In Prince Albert, the locals say that rain is “more precious than gold”. During my visit in early October, the heavens burst open for what I was told was the first time in nearly three years. As the leiwater furrows beside the high street gathered a steady flow, the whole town seemed to sigh with relief.
If you grew up in arid country, you’ll know the smell of rain hitting dry earth: warm and somewhat metallic. And although rain is always a cause for celebration, Prince Albert is more fortunate than many other Karoo towns when it comes to water. Even though it’s on the southern edge of the Great Karoo, its proximity to the foot of the Swartberg means that it can tap into the mountain’s streams and springs all year-round for its leiwater network.
Before the 18th century, the Swartberg was home to Khoi and San people. Trekboers arrived in the 1740s. A man named Zacharias de Beer registered his farm, De Kweekvallei, in 1762, and it’s here where the settlement of Prince Albert – named after Queen Victoria’s consort, Prince Albert Saxe-Coburg – would be proclaimed a town in 1842.
In its early days, the settlement was known as a place of great beauty and agricultural industry. Before Beaufort West was established in 1818, it served as the main stopover point between the magisterial districts of Cape Town and Graaff-Reinet.
This story is from the February/March 2022 edition of go! - South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February/March 2022 edition of go! - South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The wilder shore
The final leg of a 30-day trek across East Africa sees lan Tyrer and the Africa - Wild & Untamed crew explore both shores of Lake Malawi. Get ready for an overloaded ferry, a croc attack and being surrounded by elephants...
A river runs through it
Sabie is onthe Drakensberg escaromentialongMpumalanga’s famous Panorama Route. Want a weekend away surrounded by forests and waterfalls? Here's wnat you need to know.
TAKE A HIKE
Harkerville's mini Otter
Sweet & juicy!
This issue's recipes all include lush seasonal fruit like nectarines, plums and apricots. Enjoy!
Big mountain magic
On a clear day, as you approach the Cathedral Peak Hotel, it happens involuntarily: You start to grin. You'll be standing up there soon, gazing over this valley, and the scuttling of ground-level life will seem irrelevant. Join us on a five-day adventure into the heart of the high Drakensberg
Your next weekend away
A self-catering house in the Tankwa, a campsite next to the Orange River, a guest farm near the Drakensberg... Toast Coetzer travelled a lot last year: Here are six of his favourite places to stay if you're planning a road trip or weekend escape.
A life through binoculars
If the name Hugh Chittenden sounds familiar, it's probably because you see it every time you use your Roberts Bird Guide he's one of the co-authors. He lives in Mtunzini on the KZN coast and birding is as much part of his day as a cup of coffee.
Wanderlust in the park
All great cities have great parks, writes Dara Kell: spaces where you can exhale and slough off the stress and grime of urban life.
The Kalahari remembers
The Kalahari is a place of magic and heartache, where drought is an ever-present threat. Drive a loop from Upington to the Kuruman River and discover soulful landscapes, brilliant skies and resilient people who never give up.
Take a Hike
Hug a baobab in the Bushveld