The Cape Karoo

Carrying on with our series of regional profiles, today we shall take a look at the Cape Karoo.

Just after Touwsrivier, along the N1, you will enter a land of stark beauty, an arid, desert-like landscape evoking images of cowboys in Country Western movies. The Karoo was home to the original inhabitants of this earth, the Bushmen, this fossil-rich region near Beaufort West and Nelspoort, houses some of the most important archaeological sites in the world . Here, sites and engravings have been dated back to the Stone Age. One could very well imagine this to be the "Bedrock" of the "Flintstones".

The name Karoo comes from the word 'Karusa' which means dry, barren or thirsty land in the Khoi language. The Khoi, along with the San, inhabited these harsh plains over 500 000 years ago and have left their mark inside caves and along the rock formations.

Well known towns in the Karoo include: 

• Beaufort West - the gateway into the Western Cape for those travelling from up country. Also the birthplace of world renowned heart surgeon, Dr Christiaan Barnard, the first man to perform a heart transplant.
• Matjiesfontein - a town from a bygone era that transports you back to a Victorian age. Adding to the charm of this town is the romantic Lord Milner hotel as well as the Old London Bus tour, a double decker bus reminiscent of yesteryear.
• Laingsburg - devastated by a flood in the 1980's, the town has been restored with a museum in remembrance of those who lost their lives. The area around the town is rich in fossils, with evidence dating back to when the Karoo used to be swamp!
• Prince Albert - a thriving apricot and fig industry is possible in this town due to the availability of water from the mountains, unlike other Karoo towns. Olives, cheese and wines add to the splendour that this town has to offer.
• Murraysburg - the town is blessed with a wealth of artists and crafters of a high calibre and has been called the "crafters Mecca of the Karoo".

The best star-gazing in the province can be experienced in the Karoo region. A range of accommodation options are available including the Karoo National Park which is home to many endangered species, including the once extinct quagga.

For adventure and nature lovers alike, there are a range of 4x4 and hiking trails available, for more information contact the tourism office.

Markets - West Coast and Central Karoo

Last up on our journey through the markets of the Western Cape are the West Coast and Central Karoo regions, the two vast landscapes that create the border between us and the Northern Cape of South Africa.

The Cape West Coast, a region that conjures up visions of sleepy fishing villages and flowers for as far as one can see. The Central Karoo, an arid land filled with charm from a bygone era, it makes one feel as if you have stepped back into a Victorian Age.

West Coast

• Riebeek Valley Country Fair, the last Saturday of every month, 9am-2pm, Town Square, Riebeek Kasteel for local food, crafts and music.
• Riebeek West Fresh Funky Market, 1st Saturday of the month, 9am-1pm, Kasteelberg Trading, Voortrekker Road, Riebeek West.
• Groenrivier Food and Craft Market, Sundays, 10:30am-4pm, Groenrivier Farm, Riebeek West. Food, crafts and live music on offer.
• Camphill Market is help the 1st Sunday of the month at Camphill Village from 11am-4pm. food , plants, jewellery and crafts on offer while a marimba band keeps the festivities going.
• Malmesbury Organic and Handcraft Market, is held on the last Saturday of every month from 9am-4pm at the Roman Catholic Church.

Central Karoo

• The Laingsburg Farmers Market , the last Saturday of the month, from 9am-11:30am. Food, crafts and flowers are available.
• The Prince Albert Farmers Market, see link for more information.

*Markets pop up everywhere and close down without notice, whilst this list is extensive, it is by no means everything on offer and does not guarantee the market is still available.