Just Not That

Route 62 has a lot to offer visitors, but for some reason it just do not get all the attention it deserves. Let us start our journey from Cape Town.

96 km
Worcester is home to the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden, which according to their website is “totally unique in that it is the only truly succulent garden in the southern hemisphere and on the African continent”. If you have lots of time, there is also Kleinplasie, a living open-air museum where you can see how people lived just over a century ago and the KWV house of brandy (see my earlier post).

From Worcester the road leads through the Robertson winelands. Besides the numerous wine farms another interesting place to visit is the succulent garden and maze at Soekershof.

200 km
The magnificent Cogman’s Kloof pass leads you to Montagu, which is a great place to spend a day or two. Montagu is most famous for its muscadel and natural hot water springs, but also offer beautiful walks, a botanical garden, lots of interesting shops to browse through and a good selection of restaurants.

266 km
The next town on the route is Barrydale. Barrydale has similar things to offer than Montagu, but appears more rustic and less commercialized. Highlights are potstill brandy at Barrydale Cellar, hot springs and for the kids – feeding the fish at the Blue Cow restaurant.

In the middle of nowhere you will find the landmark Ronnies Sex Shop that started off as Ronnies Shop and ended up as a pub after friends spiced up the name.

For those lucky ones not pressed for time, the little karoo mermaid trail around Amalienstein and Zoar promises to be an interesting experience.

342 km
Purchase some local cheese and home baked bread at the Parmalat shop in Ladismith.

392 km
Calitzdorp, the port wine capital of South Africa, is another town where one can spend a few days. Walk down historical Queen Street or visit (among others) the wine farms Boplaas and De Krans. If you don’t mind driving on a good gravel road, take one of the two roads towards Kruisrivier/Matjiesrivier to see the red stone hills. If you continue with the road past Matjiesrivier you will end up near the Cango Caves. The donkey trail from Calitzdorp to Die Hel sounds like an interesting hike.

480 km
Oudsthoorn offers so much that it deserves a separate post. Lets just mention Cango Caves, ostriches and Cango Wildlife Ranch as an appetizer.

Unfortunately I cannot comment on the rest of the route, but here are a list of towns with distances.

595 km
Uniondale

637 km
Misgund

671 km
Joubertina

714 km
Kareedouw

764 km
Humansdorp

854 km
Humansdorp to Port Elizabeth

Find more information on accommodation and attractions go to http://www.route62.co.za