Page 233 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

THE SOUTHERN C APE  231

Scenic view of the Swartberg Pass from the village of Prince Albert
E Drostdy rhinos, kudu, zebra, wildebeest where guided walking tours of
18 Swellengrebel Street. Tel 028 514 and buffalo, and there is a Prince Albert can be booked.
1138. Open 9am–4:45pm Mon–Fri, reptile centre. A popular The Prince Albert Gallery,
10am–3pm Sat & Sun. Closed 1 Jan, excursion from Cape Town, it opposite the museum, was
Easter, 25 Dec. & 0 - is one of the nearest places to set up by local artists who
∑ drostdymuseum.com
the city for wildlife viewing. wanted to find a venue to
show their work. There are
Environs O Bontebok National Park regular exhibitions of paintings,
Bontebok National Park is 6 km Tel 028 514 2735. Open 7am–7pm sculpture and photographs. The
(4 miles) outside Swellendam. daily (to 6pm May–Sep).  = Gallery Café is open for dinner.
This scenic wilderness was set ∑ sanparks.org On Saturday mornings, in the
up to protect the endangered O Garden Route Game Lodge square opposite the museum,
species of antelope after which Off the N2, 7 km (4 miles) east of there is a food and crafts
it was named. The bontebok Albertinia. Tel 028 735 1200. market, and each April, Prince
has since recovered enough to Open daily. & 8 0 Albert holds a popular olive,
share the habitat with several ∑ grgamelodge.co.za food and wine festival (see p42),
other introduced animals. Most with live entertainment and
of the park is accessible by car, stalls selling local produce.
and there are excellent self- 0 Prince Albert
guided walking trails. Road map C5. * 7,100. n Fransie Environs
The more challenging 74-km Pienaar Museum, Church Street, The spectacular Swartberg
(46-mile) Swellendam Trail 023 541 1366. Open daily. _ Olive Pass, key to the Karoo Desert,
takes in the Marloth Nature Festival (Apr). ∑ princealbert.org.za starts just 2 km (1 mile) from
Reserve, along the southern Prince Albert. The slopes of the
slopes of the Langenberg This pretty village, which is pass provide the irrigation that
Mountains. Continuing along part of the Four Passes Tour makes the village an oasis in
the N2, the Garden Route (see pp234–5), has several this arid area. The pass was
Game Lodge is 129 km (80 attractions. The Fransie Pienaar built by the road engineer
miles) beyond Swellendam. Museum, which hosts one of Thomas Bain after heavy
It has been stocked with a the world’s largest fossil floods in 1875 swept away
number of species including collections, also houses the the previous road, depriving
giraffes, lions, elephants, white tourist information centre, local farmers of their link
with the nearest seaports.

E Fransie Pienaar Museum
42 Church St. Tel 023 541 1172.
Open 9:30am–4:30pm Mon–Fri,
9:30am–noon Sat, 10:30am–11:30am
Sun. Closed public hols. &
E Prince Albert Gallery
57 Church St. Tel 023 541 1057.
Open 9am–4pm Mon–Fri,
9:30am–2pm Sat. 0 from 6:30pm.
Beautiful proteas blooming on the Swartberg Pass ∑ princealbertgallery.co.za

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