Prince Albert

Prince Albert is named after the British Prince Albert (1819 - 1861), who was husband to the British Queen Victoria (24 May 1819 - 22 January 1901), who ruled the British Empire for 64 years. She became Queen at the age of 18, when her father, King William IV died.

Prince Albert in the 1850s

Young Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

The town Prince Albert is in the arid Karoo, but due to lots of water from the nearby Swartberg Mountains, the village is an oasis.

Prince Albert lies at the foot of the mighty Swartberg.

Architecture

There are several Cape Dutch, Karoo and Victorian buildings in town. Many buildings of the Victorian era are found in the village, with some 13 declared National Monuments.

Old Mill

The Albert 's Mill is in the process of being fully restored to its former, fully functional glory. Visit the mill just outside Prince Albert on the left-hand side of the road towards the Mountain (before you reach the Pass turn-off). Flour from the mill is available from the Fransie Pienaar Museum Shop.

Prince Albert Gallery

Come and visit the Prince Albert Gallery, between the Fransie Pienaar Museum and the Tourism Bureau. See a variety of paintings and sculptures by local artists.

Trading hours: Mon – Fri: 10:00-12:30 and 14:00-16:00 Sat: 09:00-12:00

Fransie Pienaar Museum

The Fransie Pienaar Museum hosts cultural exhibits from the past of the village. Items range from music instruments to guns and Prince Albert's own 1890's Gold Rush.

R5 per Adult; next to Tourism Bureau

This cultural historical museum in Prince Albert depicts the history of the town and environment. Fransie Pienaar collected most of the contents of the museum. This collection of historical items is still growing today, due to further donations from past and present inhabitants of Prince Albert. It is now housed in the house, which was built by the Haak Family in 1906. The building also served as a hospital from 1952-1978.

Hours: Mon – Fri: 09:00-12:30 and 14:00-17:00 Sat: 09:00-12:00

There is a Witblits (i.e. Moonshine) distillery at the museum.

A painting (dated 1778) of Prince Albert by Robert Gordon can be seen ion the museum.

Swartberg Mountains

Prince Albert lies on the interior foot of the Swartberg Mountains; on the Great Karoo side, with the Little Karoo on the other side of the Swartberg Mountains.

Three routes connect the Great Karoo with the Little Karoo and the coast: the Swartberg Pass, Meiringspoort and Seweweekspoort.

Swartberg Pass

The Swartberg Pass (1'568m, and 1'220m above the Little Karoo basin) is on the R328 road to Oudtshoorn, and 27km long. This is a gravel road, passible by cars, except on occassion when the pass is closed due to heavy snowfalls or rains. Construction of the pass began in 1883 by Thomas Bain, who built many of the mountain passes in the 1800s. The first car to drive over the pass was that of Dr Russell from Oudtshoorn in 1904. Swartberg Pass was declared a National Monument in 1988.

In winter the pass is often snowed in and closed to traffic; and some summer it is closed due to heavy rains.

The mountain is covered with fynbos and a rich bird life.

Hikes ranging from 1 to 5 days are possible along the pass. Mountain biking is of course also available.

Meiringspoort

Meiringspoort is another passage through the Swartberg Mountain Range on the N12 route to Oudtshoorn.

Gamkas Kloof

In the Gamkas Kloof (also known as Die Hel) of the Swartberg Mountains, remnants of a hill-billy type of settlement can be visited. Gamkas Kloof is to the southwest of Prince Albert. Accomodation is available in the rennovated and restored old homes of the settelement.

The Gamka Valley (or “Die Hel”) is about 20Km long and less than a kilometer wide. It is situated in the Swartberg mountains. It was inaccessible by road until 1963. Access was on foot. Today Elands Pass can be traveled by car. The pass is 1'000m above the valley floor. The return trip takes about 6 hours.

There are many streams and fertile soil once supported the community who lived there for more than 100 years.

EXPLORING GAMKASKLOOF with Onse Rus Guesthouse

Gamkaskloof (Die Hel) is a secluded valley in the Swartberg Mountains. It has been settled since 1834 and the only access was on foot until 1962 when a road was built. From then until 1982 the valley gradually emptied of people. Nowadays only two small families live there.

As a community cut off from the mainstream of South African life Die Hel is swathed in romance. The 50 km trip into Gamkaskloof (Die Hel) returning on the same route takes a minimum of 8 hours. The road is rough with a steep mountain pass descending into the valley so the traveler should have a real interest in visiting the place before embarking on the journey there.

We depart Prince Albert no later than 08H30 in a Land rover defender and stop for a light picnic break on the way. The spectacular mountain scenery and wildlife tends to lengthen the traveling time especially for those with an interest in photography.

We spend most of the day exploring this isolated valley enough to gain an insight into the way of life there. We stop at “The Devils Kitchen” run by Annetjie Joubert ’s who was born and bred in Gamkaskloof. They also run a kiosk where local product is always on offer and where some interesting old photographs give us a clearer idea of the kind of people that used to inhabit the valley.

The time taken to climb out of the valley back up the Elandspad pass returning to Prince Albert is also sometimes lengthened by the allure of fresh mountain streams on a hot day. Please bring your swimming costumes

Price including all food and drink for the day: Please advise if you have any special dietary requirements.

Meiringspoort

Meiringspoort is about 50Km from Prince Albert. First take the R407, then go south on the N12. Meiringspoort is between Klaarstroom and De Rust.

Meiringspoort is a deep cleft through the seemingly impenetrable Swartberg Mountain range. This natural passage forms a convenient link between the Great and Little Karoo. Soaring cliff walls with spectacular rock formations line the 25 km tarred road which winds along the floor of the gorge, crossing the Groot River 25 times. Entry to the Poort is via Klaarstroom, 55 kms east of Prince Albert en route to Oudtshoorn and the coast. Hardy plants, including indigenous pelargonium, cling to the precarious rock faces while birds, baboons and smaller fauna abound in the protected kloofs and crevices. Among the most scenic spots is the waterfall tumbling into a dark pool which, according to legend, is bottomless. In Meiringspoort one feels insignificant against the overwhelming grandeur of the surroundings. Driving through this Poort with its winding road, the traveler is enchanted by the scenery with a kaleidoscope of every changing colour. The richness of the vegetation along the river will intrigue the plant lover and the birdwatcher will be amazed at the bird life. Meiringspoort was originally opened to traffic on the 3rd March 1858.

Klaarstroom

The hamlet Klaarstroom is on the northern side of Meiringspoort and was established as a stop over after the journey through the poort.

Things to do

The Ghost Walk

Join Ailsa Tudhope for an hour-long pre-dinner walk around the streets of the village, in the company of the Ghosts of Prince Albert. You set out at dusk and wander the streets as darkness descends. The stories include ghostly tales: some eerie, others amusing; and a few stories about individuals who have left their mark here. OR she will come to Onse Rus and do a pre supper hour of tales there is a cost.

Gordon 's Koppie Ramble

For the more energetic: this walk along the hill behind the village takes at least one and half-hours. There is a well-defined path, which is steep at times. Walkers should wear sturdy shoes or boots, sun block and a hat and carry water. The stories take one back to 1762. Fossils and vygies, artists and Anglo-Boer War soldiers, Outa Lappies and our first farmers, all feature in this trip through time, which offers spectacular views of the Karoo plains, the koppies, mountains and the little village of Prince Albert.

Outa Lappies

Outa Lappies ( Jan Schoeman ) was voted Western Cape Tourism Personality of the Year 2000, lives 42 km outside Prince Albert at Prince Albert Road, en-route to the N1. Outa believes that nothing should go to waste and his life is ruled by his saying 'something out of nothing'. He recycles garbage into extraordinary artworks, lamps and embroidery. He even sews together his own scraps of material; which is why he is called Outa Lappies .

SoetKaroo

SoetKaroo is a fortified dessert wine that comes from Prince Albert. The Grapes are grown in a vineyard behind an old 1841 Cape Dutch house situated in the centre of town. It is probably the smallest registered wine farm in South Africa! Please phone to make an appointment.

Guided Historical Town Walk

Prince Albert is architecturally a small gem, with 18 National Monuments (in town and the district) and a very well preserved mix of Cape Dutch, Karoo, Georgian, and Neo-gothic and Victorian buildings. How old is the town and why is it called Prince Albert? Do you know about the gold rush here or the ostrich feather market boom in 1891. Why not ask Lydia on one of her guided walks around the town.

Township Tour

Lynette Claassen is doing a hop-in-guided tour of North End. Lynette hops into your vehicle and takes you on a tour to meet members of our North End community in their own homes, businesses and at the nursery and primary school. Booking is essential, as Lynette has to arrange access to the various venues on the route. Refreshments are served and you have the chance to experience life in North End.

Geology Tours

Dr Judy Macquire and her husband John will take you to bushman paintings on her farm 10 km from Prince Albert in the Scholtzkloof valley. And give you the most wonderful talk on Bushmen. Please phone to make a reservation. Donations

Geology

To view the spectacular private Barrella precious gem collection, please phone Lydia.

Cost: R5 per person.

Wolskuur Spinners

Die Wolskuur produces a magnificent range of hand spun, woven rugs in a variety of sizes, designs and colours. In addition they sell natural woven products that include Mohair blankets. Visit the weavery and the shop on Church Street. Open Monday to Thursday from 7:30 to 17:00, Friday from 07:30 to 16:00 (Closed daily from 13:00 to 14:00).

The Tanner & Leather Trader

Come and visit our shop, easy to find, directly opposite the Swartberg Hotel. We sell shoes, slippers and genuine leather goods at unbeatable prices directly from the Tannery

Trading hours: Mon – Fri: 09:00-17:00; Sat: 09:00-14:00; Sun: 10:00-16:0

Farm Visits

Weltevrede Fig and Fruit Farm

25km west of Prince Albert on the Weltevrede road (turn off at the cemetery in Christina de Wit Street near the old watermill). Sun dried Adams Figs, Fresh Oranges and Naartjies. Farm visits during the picking and drying season – January to April or May – can be arranged.

Swartbult Fig Farm

The farm is situated 13 km north of Prince Albert off Prince Albert Road. Swartbult is the biggest dried fig producer in South Africa, and one of the biggest private dried fruit processors in the Southern Hemisphere. Their 3 000 trees cover six hectares and yield 40 tons of fresh figs a year, which converts into between 5 to 7 tons of dried fruit. Visitors are welcome at the farm of direct purchases of fresh and dried figs. Please call Jeanette or Dolf for an appointment.

Gay 's Dairy/Cheese Tours

Gay 's beautiful Guernsey cows produce an average 450 litres of milk a day for consumption in Prince Albert. Gay 's Dairy also processes low-fat yoghurt's, cheese, amasi and fruit juices. The dairy is open from 07:00-08:00 and 17:00-18:00 daily including weekends. A must for those with discerning taste buds. For tours, including school groups, contact Gay at the above number.

Swartrivier Olive Farm

Situated 5 kms out of Prince Albert on the Leeu Gamka/Kruidfontein road. The Bothma’s harvest between 50 and 80 tons of olives per annum. There are 3 000 trees, with Manzanilla and Mission varieties grown for processing and Leccino for oil. Twenty percent of their production is retained for local sales and processing, while 80 percent is sold to major processors in Cape Town. Tours and tasting by prior arrangement

Saturday Market

Next to the Fransie Pienaar Museum

Saturday morning’s people of Prince Albert come to the market to sell their goods, have tea and socialize. For sale are an interesting variety of local produce such as home-made goodies, fresh vegetables and fruits in season, Karoo Lamb, etc. So come down to the market and join the locals for a chat and a look-round.

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Events

The Olive Festival is held annually in April.

Prince Albert Agricultural Show is held in October.

The Oktoberfest & Flower Festival is held in October.

History

In 1762 Zacharias and Dina de Beer settled in the area, calling their farm Queekvalleij (Kweekvallei).

Prince Albert was founded as a church centre in 1842 on the farm Kweekvallei, and a church built by 1844. In 1845 the name Albertsburg was suggested for the settlement, but eventually the name Prince Albert was approved.

In 1891 gold was found on the farm Klein Waterval, but only 504 ounces of gold were mined.

During the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) a British garrison was stationed in Prince Albert.

Nature

Prince Albert lies in the Great Karoo (WWF AT1314) ecoregion. Towards the mountain Lowland fynbos and renosterveld ecoregion (WWF AT1202) are found.

There are 130 species of bird, including Black Eagle.

Baboons, klipspringers and dassies can be seen along routes. Other animals in the area, but not seen so often are: leopard, karakal and jackal, kudu and grey rhebuck.

Temperature
Summer: highs of 40°C
Winter: lows below 0°C

Thanks to Lisa Smith of Onse Rus for contributing to this page.

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