed in Europe and Prince Albert experienced great prosperity.

Fransie Pienaar Museum

Once the town’s hospital, the museum houses a collection of artifacts from the gold rush period. Witblits is also distilled and sold here.

Gamkaskloof

(‘Die Hell’)

Cultural historic monument. Accessible with any vehicle except caravan and bus bigger than 10 seater. Best times April to May and September to October.

Prince Albert Gold Fields

In 1890 gold was discovered in the area, and soon fortune seekers from all over the world descended on the district in search of their fortunes. The tented village which sprang up north of the town even boasted it’s own newspaper, the ‘Gouph Gold News’. (‘Gouph’ or ‘Koup’ refers to the Khoikhoi name for the area meaning ‘abdominal fat’ – the reason for it being thus named is unknown). On one farm, named ‘Goudkop’, gold worth 2000 euro was mined, but unfortunately gold finds eventually dried up and the diggers soon left the area.

Town Architecture

The town has various buildings dating from the 1850’s, notable for the unique ‘Prince Albert Gable’. Several houses built in the Victoria style can also be seen, including the Dutch Reformed parsonage.

NATURE

Gamkaskloof

Meiringspoort

Swartberg Mountains

The Swartberg mountains are a magnificent backdrop to the village of Prince Albert.

Swartberg Pass

ATTRACTIONS

Annual Events

Olive Festival – May

Botterblom Golf Classic – August / September

Agricultural Show – October

Arts and crafts

Prince Albert Tannery

Die OU Kelder & Tractor Trails

Johanna Luttig. Drierivieren Farm. Drierivieren farm is situated 5 km east of Prince Albert. Turn off Kerk Street, down Pastorie Street opposite the church and watch out for the signpost on the left. Johanna is renowned for her delicious traditional catering. Meals are served in a 100 year old barn where some of the old farm implements and furniture is also on display. Four menus are offered: a braai, a home cooked traditional meal, a cold buffet and substantial snack menu. Catering is for a minimum of six people and by prior arrangement. In addition to delectable home made jams and preserves. Johanna’s latest delicacy is pickled whole paprika.

Gay’s Dairy

Gay Van Hasselt. Off Christina de Witt Street. Gay’s beautiful Guernsey cows produce an average 450 litres of milk a day for consumption in Prince Albert and recently, in Beaufort West. The milk, which is unpasterised, has an outstanding reputation for it’s low bacteria count and is TB and Brucellosis free. This contributes to an usuasully long fridge life when properly handled. Gay’s Dairy also processos low fat yoghurt in a range of plain and fruit flavours, feta cheese and a full flavoured sweetmilk cheese. New products in the pipeline include cheddar, mozzarella and cottage cheese. Cultured sour milk – ‘maas’ – and fresh cream are also available. The dairy is open from 07:00 – 08:00 and 17:00 – 18:00 daily including weekends, and all products are available direct. Tours, including school groups, are conducted on request.

Kriedouw Cheese

Scheepersfarm Louis and Helen le Roex. Situated 40 km south of Prince Albert in the scenic valley known as Die Gang, en route to Meiringspoort and the coast. Former Natal diary farmer Louis le Roex and his GP wife Dr Helen Hall settled in Prince Albert in 1996. they recently bought the farm Scheepersrus, having waited almost two years to find the ideal location for their large herd of prime Braunvieh (Brown Swiss) cows. The farm was selected for the purity and abundance of it’s water, and the quality of Lucerne able to be grown there. Brauvieh milk has been used for centuries to produce the finest Swiss Cheese, a tradition that Louis will ensure continues at Scheepersrus. The breed is a medium producer which ensures high quality milk with milk fat that is superior to other breeds – it is more palatable and more digestible, Kriedouw Cheese currently processes mature feta (plain or herbed), as well as sweetmilk, farmhouse and caerphilly cheese; brie will follow. Fresh milk and ‘maas’ are also distributed. Farm tours for groups by prior arrangement.

Swartrivier Olives

Jan and Annelien Bothma Swartrivier Farm. Situated 5 km out of Prince Albert on the Leeu Gamka / Kruidfontein road. Products: processed fresh olives – green, black and half ripe; dried black olives, spiced olives, olive oil, green and black olive paste and olive soap. The Bothmas harvest between 50 and 80 tons of olives per annum. There are 3000 trees, with manzanilla and Mission varieties grown for processing, while 80 % is sold in bulk. Visitors can buy Swartrivier olives at the Swartberg Spar, the Fransie Pienaar Museum and Sampie se Plaasstal. Bulk purchases direct from the farm. Tours and tasting by prior arrangement.

Weltevreden Farm

Pieter and Suzelle Koorts. Sundried Adams figs, fresh oranges and naartjies. 25 km west or Prince Albert on the Weletevrede road (turn off at the cementary in Christina de Witt Street nrea the old watermill). The Koorts family has been on Weltevrede Farm for five generations. Today, Suzelle and Pieter Koorts carry on the tradition, growing and sun drying Adams figs the way it has been done for 150 years. The farm produces between 2 and 3 thousands kilograms of figs per annum, from 250 mature trees (some up to 50 years old) on 3,5 hectares. Weltevrede is also increasing production of oranges and naartjies which, like the figs, thrive in the specialized climate of this beautiful valley deep in the Swartberg mountains. The dried figs are sold by direct order from the farm and find their way to farmstalls, whole food companies and private customers throughout South Africa and many destinations abroad. Their appeal lie in their intense sweetness and gorgeous pink colour. The figs are picked at prime ripeness and then individually peeled by hand before being halved and laid out to dry in the sun – a highly labour intensive process. The figs are lightly sulphured to preserve their colour, but preservative free figs area available to order. Farm visits during the picking and drying seasons – January to April or May – can be arranged. Group lunches or dinners by prior arrangement.

Wolskuur Spinners

Hannes and Petra van der Merwe. Magrieta Prinsloo Street (Off Kerk Street). Petra and Hannes van der Merwe bought the long established Wolskuur when they moved to Prince Albert from Port Elizabeth in 1993. the Wolskuur produces a magnificent range of hand spun, woven rugs in a variety of sizes, designs and colours. In addition, they prodice a small range or clothing in pure wool which is machine washable and shrinkproof. The rugs range in size from 80 x 130 to 2,5 x 3,5 although they will make up rugs to customer specifications. These can also be made up in individual patterns and colours – for example they recently made several woven zebra pattern rugs for an eco-conscious client – and they will also make mohair rugs by special request. Visitors to Prince Albert can visit and buy direct from the factory. Anyone wishing to buy over the weekend can call Petra and Hannes. They will be happy to open the premises. As a special service to overseas visitors, the Wolskuur will pack and mail purchases abroad.

ACTIVITIES

Hiking

Swartberg Hiking Trail

Distance / Duration: 65 km / 5 days (shorter options available). Circular Route. Starting point: De Hoek Holiday Resort. Rating: Difficult. Best times April to May and September to October. Facilities: Three overnight huts with bunks, mattresses, cold showers, flush toilets and fire places (no firewood). Features include dramatic mountain scenery, fynbos, interesting rock formations and diep ravines.

Karoo Scooter Rental

Explore the Karoo by scooter

WHERE TO STAY

Rozie’s Guest Cottages

Two serviced self catering cottages set amongst luxurious lawns, Lucerne fields and apricot orchards, offer old world charm and comfort. Each with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, fully equipped kitchen, cosy living room with DSTV, outdoor braai area. A peaceful retreat and ideal base for hikers, bikers, bird watchers, stargazers, photographers and artists. SATOUR accredited.