Nestled at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains in South Africa’s Western Cape province lies the town of Prince Albert. An oasis in the Great Karoo, this little town is known for its stunning scenery, historic architecture, and warm hospitality.
Our family has been visiting Prince Albert regularly for almost two decades, ever since some of our loved ones moved to the town. Over the years, we’ve enjoyed many of the activities and attractions in the area, and we’ve now compiled a list of what we consider to be the top 10 most unforgettable experiences in and around Prince Albert in South Africa.
We hope that these suggestions will help you make the most of your own visit to this beautiful part of the country.
1. Explore The Swartberg Pass
No trip to Prince Albert is complete without a trip up the Swartberg Pass. This scenic mountain pass winds its way through the Swartberg Mountains, and besides offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape, it also links Prince Albert with the town of Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo.
The pass was built over a period of six years, between 1881 and 1887, under the direction of engineer Thomas Bain. It is considered an engineering marvel and well-preserved, with visitors still able to see the original stonework and retaining walls built over a century ago.
The last time we visited Prince Albert, in June 2022, we drove over the pass from the Oudtshoorn side. This was a first for us, as we had only been up from the Prince Albert side before. It proved to be a hair-raising yet exhilarating experience as our little car zig-zagged its way to Die Top (2 325m) on the gravel road.
Stopping at various spots to appreciate the magnificent views made the 27km drive take a couple of hours, but it was well worth it.
The Swartberg Pass is also a popular spot for hiking and mountain biking, with several picnic sites scattered along the way.
2. Wander To Die Hel
Also known as Gamkaskloof, Die Hel is a valley in the Swartberg Mountains. The road to Die Hel starts near the top of the Swartberg Pass and winds dangerously for 37km to the bottom of the valley, where you will find the Gamka River, picnic sites, and several historic buildings. The only surviving Gamkaskloofer, Annetjie Joubert, provides accommodation at her old farmhouse, Fonteinplaas. The history of the valley is fascinating and worth researching before your trip.
Due to the hairpin bends and gravel road, this drive should only be attempted in a 4 x 4 vehicle. Visiting Die Hel is a day trip, with the 37 km drive taking as much as three hours to complete. We stopped frequently along the way to take photos of the astonishingly beautiful scenery and to simply absorb the stillness of our surroundings. You will, as we did, come away feeling elated and pleased you made the journey.
3. Try A Ghost Walk, If You Dare
Are you interested in hearing about the intriguing history of the town? Well, then contact Ailsa Tudhope, the local storyteller and tour guide. Known as the Story Weaver, Tudhope offers several different walking tours around the town, such as The Historical Ramble, The Treasure Hunt Walk for children, and our favourite, the Ghost Walk. Starting early in the evening, Tudhope takes you on a walk through the streets, giving you a light-hearted look into the lives of Prince Albert’s rather interesting residents, both past and present.
We thoroughly enjoyed this walk when we first visited the town in the early 2000s. Tudhope is a registered tour guide, and she is a walking history book on all matters relating to the area. You can book a walk on her website, The Story Weaver.
4. Drop By Gay’s Guernsey Dairy
For the best cheese, milk, cream, and yoghurt in the country, make sure you find your way to Gay’s Guernsey Dairy. Owned by Gay van Hasselt, all the dairy products come from her herd of Guernsey cows. When in town, we regularly visit the dairy to buy some of her creamy yoghurt and cheese made from raw Guernsey milk. Delicious! No trip to the town is complete without it.
5. Travel To Weltevrede Fig and Guest Farm
Located 25km outside the town, Weltevrede Fig Farm lies in a beautiful valley under the gaze of the Swartberg Mountains. One of the first fig farms in South Africa, the farm still grows and sells its figs in a delicious assortment of preserves, jams, and other fig products. During fig season, from the end of January to the beginning of May, you can buy fresh figs both at the farm and in town.
If you don’t want to leave this stunning valley, you can delay your trip home by enjoying a cup of coffee and a fig platter at their coffee shop or browsing through their fig products in the deli. Stay the night in one of their self-catering cottages, all without electricity, preferring alternative forms of energy instead.
6. Spend Time At The Fransie Pienaar Museum
Those of you in need of a dose of the natural and cultural history of the town should head on down to the Fransie Pienaar Museum. There are a number of displays, including gold mining activities in the area from the late 1800s and a stone age exhibit. Our favourite is a cast of the Bradysaurus fossil footprints found in the area, dating back millions of years.
If witblits is your one weakness, we recommend a visit during March, when the alcoholic beverage is distilled in their antique copper still and sold at the museum. Old wagons mark the location of the museum on the main street.
7. Peruse The Prince Albert Gallery
.An assortment of local art is on show at this lovely gallery in the centre of town. Painters, sculptors, photographers, and potters from the Karoo and all over South Africa display and sell their work in this spacious building. Well worth a visit!
8. Visit The Dutch Reformed Church
Standing proudly on Church Street, with its wrought iron fence and gates, the old Dutch Reformed Church exemplifies elegance and grace. It’s almost impossible to miss this landmark as you walk around town, and is always a photo opportunity waiting to happen. If you are able to enter the church, you will see the original organ in good working condition.
9. Hike Up The Robert Gordon Koppie
We always enjoy a good late afternoon walk, so the short walk to the top of the Robert Gordon Koppie is a must for us. From the top, as the sun sets, you can look out over the entire town with the mountains to the east and the surrounding farms.
10. Check Out The Festivals
A small country town such as Prince Albert lends itself to interesting festivals.
The Journey to Jazz Festival is a new event taking place from 5 – 7 May. From Gospel Jazz to Big Band, this festival hopes to give up-and-coming local and international musicians a platform to perform their tunes.
Prince Albert Open Studios is held twice a year in artists’ homes in the town and surrounding areas. It is fascinating seeing the artists at work and being able to chat about their inspiration and techniques.
The Prince Albert Leesfees (Book Festival) is always a firm favourite. Local authors gather in the town and participate in debates, give talks, and share their literary works and experience against the backdrop of the Swartberg Mountains.
There is so much more to do in this little town. From star-gazing to olive tasting to frequenting the best eateries, the list is endless. You will have to come and see for yourself.
