Our Towns

Hamtam Region

Calvinia is a regional town in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The town falls under the Hantam Local Municipality which forms part of the Namakwa District Municipality. The Calvinia district is part of the Great Karoo region of South Africa. The town is just south of the Hantam mountains on the banks of the Oorlogskloof (meaning "War Ravine") River.

The Calvinia Museum is housed in the former art deco styled Jewish synagogue built in 1920. The museum portrays the lives of the early European settlers. It displays a cedarwood horsemill and mounted Cape fat-tailed, Merino and Dorper sheep. Unusual specimens such as a 4-legged ostrich and genetically anomalous sheep can also be viewed.

The Akkerendam Nature Reserve is located three kilometers north of Calvinia. The reserve offers unique flowers and two hiking trails cross the Hantam mountains. The indigenous and rare sterboom (literally translated "star tree")(Cliffortia arboreais) can be seen here.

The Hantam Meat Festival, an agricultural show and great barbecue (Afrikaans "braai"), takes place every year in late August.

The Boekhuis was built in 1860 by Jacobus Nel van der Merwe in Cape Dutch style with a concave-convex gable. This historical T-shaped house in Water Street is made available for the exclusive use of writers.

Hamtam Region

Loeriesfontein is situated at the edge of the Hantam Karoo, Bushmanland and Namaqualand and 81km north of Calvinia on the R355.

Spring wildflowers

Die Windpomp Museum

The Fred Turner Museum

Quiver Tree hills

Hamtam Region

The village of Nieuwoudtville was established in 1897 on land that was purchased from H.C. Nieuwoudt - after whom the town was named. Nieuwoudtville lies at the western edge of the Hantam Karoo a few kilometres east of the Bokkeveld Escarpment.

Roggeveld Region

The tiny village of Middelpos in the Roggeveld is situated half-way between Sutherland and Calvinia on the R354 and remains probably one of the most authentic Karoo villages in its isolation and remoteness.

Gannaga Pass

Ouberg Pass

Magnificent views of the Tankwa Valley from the Roggeveld Plateau

Anglo Boer War Memorial to the 11th Imperial Yoamanry

Roggeveld Region

Sutherland was founded in 1855 as a church and market town to serve the area's sheep farmers. Sutherland is the coldest town in South Africa at 1 450 meters above sea level and snowfall is common in winter.

Attractions

SALT - South African Large Telescope. Book a tour

The Great Escarpment

Wildflowers after the first spring rains