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PROBUS OUTING: 5 - 10 August 2019
Welcome to our 5½ days driving and exploring adventure at the start of the West Coast Flower Season. We will cover around 1000 km, often off the main routes. The roads are mainly tarred but there are long stretches of reasonably (hopefully) maintained gravel and farm roads. We will go over 11 passes (perhaps 12) - some spectacular. Our main stay is at the Gifberg Farm, near Vanrhynsdorp, and time at Papkuilsfontein near Nieuwoudtville.
What to take
Travel lightly! Casual clothes; warm clothing as it may be cold at that time; walking gear including, hat, sun protection, water containers etc.; rain gear; costumes (dipping in the Gifberg Farm pool and for the more adventurous, in the river pools - brrrr); torch; books etc. for those who would like to do more relaxing etc. Cash as some places do not take cards.
Costs
The following costs are not included in the accommodation and catering: Breakfast at Moorreesburg; lunches at Lamberts Bay, Papkuilsfontein and Citrusdal; dinner at Ceres; and tea/coffee along the way as the spirit moves us; sharing of fuel costs for the vehicles.
Day 1: 5 August
Cape Town - Nicky Lategan Slagtery and Restaurant, Lang St., Moorreesburg (town originally Hooikraal but changed in 1880 in honour of the Rev. Johannes Carolus Moorrees, minister of the Swartland Duch Reformed Church) https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicky-Lategan-Slaghuis-Restuarant/119361738218897 112 km (1:30-2 hrs.) Meet for breakfast at 09h00 (own account) - leave <10h30
Moorreesburg – Lambert’s Bay (named for Sir Robert Lambert, Fleet Commander, 1820-1821) (Tea/coffee/lunch and visit Bird Island Nature Reserve –own account) 163 km (2 hrs.) https://www.capenature.co.za/reserves/bird-island-nature-reserve/3/
Lambert’s Bay - Gifberg Holiday Farm over the Gifberg Pass. 108 km (2:00 hrs.)
(From Lambert’s Bay we turned north at Graafwater in order to visit the Heerenlogement Cave – of historical interest)
Days 2, 3: 5-7 August
Gifberg Holiday Farm (3 nights 2 days); our hosts are Maureen and Jansu Huisamen. www.gifberg.co.za (in Matsikamma – stagnant water escarpment - ‘Gifberg’ named for the poisonous plant Hyaenanche glabbosa, a unique plant that occurs only here. Powdered seeds were used to poison predators and the San used it for arrowhead poison) https://www.countrylife.co.za/adventure/hiking-the-trails-of-the-gifberg-holiday-farm
We will probably do three hikes during our three night, two day stay: Pothole, Hamerkop and Boesman Routes (see Gifberg website). The accommodation includes kitchens with fridges, stoves, crockery, utensils etc. Have meals at coffee shop or provide own breakfasts (x3) and lunches (x2), tea/coffee, wine etc. Their local wines R60-70. No corkage charge. Jansu, a trained chef, will provide excellent dinners, starting with a super braai; firewood is available to buy; wine and beer at reasonable prices, but no fresh milk etc. Cell phone at office – only MTN. No internet but landline phone for emergencies.
Gifberg dinners:
5 August - Braai:
Starter: Marinated pork ribs. Main: Karoo lamb Chops, Chicken kebabs, Pumpkin fritters with sweet sauce, Potato dish, Greek Salad, Farm style bread with homemade jams. Desert: Cheese cake + Jansu
6 August
Main course: Bobotie, Yellow rice, Quinces in syrup, Sweet potatoes, Banana Salad
Desert: Lemon Meringue + Ian Glass
7 August:
Main course: Chicken Pie, Mashed potatoes with cream and cheese, Sweet peas, Vegetables with white sauce. Desert: Chocolate cake + John
Day 4: 8 August
Gifberg – Papkuilsfontein (21 km from Nieuwoudtville) over the Vanrhyns Pass 104 km (1:45 hrs.)
Vanrhynsdorp (after Petrus Benjamin van Rhyn, owner of the original farm: a town from 1887): Visit Kokerboom Nursery and tea/coffee and re-fuel if required. https://www.sa-venues.com/things-to-do/westerncape/kokerboom-nursery/
Papkuilsfontein: 12h00 Lunch at Die Waenhuis (own account) http://www.papkuilsfontein.com/restaurant.php and 14:00 guided tour of flowers, geology etc. with Willem van Wyk http://www.papkuilsfontein.com/
De Lande Guest House (11 km away) and Boereplaas; 3 course dinner + Carel, bed and breakfast. Good wines available - R30 corkage if you bring your own.
Day 5: 9 August
De Lande – Citrusdal (Centre of the Western Cape citrus industry) - via Botterkloof, Klipfonteinrand and Pakhuis Passes. 178 km. 2:30 hrs. Lunch (own account) at The Grapevine Coffee Shop, 30 Voortrekker Street.
Citrusdal – Ceres (Ceres named for the Roman goddess of agriculture in 1854 by Senator G Munnik who bought the farm where the town stands), Porterhouse Eleven Guest House, 11 Porter Street (bed and breakfast). Over Elandskloof, Middelberg, Buffelshoek and Gydo Passes. 112 km. 1:30 hrs. Visit ‘Togryers’ Museum?
Dinner at The Village Restaurant (own account). Lynn-Mari Goosen. 64 Vos Street, Ceres. Tel: 023 316 2035. Limited set menu to ease the dinner service e.g. 300g Rump with veggies and chips R145; Chicken Snitchel Stacker (3xlayered crumbed chicken breasts) with veggies and chips R120; 600g Ribs and chips R135; Beer battered Hake and chips R95 + JP?
Day 6: 10 August
Ceres – Cape Town via Michells Pass, R43, Slanghoek Road and Old Du Toit’s Kloof Pass. Stop at Du Toitskloof Wines and Ou Meul Bakery for early coffee and comfort break (and buy wine). 145 km (2:20 hrs.)
Passes
Gifberg 1917 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8hl_jJkM5o
Vanrhyns 1880 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfkubA2F4gA
Botterkloof, (named for the occurrence of the ‘botterboom’); Klipfonteinrand; Pakhuis 1877 (the name Pakhuis refers to the cracked, flat rock strata of the mountains)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEaVKe_70xY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCOGSqoL7IE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYvmemF7D9E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuiMJj4ks94
Elandskloof 1798 (name applied to migration routes of the eland); Middelberg 1970’s (there are several ‘middle mountains’ in this area); Buffelshoek
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8euBGu87Gg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqsxIZvUr-w
Gydopass 1838 (may be steep pass)’) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9izchNIh58
Michells 1848 (Andrew Bain’s pass named after Charles Michell, surveyor-general) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4Wgao_Hnv4
Du Toits Kloof 1738 (du Toit was the first farmer here in 1692) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8p8poLfx2w
Participants:
Braithwaite, Neil & Good, June
Jay, Kathy & Ian
Martin, Duncan
Plowden, Olivia
Rogers, John & Phil
Seymour, Sarah
van der Merwe, Nan & Carel
van Niekerk, JP & Annette j
Visser, Danie & Anita
Willmot, Mike
Transport (5 vehicles)
van der Merwe + Rogers (4); v
an Niekerk + Brathwaite, Good (4);
Jay + Seymour (3);
Glass + Willmot, Plowden (4);
Visser + Martin (3)
Accommodation
Gifberg
Groothuis:
Nan and Carel van der Merwe (double)
Phil and John Rogers
June Good and Neil Brathwaite
Annette and JP van Niekerk
Rivierhuis:
Hettie and Ian Glass (double)
Kathy and Ian Jay (double or single)
Duncan Martin
Mike Willmot
Kliphuis:
Anita and Danie Visser
Olivia Plowden and Sarah Seymour
Papkuilsfontein
De Lande:
Hettie and Ian Glass (double)
Anita and Danie Visser
Duncan Martin and Mike Willmot
Olivia Plowden and Sarah Seymour
Jan Voorman:
Annette and JP van Niekerk (double)
June Good and Neil Brathwaite
Matjiesfontein:
Kathy and Ian Jay
Boereplaas:
Nan and Carel van der Merwe (double)
Phil and John Rogers (double)
Ceres
The Village Guesthouse:
Hettie and Ian Glass (double)
Kathy and Ian Jay
Duncan Martin and Mike Willmot
Olivia Plowden and Sarah Seymour
Porterhouse Eleven:
Nan and Carel van der Merwe (double)
Phil and John Rogers (double)
June Good and Neil Brathwaite
Annette and JP van Niekerk (double)
Anita and Danie Visser (double)
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