Page 366 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

364  THE ARID INTERIOR

Doornhoek Cottage where the
screen adaptation of Olive
Schreiner’s The Story of an
African Farm was filmed, and
leads to a shady picnic site at
the base of the mountains. The
northern loop, which starts just
before Wilgeboom, climbs
steeply to the Rooi plaat Plateau,
and offers splendid views across
the vast Karoo, where most of
the park’s wildlife congregates.
The early mornings and late
afternoons are the best times
to visit the area.
A Cape mountain zebra in Mountain Zebra National Park
5 Mountain Zebra mammals, including cheetah, 6 Cradock
National Park black wildebeest, kudu, eland, Road map D4. * 36,000.
red hartebeest, springbok,
Road map D4. 26 km (16 miles) buffalo, black rhino and caracal. £ Church St. @ Struwig
W of Cradock. Tel Park: 048 881 2427; More than 200 species of bird Motors, Main St. n JA Calata St,
reservations: 012 428 9111. have been recorded here, 074 188 7087. Open daily.
Open 7am–6pm May–Sep; including many raptors and ∑ cradock-info.co.za
7am–7pm Oct–Apr. & } Ó  the endangered blue crane. In 1812, towards the end
0 = ∑ sanparks.org
The rest camp, which of the Fourth Frontier War,
While the national park west over looks a valley, consists Sir John Cradock established
of Cradock is the second- of chalets, a camp site, two military outposts to
smallest in the country, its a restaurant, shop and secure the eastern border.
modest acreage in no way infor mation centre. One was at Grahamstown,
detracts from the visitor’s A short walk leads past the the other at Cradock.
enjoyment. It was originally chalets to the swimming Merino sheep flourished
conceived as a sanctuary that pool set at the base of a in this region, and
was intended to rescue the granite ridge. Cradock soon
Cape mountain zebra from For convenience, developed into a
imminent extinction. When the the park can be divided sheep-farming centre.
park was proclaimed in 1937, into two sections. The Dutch
there were six zebras; by 1949 From the camp, a Reformed Church
only two remained. Conserv- circular drive of was inspired by
ation efforts were successful, 28 km (18 miles) London’s St Martin-
however, and the park now explores the wooded in-the-Fields.
protects about 300 zebras. Wilgeboom Valley, Completed in
The plains and mountains noted for its rugged 1867, it dominates
of this Karoo landscape also granite land forms. The Dutch Reformed Church the town’s central
support a wide variety of other The road passes the in Cradock square. The Great
Fish River Museum
behind the town hall preserves
Olive Emilie Schreiner (1855–1920) the history of the early pioneers.
The Story of an African Farm is widely regarded as the first In Market Street, Die Tuishuise
South African novel of note. Olive Schreiner began writing it (see p391) is the result of an
while she worked as a governess on farms in the Cradock innovative project to restore
district. The manuscript was released in 1883 a series of 30 mid-19th-century
under the male pseudonym Ralph Iron, and Karoo cottages and to create
was an immediate success. Schreiner, an comfort able bed and breakfast
active campaigner for women’s equality and accommodation. Each is
a supporter of “Native” rights, wrote furnished simply and
extensively on politics. She died in Wynberg charmingly in the style of
(Cape Town) in 1920. Her husband, Samuel the period, with meals taken
Cronwright-Schreiner, buried her on in the adjoining Victoria
Buffelskop, 24 km (15 miles) south of Manor hotel.
Cradock, beside their daughter, who had
died 25 years earlier just 18 hours after E Great Fish River Museum
her birth, and Olive’s dog. Olive Schreiner Commissioner St. Tel (048) 881 4509.
Open 8am–4:15pm Mon–Fri. &
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p391 and p411

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