R62 (Cape Route 62)

In 1833 the Berlin Missionary Society established the mission of Amalienstein next to that of Zoar. Frau Amalie von Stein Two mission stations were completed in 1853 in the building style of a century ago. The town was named after Frau Amalie von Stein who donated the money to purchase the land. The mission stations were transferred to the Dutch Reformed Church during the First World War and both Amalienstein and Zoar are managed by the Dutch reformed Church. Seweweekspoort The gardens, irrigated by a stream flowing out of Seweweekspoort, produce apples, figs and pears. The town is part of the touristic Route 62.

Days of Wine and Roses Situated at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains and amongst lush vineyards and verdant orchards, the central focus of Ashton is fruit and wine. The towns is also well-known among race horse breeders and rock climbers. The town of Ashton serves as the residential area for employees of the Langeberg Ko-operasie, the largest producer in Southern Africa of canned fruit, jams and vegtables. Their principle factory, built in 1940, the largest of its kind in Southern Hemisphere, is on the southern slopes of the Langeberg range near the entrance to Cogmanskloof. Before this, Ashton was little more than a loading-point for goods carried through Kogmanskloof to and from the…

Barrydale lies nestled betweenOudtshoorn and Montagu in the heart of the Tradouw Valley. The quaint village rests at the bottom of the Langeberg Mountain Range on the longest wine route in the world, the R62. Barrydale is the perfect destination for anyone looking to restore body and soul. It is a breathtakingly beautiful little village where those who visit never want to leave. This valley is beautiful at any time of the year, Summer offers ripe fruit trees, Autumn brings the Protea season and Winter exhibits a tapestry of colours as the Klein Karoo typically breaks into flower. The Tradouw Valley not only produces fruit and despite being the smallest Valley in the country, it is also a…

Port Wine Capital of SA Calitzdorp lies nestled between the Outeniqua, Swartberg and Rooiberg mountains, ideally situated only four hours from Cape Town and almost exactly halfway to Port Elizabeth, on the scenic and famous Route 62. This makes this little Klein Karoo town the perfect stop over en route to the Garden Route. Apart from its bona fide Klein Karoo character, Calitzdorp is probably most well recognized for its production of some of the country’s best port wines and has such rightfully gained the “Port Wine Capital of South Africa” accolade from the consistent production of prize winning champion Port wines. Calitzdorp is a village which is worth more than just a…

Clarkson, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, can be found approximately 45 km outside of Humansdorp. It is scenically placed at the foot of the Tsitsikamma Mountains. This small town could be a short stop over for a traveler meandering along the R102 and Route 62, which offers a more scenic route to that of the N2 Highway. With no hotels in the town, travellers can book outdoor accommodation in caravan parks, chalets and camping sites. If being this close to nature is not for you, more suitable accommodation in the form of Guest Houses, B&B’s etc. can be found along Route 62 and the R102.Places to VisitWith plenty of outdoor activities and attractions in the surrounding areas, time spent in Clarkson would be ideal for the adventure seeker and those looking for the peace and…

The Garden Route National Park stretches along the Southern Coast of South Africa. The park consists of three sections: Tsitsikamma National ParkWilderness National Park Knysna National Lake Area These areas are collage of landscapes covered in South Africa’s unique fauna and flora and seascapes with unforgettable views. The park covers about 1,210 km² of land.It would take a lifetime to experience all the Garden Route National Park has to offer. Mountains fall to forests and the forests run onto sandy beaches! The park offers hiking, relaxing on pristine beaches, birdwatching, whale and dolphin sightings, canoeing and Kayaking over silver lakes and various other activities. The Tsitsikamma National Park is at the heart of the Garden Route with the very popular Storms River entrance…

Haarlem is a tiny village situated in the Langkloof Valley, just 29 km outside of Uniondale in the Western Cape. Dotted among farms are a few small villages including Avontuur, Misgund, Joubertina, Kareedouw and Louterwater, most of which lie on the well-known Route 62. The area is popular with tourists taking scenic drives to explore the countryside between Plettenberg Bay and George. The area is rich with fynbos, incredible bird life and is also a hiking and mountain biking mecca. Haarlem is the western-most spot of the Valley, where the old Apple Express used to run, a truly breathtakingly beautiful area! Visitors to the area are delighted with the wide open spaces, diversity, stunning scenery, magical flora and a few historical buildings and national monuments dotted inbetween. Many…

Big Apple of Route 62 Joubertina is a small agricultural town situated on the famous Route 62 in the Langkloof Valley, meaning Long Valley. The town shares the R62 with other similarly named towns such as Misgund, Louterwater and Kareedouw. Until the establishment of the famous, and very long, R62 Wine Route, Joubertina and its neighbours were considered nothing more than little one-horse towns. Today Joubertina is called the “Big Apple of Route 62”, due to the number of apple crops on the surrounding farms and sees a lot more traffic as a result of the wine route that winds between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn. Joubertina barely qualifies as a tourist destination, however it does serve as a gateway to many attractions. The town offers tree-lined avenues and quaint shops where you…

Kareedouw in the Eastern Cape of South Africa is a gorgeous little town situated between the Tsitsikamma and Zuuranys Mountains on Route 62, only half an hours’ drive from Jeffreys Bay and an hours’ drive from Port Elizabeth or Plettenberg Bay. Route 62 offers the tourist the more scenic route to that of the N2 highway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. With excellent road conditions, adequate accommodation and the ever changing colours of the mountains, rivers, orchards and vineyards along the way this drive will ensure the traveler an unforgettable adventure. The small town of Kareedouw is rather simple with tin roofed houses, mainly dirt roads and a large stone Church. You can, however, still find the odd restaurant and petrol station on the main road in this tranquil…

Ladismith is situated at the heart of popular tourist Route 62 and is not to be confused with the Natalian town of Ladysmith. The small town, 300 km from Cape Town, is set at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains with the majestic Towerkop, 2 203 metres high, overlooking the town. Although Towerkop is not the highest mountain in the Karoo, its unusual split peak can be seen for hundreds of Kilometres. Legend has it that a witch was flying into the town and the mountains got in her way. This angered the witch and she flew into the mountains with such force that she broke through the peak. This caused the single main peak to be broken off forming two peaks. Whatever the case may be it…

Smiles and Sunshine Montagu, the Gateway to the Karoo, is a village with soul and is hands down one of the most picturesque towns in the Western Cape. Travel through the spectacular Cogman's Kloof Pass and Montagu unfolds as a charming white-washed village. Once voted ‘Village of the Year’, not only for the spectacular views, beautiful architecture and healing hot mineral springs - but for the homeliness and hospitality of its people; a community of smiles and sunshine, warm and friendly. Situated in the beautiful Klein Karoo area, Montagu is approximately 180 km from Cape Town on the legendary Route 62, reputed to be the longest wine route in the world. Montagu is a rock climbing…

The Montagu Mountain Reserve is a proclaimed local authority Nature Reserve that adjoins the north, west and southern boundary of the town of Montagu. The Reserve measures some 2000 hectares in extent and comprises a tapestry of extreme topography, rich in pristine flora and fauna. It is home to tortoises, dassies and other forms of wildlife. The very popular Fort Sidney and the iconic tunnel within Cogmans Kloof both fall within the Reserve’s boundaries.  Hiking and walking trails Given its proximity, the Reserve is integral to the town and offers easy pedestrian access from Barry or Tanner Street. In the Montagu Montain Reserve you will not fail to notice the many vertical rock faces -…

Ostrich Feather Capital of the World The quaint town of Oudtshoorn lies between the Swartberg and Outeniqua Mountains in the very scenic Klein Karoo (Little Karoo) on the edge of the Garden Route. It is the largest town in the Klein Karoo and home to the largest bird in the world - it is the only town where Ostrich feathers are sold at Public Auctions. The area offers exceptional natural beauty with varied opportunities for outdoor activities and we highly recommend exploring the Caves, riding an Ostrich, hiking, horse riding and mountain biking. Shielded by the mountains from the coastal belt, Oudtshoorn has many windless days plus the town has more sunny days per year than…

Little Karoo's best kept secret Uniondale is a small farming town in the beautiful Klein (Little) Karoo, about 80 km from Knysna and a mere hour drive from George. It lies along the scenic Route 62 and just over the mountains from the Garden Route. This little town, quite surprisingly, offers travellers more than expected and visitors are delighted with the wide, open spaces, diversity, stunning scenery, magical flora and many historical buildings which includes several national monuments. There are no less than six Anglo Boer War forts – one of which has been restored to its original state and is well worth a visit. Uniondale boasts more than 300 kms of dirt roads surrounding the town which makes it a perfect destination for mountain biking and cycling enthusiasts. More than 4,000…

Strategically placed along a fertile valley on the R62, 22km from Ladismith, Zoar lies surrounded by breathtaking landscapes with mountains in its background. History The mission of Zoar was established in 1816 by P. J. Joubert on the farm Elandsfontein for and on behalf of the South African Missionary Society. It was named after a place mentioned in the Bible, 'Like the Garden of the Lord, as thou comest into Zoar'. Joubert managed the mission till 1833, and thereafter the management was taken over by two missionaries from the Berlin Missionary Society. In 1843 Zoar was formally taken over by the Berlin Missionary Society. Zoar again changed hands in 1856 and was given back to the South African Missionary Society. The town is notable for its irrigated gardens.