Calitzdorp

Calitzdorp is a small village on the western side of the Little Karoo, ringed by the Swartberg to the north and the Rooiberge to the south. The farm here was granted to the Calitz brothers in 1821 and the town was proclaimed in 1909. Its claim to fame is port. Little rain and fierce summer heat make good conditions for fortified wine, and the local cellars have built a national reputation on it. It makes a good overnight stop on a Route 62 drive.

Getting there

Calitzdorp is on Route 62 between Ladismith and Oudtshoorn, on the drive east from Montagu and Barrydale. Oudtshoorn is 55 km east and Ladismith 60 km west. The Huisrivier Pass is in the mountains just west of the village.

When to go

The valley sits in a rain shadow and gets only about 200 mm of rain a year. Summer days can reach 40°C, which makes long walks hard work. Winter nights are cold, with the odd frost and snow on the peaks, but the local tourism office reckons winter is the best season to visit. The Port Festival is held in mid June.

What to do

Wine is the main event. Boplaas, a family business going back to 1880, makes port styles, brandy and now whisky. De Krans, on land the Nel family bought in 1890, is known for its Cape Vintage, Tawny and Ruby, and has a bistro, a vineyard walk and fruit picking in summer. Wikivoyage also lists the co-op cellar. Tasting is a daytime affair. De Krans, for example, closes its tasting room at 4.30 pm (4 pm on Sundays), so do not leave the cellars until late afternoon.

In the village itself, look at the church finished in 1912, an unexpected Neo-Byzantine design under a Marseilles tile roof.

The surrounding passes are the other reason to come. The Swartberg Pass is about 40 km away and Seweweekspoort around 70 km. Gamkaskloof, better known as Die Hel, is 95 km off. Birders take note: the tourism office counts 229 bird species across the wider Klein Karoo. The Cango Caves are also within a day trip.

Good to know

Calitzdorp is small, with around 4,300 people at the 2011 census, and Afrikaans is the first language for almost everyone. The routes to Die Hel and over the Swartberg are gravel. Drive them slowly, and ask locally about their state before you set off.

Last updated 6 October 2026. Sources: Wikipedia, Calitzdorp Tourism, Wikivoyage (Route 62), De Krans Wines, Boplaas Family Vineyards.