Assendelft Lodge & Bush Camp in Prince Albert Road, Western Cape

We spoil our guests

Assendelft Lodge & Bush Camp is situated near the tiny hamlet of Prince Albert Road Station, approximately halfway between Beaufort West and Laingsburg, 30 km from Leeu-Gamka on the farm Goeiemoed Nr. 90 in the Prince Albert Municipal District. 

An authentic Karoo experience

Assendelft Lodge

Assendelft Lodge offers four elegantly decorated double, air-conditioned bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. Each room has its own private entrance with an outside patio where you can sit and enjoy a drink while you take in the surroundings of the Karoo or do some star watching at night. You can snuggle down in front of the fire in the cozy lounge during winter evenings or enjoy a meal in front of the “kaggel “in the dining room.

Assendelft Bush Camp

Assendelft Bush Camp has five tented chalets with en-suit facilities and solar powered lights. Hot water is generated by two traditional hot water “donkeys”. Each chalet has its own braai area where you can sit at the fire and watch the stars. There is also a well-equipped communal kitchen with cooking and braai utensils as well as a gas fridge, freezer and small oven. Larger groups can enjoy their meals under the wooden lapa.

What to do

It is the ideal base from where to explore the quaint little town of Prince Albert (45km) or Gamkaskloof, better known as the “The Hel” (95km). Meiringspoort, with its breathtaking scenery, is an hour’s drive away or visit the world renowned Cango Caves (98km) or the Karoo National Park (114km). It is also an excellent choice from where you can start exploring the Karoo Highlands Route.

You can relax and enjoy the Karoo, wander around the farm, visit the lonely grave of Private Calver.

You can go on the fossil trail and see for yourself where the therocephalians ("beast-heads") diictodons and Pristerognathu lived million of years ago – a guided tour can be arranged.

You can do some bird watching from the bird hide next to the dam at the bush camp and might even be able to identify one of those mystifying Lbj’s.

Go for a private braai at one of the two picnic spots next to the Vlakkraal river.

Come experience the starry heavens at night and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Karoo - rest, relax, refresh & recharge your batteries.

History

The current owner, HJA Walters, bought Goeiemoed in May 2009 and developed Assendelft Lodge & Bush Camp. He named the lodge and bush camp after the ship with which the progenitor of the Walters family in South Africa, Samuel Walters, came to the Cape as a soldier in the service of the Dutch East Indian Company (VOC). He departed on 19 December 1695 from Texel harbor on board the Assendelft under the captaincy of Sijbrand Visser. The ship arrived in Table Bay on 27 July 1696 and departed again on the 22 August for Ceylon. There were 225 persons on board of whom 29 died during the voyage to Cabo de Goede Hoop.

The progenitor of the 4th generation Walters family was Adam Johannes Reyneke Walters, born in 1830 and who married Maria Jacoba Magdalena Smuts on 23 Julie 1850. Adam had to sell his farms Leeuwenvlei and Wolwekraal near Riebeeck-Kasteel due to drought and cattle losses. He decided to move to the Northern Cape and became a transport driver. He stayed ahead of the railway line to transport goods further inland and has most likely paid toll fees at the old toll house situated at the entrance to Assendelft Lodge.

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