A Road Trip Stopover
A Road Trip is not complete without this Stopover ~ The flowers are blooming, the days are longer, the nights a little less chilly, and the smell of sunshine is in the air. It can only mean that summer is around the corner. And, for many, this means that it’s time to plan their annual summer holiday on the coast.
If you’re visiting Cape Town or the Garden Route from up-country (Johannesburg or Durban, for example), a stop-over is a must. And there are fewer better choices than in the quaint sheep-farming district of Colesberg. This is just over six hours from Johannesburg and the OR Tambo International Airport and almost nine hours from Durban.
In Colesberg, the historical architecture, wide roads, and sprawling landscapes lie under the watchful eye of the surrounding mountains to create an idyllic backdrop to your time in this town. The landscapes are speckled with sheep and stud farms. This is an exquisite part of the Karoo and invites its guests to return year after year to be part of the laid-back loveliness.
The Kuilfontein Stable Cottages are nestled amongst all of this, making them a fantastic stopover for those en-route to or from Cape Town. These are, as their name implies, old stables that have been converted into comfortable accommodation that doesn’t compromise on quality. Gorgeous percale linen and mohair blankets are complemented by distinctive African touches in the décor. There are five standard units, two luxury units and a family unit available.
The Paddocks dates back to 1851 and offers self-catering or B & B accommodation. Air-conditioned rooms and a large family unit with its own courtyard make this a fantastic spot for a good night’s rest. Guests can also bring their dogs along by prior arrangement if they are staying in the self-catering unit. A dining room and pub add extra character and convenience to this accommodation.
If you’re able to spend a little longer at Kuilfontein or in Colesberg, pay a visit to the Doornkloof Reserve. This park is home to eland, kudu, the bat-eared fox, aardvark, aardwolf and brown hyena. The Colesberg-Kemper Museum is also an intriguing stop, revealing the secrets of the Northern Cape Province of yesteryear.
From Colesberg, it takes about eight hours to reach the Mother City of Cape Town. As one of the world’s top tourist destinations, she certainly offers no shortage of fantastic places to stay. The romantic wine farms of the Cape Winelands are perfect for visitors that want to surround themselves with the mountains of Franschhoek, the oak-flanked streets of Stellenbosch, or the history of Paarl. The City Bowl, Camps Bay or the V & A Waterfront are ideal for those that love feeling the cosmopolitan vibe of the city while still savouring breath-taking views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean.
And then, when it’s time to pack up and leave the Cape – bronzed, happy and rested – head back via Kuilfontein for one last respite before starting up a brand new year.