Around the Swartland - 245km

Following a decision in 1854 to establish a congregation in the Kasteel Valley, a dispute arose between the two communities over the location of the church, eventually resulting in two independent congregations. The cornerstone of the Oude Kerk was laid in 1855, and in time the town developed around the church. Another building of interest is the Royal Hotel.

RIEBEECK WEST

Situated on the eastern slopes of the Kasteelberg, Riebeeck West lies in a farming area noted for its peaches, nectarines and wines. It is also an important producer of the country’s cement requirements. Two of South Africa’s former prime ministers were born on farms close to each other. DF Malan, who led the National Party government into power in 1948, was born on the farm Allesverloren (now well-known for producing port-style wines) between Riebeeck-Kasteel and Riebeeck West.

About 3 km northwest of Riebeeck West, a signpost indicates the turnoff to Bovenplaas, where Jan Smuts was born in 1870. Smuts was Prime Minister of South Africa from 1919 to 1922 and again from 1939 to 1948. The original farmhouse, school room, poultry house, coach house, dairy and stables have been restored by the owners of the farm, cement company PPC. An interesting collection of photographs is displayed in one of the outbuildings.

MOORREESBURG

The importance of wheat to the town of Moorreesburg is reflected in the Wheat Industry Museum – one of only three such museums in the world. The museum focuses on the history and development of the wheat industry, and activities such as harvesting and milling are portrayed in dioramas. There is also an interesting collection of sowing and harvesting machinery. The Dirkie Uys Art Gallery houses a collection of paintings by noted South African painters, such as Jacob Pierneef, Gregoire Boonzaaier and Maggie Laubscher.

Originally known as Hooikraal after the farm awarded to Tobias Lochner in 1839, the town developed around the Dutch Reformed Church which was built after the farming community decided in 1863 to found a congregation independent of Malmesbury.

HOPEFIELD

Situated in the Sandveld, a region bounded by the Olifants River in the north, the Berg River in the south and the Olifants River Mountains in the east, Hopefield is a popular destination during the spring flower season. The season usually stretches from mid-August to the end of September, and during the last weekend of August the town hosts the annual Hopefield Flower Show. Of interest in the town is a replica of a wattle-and-daub cottage (hartebeeshuisie) typical of those built in the area by pioneer cattle farmers.

The information office has an interesting collection of fossils and stone tools from nearby Elandsfontein, an archaeological site of major importance. Among the displays is a cast of part of the Saldanha skull, from an early human being dating back to the Middle Pleistocene (780 000 to 125 000 years ago).