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Having driven the stark stretch of N1 between Beaufort West and Laingsburg far too many times to count we knew that there is not much to it except one long road and a couple of tumbleweeds for company. But an invitation to explore the small town of Prince Albert came our way and I''m a traveler who never turns down an opportunity to explore somewhere new!
The name Prince Albert had been on my radar for a while... someone, somewhere had told me it was worth a visit, or maybe it was something I''d read? I can''t recall now, but what I do know now is that the person who made this recommendation knew what they were talking about.
We had no idea what to expect from a town situated in the heart of the Karoo desert, which is maybe the best way to arrive at a place, and were pleasantly surprised by this gem of a town...
There was far more greenery than we imagined during our drive through the desert. Flowering trees lined the main street, brightly coloured geraniums peeked out from behind garden gates and the sweet scents of jasmine and wisteria wafted in the air.
We arrived knowing very little about the town and what there was to do over the course of a long weekend but, thanks to the helpful list of options provided by our hosts at Karoo View Cottages, we weren''t at a loss for things to do in Prince Albert...
1. Drive the Swartberg Pass
This spectacular pass is one of the best in the world and a must-do when staying in Prince Albert (or even on the other side of the mountain in Oudtshoorn) Just outside the town, we found the dirt road which would lead us through the impressive crags and cracks and past lime green lichen-lined rocks. We followed it up to the summit - 1 583 metres above sea level - watching the temperature gauge in our car drop 10 degrees as we went! Built between 1881 and 1888 by Thomas Bain and team of Italian prisoners of war, the road is nothing short of incredible, with steep zig-zags and switchbacks that keep your heart in your throat the entire time! To think it was created in a time when there was no machinery or equipment to assist the labourers is insane… the road and it’s dry stone walls, were all constructed by hand. Don''t miss a drive along this National Monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Wine Tasting
Pop in at one of the boutique wineries found in the area. We enjoyed the picturesque Fernskloof Wine Farm, which is family owned and operated. The wines produced here are created from organically grown grapes and we thoroughly enjoyed the intimate wine tasting experience.
Tel: +27 (0) 23 541 1702 Email: info@fernskloof.co.za Web: www.fernskloof.co.za
3. Olive Oil Tasting
On the same road as the wine farms is Kredouw Olive Estate, where you can sample some of the local olive oil in their small shop. The olive oil here is some of the best we''ve tried, with a strong anti-oxidant kick on the way down!
Tel: +27 (0) 23 541 1000 Web: www.kredouwfarm.com
4. Visit the local dairy farm, Gay''s Guernsey Dairy 
As a family we are big cheese fans, so when we discovered that one of the biggest attractions in town was Gay''s Guernsey Dairy, we knew we had to pop in. Located at the far end of Church Street this is an authentic dairy that does things the "old-fashioned" way. The happy cows moo merrily in the grassy pastures, creating milk that produces some of the cheeses in the country! Made from unpasteurised milk, they are free of antibiotics, additives, colouring and preservatives. We got a great insight into the cheese-making process, which was an interesting education for us AND our kids, and of course there was (quite) a bit of cheese tasting too!
Tel: +27 (0) 23 5411 274 * Web: www.gaysguernseydairy.yolasite.com
5. Visit Karoo Looms weavery
Situated right on the heart of town is Karoo Looms, a weavery creating a multitude of mohair items from blankets, to carpets and garments from mohair. We popped in to watch the woman weave the mohair wool into yarn, which in turn is transformed into useful household items.
Tel: +27 (0) 23 541 1363 Email: info@karooweavery.co.za Web: www.karooweavery.co.za
6. Catch a movie or show at the The Showroom Theate
Tel: +27 (0) 23 541 1563 Email: admin@showroomtheatre.co.za Web: www.showroomtheatre.co.za
7. Pop in at the Saturday Morning Market
No visit to a small South African town is complete with a turn past the Saturday morning market... and with pancakes on offer for just R6 each you don''t want to miss this one! Prince Albert hosts 2 markets within walking distance of each other (in fact, the whole town is within walking distance of everything!) We found ourselves soaking in the small town atmosphere while stopping for coffee at the first, and then indulging in far too many cinnamon sugar pancakes at the next!
Once you''re done, you might like to take a walk in either direction up and down Church Street to not only burn off the extra calories, but also to take in the sweet country scenes and unique architecture of the town, stopping along the way to pop in at all the local antique shops, art galleries and home decor spots.
The small town of Prince Albert is certainly not short on character or charm and well worth spending a few days exploring.
We stayed in the very comfortable self-catering cottages at Karoo View, on the outskirts of the town. The location the perfect balance between staying out beneath the vast starry skies of the Great Karoo desert and close enough to walk into the "hub" of town to enjoy it’s delights.
The first thing that struck us about our cottage was most definitely the view! This spot really lives up to it’s name with this incredible vista to look out on every day…
The accommodation comprises of 4 self-catering cottages each with a private patio, large open plan lounge/ bedroom, a bathroom with a shower and a small, fully-equipped kitchen. All 4 of us stayed in the one room – two double beds, but you could just as easily book out the two neighbouring cottages as they have inter-leading doors for a bit more privacy (esp useful if you have older kids)\\
Click here to book your stay at Karoo View Cottages or in Prince Albert
Text & Images: Kathryn Rossiter