SCENIC DRIVES
Hoeko Valley
Breathtaking scenes of mountains, orchards and vineyards, especially during spring and autumn.
Zoar & Amalienstein – 21 km east on R62
Two former mission stations with a beautiful old neo-Gothic church built in 1853 on Amalienstein – named after Frau Amalie von Stein who left money in her will to the Berlin Missionary Society. This enabled the pastor to buy the farm Elandsfontein, which was named Amalienstein in her honour.
Dwarsrivier, Voorbaat & Vanzylsdamme
West of town on Laingsburg road. Picturesque valleys with orchards, vineyards, dams, and old farmhouses, with the mountain as backdrop wherever you go!
Winkelplaas, Vensterkrans
See the awesome damage that was inflicted by the great Laingsburg flood on 25 January 1981, when the railway line was washed away.
Touwsberg Private Nature Reserve
Situated in the succulent Klein Karoo, a couple of kilometres off the R62 between Ladismith and Barrydale. Turn off at Plathuis and a few kilometres turn right onto the Rietfontein road. The reserve spans 7,000 hectares with the most spectacular Klein Karoo and mountain landscapes. The reserve houses 25 different species of game and 160 species of birds.
The road has a public right of way, but be prepared to open and close 6 gates on your way. The road eventually joins the Kerkplaas road and then further to Ladismith.
Mountaineering challenges
Although not the highest at 2,189m, it is certainly the most well-known and difficult to climb. Towerkop itself is a dome-shaped rock, 122m in height, cleft in two by a fissure of 30m wide at the top tapering to 3m at the basis.
Rock climbing has been of Towerkop since Nefdt’s first ascend in 1885, and over the decades’ dozens of routes have been opened.
However, large parts of these formidable faces still haven’t been climbed and will continue to lure future climbers in the years to come.
Towerkop is strictly a trad climbing and one of a rare few climbing areas where no bolts have been placed. Considering the mountain’s rich history, please let us keep it that way.
Other peaks to be climbed
Seweweekspoort peak (2 325m) – the highest peak in Western Cape. Three routes & traverse to Towerkop
Peak plaats (2,138m)
Steenslang (2,228m)
Toorkop (2,143M)
Elandsberg (2,127m)
NB Permission to climb these peaks (MCSA property), must be obtained beforehand from http://www.towerkopinfo.co.za/
CYCLING
General (dirt & tar)
Obtain Activity Permit with maps from Tourism Office
Dwarsrivier scenic – cycle, drive or eat out. About 26.5km of easy, non-technical cycling on tar and dirt roads
Elandsvlei – about 17km of easy, non-technical on tar and dirt roads
Town to Hoeko, Balmoral – 38 km 2½ hrs moderate effort for a regular cyclist
Plathuis/Prinsrivier – moderate, out-and-back dirt road cycle
Buffelsdrif conservancy loop – 80km mainly gravel
Van Zylsdamme – 59km
Seweweekspoort – about 60km
Reserves Private (for guest only)
Thorn Tree – from easy to difficult
Blouhuis – quite tough
Rooiberg Wild – flat and easy
Vyversrus – up to 75km
Guided Outrides
Waterfall – easy 1½ hrs with rest
Naauwkloof – moderate, 2-3 hrs with rest
Bergplaas – strenuous, 3½ with rest
HIKING/TRAIL RUNNING
Obtain an Activity Permit with maps from the Tourism office
Towersig – three loops, for hikes or trailrunning – 11 km
Vyversrus – navigate own trail on 4×4 tracks or gravel roads – spectacular lookouts
Naauwkloof – navigate own wilderness trail on 4×4 and MTB routes
Dwarsrivier – Towerkraaltjie – Oaksrest – 7km, moderate with steep and wilderness rough sections
Sipreslaan – 3km – same as above
Contact:
Tel: 028 050 0158
e-mail: visitladismith@gmail.com
Facebook: ladismithtourism
