KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
How to get there? Fraserburg is about 113 km north-west of LeeuGamka. At Leeu-Gamka, turn off the N1 and follow the R353 via the Theekloof Pass. It’s the only tar road to Fraserburg. The roads from Sutherland, Williston, Carnarvon and Loxton are all gravel.
Best time to visit? It gets very hot in summer and it can snow in winter. During August there are often wildflowers along the Rante road towards Sutherland.
THINGS TO DO The following activities can all be booked with guide Marthinus Kruger. Half-price rates for children. 084 873 0098; mjkruger99@gmail.com Stargazing: Fraserburg is 110 km from Sutherland, which bills itself as having the clearest skies in South Africa. But as someone in town told me: “We have the same stars here.” It’s true. Marthinus will give you directions to a safe spot away from the lights of Fraserburg. Take a blanket and a picnic basket and prepare yourself for more stars than you’ve seen in years. Historical walking tour: Explore Fraserburg on foot with Marthinus (1 – 2 hours). You’ll visit places like the original Rietfontein farmstead, the Anglican church and the Dutch Reformed church, and some historical houses. R50 per person. Visit the museum: At the Ou Pastorie Museum in Voortrekker Street, you can learn more about Fraserburg’s history and the dinosaur tracks found in the area. Check out the scale model of a Bradysaurus. Marthinus offers guided tours of the museum, which includes a visit to the Peperbus and a replica of a corbelled house. R50 per person. See dinosaur tracks: Marthinus will guide you around the farm Gansfontein, about 3 km outside town, where you can place your hand next to a Bradysaurus footprint and imagine what the Karoo might have looked like 250 million years ago. R100 per person; bring your own vehicle. Drive the Rante road: This road to Sutherland takes you onto a high plateau, past a sterboom ( Cliffortia arborea) and the graves of British soldiers. It’s one of the most scenic routes in the Karoo. Play golf: Tee off on a Karoo course for only R10 per person. On a Saturday afternoon you can play with the locals and kuier at the 19th hole afterwards. Visit the cemetery: Walk around on your own or go on a guided tour to see several graves of historical importance. R50 per person.