Page 232 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

230  THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN C APE

afterwards, the Old Gaol is
situated at the rear of the
Drostdy. Originally it was a
simple, single-storey building
with lean-to cells, but it was
subsequently enlarged to
include an enclosed courtyard
created by linking the two cell
blocks with high walls.
Near the museum is the
Ambagswerf (trade yard),
which features a smithy
Mountain biking in the De Hoop Nature Reserve and wagonmaker’s shop, a
mill and bakery, a tannery, a
8 De Hoop Nature camp to Tierhoek. Species to cooperage and a coppersmith.
Reserve look out for are the rare Cape Crafts demonstrations are held
moun tain zebra and bontebok, here regularly. Also on site is
Road map B5. R319, 56 km (35 miles) eland, grey rhebok, baboons the pretty Mayville Cottage.
W of Bredasdorp. Tel 028 542 1114. and the yellow mongoose. Built between 1853 and 1855,
Open 7am–7pm daily (to 6pm May– it represents a transition of
Sep). Permits required for hiking A mountain bike trail traverses
and mountain-biking. & the Potberg sec tion of the architectural styles, using
∑ capenature.co.za reserve, which con tains a both Cape Dutch and Cape
breeding colony of the rare Georgian influences. Its rose
This reserve encompasses a Cape vulture. Comfortable camp garden features heritage species.
50-km (31-mile) stretch of sites and self-catering cottages Swellendam is renowned for
coastline, are avail able and overnight its many fine old buildings.
weathered visitors can experience the The Oefeningshuis was built in
limestone cliffs spectacular southern 1838 as a school for freed slaves.
and spectacular night sky almost An interesting feature of the
sand dunes, some free of light building is the clock designed
of which tower as pollution. De Hoop for the illiterate: when the time
high as 90 m (295 ft). is also the start of painted on the sculpted clock
De Hoop’s main the popular 5-day face matches that on the real
attraction is a 14-km Whale Trail hike clock below, then it is time
(9-mile) wetland along the coast, for worship.
that is home to 12 which must be Also noteworthy are the
of South Africa’s 16 Eland at De Hoop booked well imposing Dutch Reformed
waterfowl species. Nature Reserve in advance. Church, the wrought-iron
Thousands of red- balconies of the Buirski & Co
knobbed coot, yellow-billed shop, which opened for trade
duck and Cape shoveller, as well 9 Swellendam in 1880, and the elegant Auld
as Egyptian geese, can be seen Road map B5. * 17,550. House on the same street.
here, although populations do n 22 Swellengrebel Street, 028 514
fluctuate with the water level 2770. Open 9am–5pm Mon–Fri,
of the marshland. The bird- 9am–2pm Sat & Sun.
watching is best between ∑ swellendamtourism.co.za
the months of September and
April, when migrant flocks of Nestling in the shadow of the
Palaearctic waders arrive. Of the Langeberg Mountains,
13 species that have been Swellendam is one of South
recorded, visitors may expect Africa’s most picturesque small
to see ringed plover, wood towns. The country’s third-
and curlew sandpiper, oldest town, after Cape Town
greenshank and little stint. and Stellenbosch, Swellendam
The rich variety of fynbos was founded by the Dutch in
species includes the endemic 1742 and named after the
Bredasdorp sugarbush governor and his wife.
(Protea obtusfolia), stinkleaf The thatched-roofed and
sugar bush (Protea susannae) whitewashed Drostdy was built
and pincushion protea by the Dutch East India
(Leucospermum oliefolium). Company in 1747 as the seat of
Wildlife can also be seen in the land drost, or magistrate. It
the reserve, and there is a short now serves as a museum of The whitewashed Dutch Reformed Church
circular drive from the rest Dutch colonial life. Built shortly in Swellendam
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp386–7 and pp403–4

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