Klein Karoo - Firefly the Travel Guy

Take Graaff-Reinet Anglo Boer War memorial

Graaff-Reinet isn't just the sixth oldest town in South Africa or the town with the most historical monuments in the country. The town and its district also have a rich history of Voortrekker history, Anglo-Boer War history and history connected to the freedom struggle. One of the monuments in town that not a lot of people get to see is the Anglo-Boer War Memorial on the corner of Donkin and Somerset Streets. It's a pity because it's actually a striking…

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12/09/2023

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The view from the Anglo Boer War fort at Uniondale

Uniondale between the Klein Karoo and the Langkloof is famous for it's ghost, but I'm sure most people know very little else about the town. Visitors will also find a lot of history in the area. Amongst that is the fact that the town was protected by 6 British Forts during the Anglo Boer War. One of these have been restored and can be visited on a hill overlooking the town. I've always looked up at it passing through but on my…

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07/10/2014

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Feeding Koi at the Barrydale “water front”

Barrydale on Route 62 in the Klein Karoo is a pretty little town known for the beautiful surrounding mountains offering various walks, the Tradouw Pass, quint gardens, interesting shops and farm stalls, restaurants popular with passing tour groups and the very famous Ronnie's SEX Shop down the road. Everything but an ocean. So I was very intrigued when I saw a Geocache description refer to a spot as the Barrydale "water front". One or two turns off the main road and we discovered…

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17/09/2014

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Oudtshoorn’s CP Nel Museum

The CP Nel Museum in Oudtshoorn is one of the top town museums in South Africa with a fantastic range of exhibits representing the history of the town and surrounding area. Most visitors pass through town on their way to the ostrich farms or Cango Caves and never see this Klein Karoo gem, but the few who do stop gets to learn so much more about the area.The museum owes its origin to the private collection of colonel Charles Paul Leonard Nel,…

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27/06/2014

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Montagu view

For the last two summers we spent part of our December holidays in Montagu on both occasions and the town has crept deep into my heart. This year we're not heading that far west and I already miss this beautiful place. On our last visit I actually said that if I could find something there in my line of work I would really consider moving there. So as you can gather, this is a "I miss Montague" post,The picture was taken from…

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19/12/2013

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Wilgewandel – something for the whole family

In all the years working as a tourist guide I drove past Wilgewandel near the Cango Caves countless times and never stopped. It wasn't that I didn't want to, but there was just never time on a busy itinerary. I often just referred to it as the place with the camel rides. That was until a visit to the Cango Caves with the family while on holiday. Drama Princess really wanted to ride a camel and the nagging started when we…

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11/11/2013

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Waterfall nymph

A waterfall nymph at the Rust en Vrede Waterfall close to Oudtshoorn. I would really like to encourage visitors to Oudtshoorn to do the little detour to the waterfall when they are on the road to or from the Cango Caves. It took me years to finally go there and I'm so sorry that it did cause it truly is a very special spot.

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02/04/2013

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Rust en Vrede Waterfall

When I was in primary school we did a tour to Oudtshoorn and one of the places we were supposed to visit was the Rust en Vrede (Rest and Peace) Waterfall. The visit was cancelled due to bad weather and I've always wondered what I had missed. When I started working as a tourist guide about 15 years ago I noticed the turnoff and sign to the waterfall on the way to the Cango Caves, but as it wasn't included in any of…

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22/03/2013

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