CitrusdalSituated along the upper reaches of the Olifants River Valley, Citrusdal is bounded in the west by the Olifants River mountains and by the Cedarberg range to the east. The area was first explored in 1660 by the Dutch soldier Jan Danckaert and farmers began settling in the fertile valley in 1725. Citrusdal is the centre of the country’s third-largest citrus-producing area, and accounts for about 14 per cent of the total crop. It is especially noted for its navel and Valencia oranges, grown by about 200 farmers in the area. The valley also has a tradition of winemaking going back more than two centuries, and produces a wide range of red and white wines, as well as dessert wines and wine for brandy. Citrusdal is also known for its hot springs, The Baths, located 18 km south of the town. A military post was established at the hot spring in 1739, and thatched bathing huts were built for visitors. The water emerging at the surface has a temperature of 43 °C and contains potassium, sodium, chloride and magnesium. Accommodation ranges from fully equipped chalets and flats to campsites, while amenities include hot and cold swimming pools, spa baths and a range of recreational activities. In recent years, Citrusdal has become popular with skydivers and outdoor enthusiasts. Gydo Pass...between the Skurweberg and Gydoberg, was built in 1848 by Andrew Geddes Bain to link the Cold and the Warm Bokkeveld. ‘Gydo’ is of Khoikhoi origin and is said to mean ‘steep pass’, or ‘milkbush poort’ after a species of euphorbia. From the summit, travellers can enjoy fine views of the Hex River Mountains and the Warm Bokkeveld. Prince Alfred Hamlet...at the foot of the Gydo Pass, is the centre of an important deciduous fruit farming area. Established in 1861 as a fruit-packing centre on the farm Wagensboomrivier, it was named after Queen Victoria’s son, Alfred, first Duke of Edinburgh, who visited the Cape in 1867. CeresFollowing the completion of Michell’s Pass, the site for a village was laid out at the eastern entrance of the pass, and the first 20 plots were sold by public auction on 21 July 1849. Situated in a fertile basin on the banks of the Dwars River and surrounded by the Skurweberg mountains, the settlement was named after the Roman goddess of agriculture in recognition of the fertility of the land. Farmers initially concentrated on wheat production, but gradually began switching to fruit farming.  The completion of the railway line between Ceres and Wolseley in 1912 provided a tremendous boost to the fruit industry, and Ceres is today one of the biggest deciduous fruit-producing districts in the country. The area is especially known for its pears, but also produces large quantities of other fruits such as apples, peaches, apricots, plums and cherries. Given the abundance of fruit, it is not surprising that about 80 per cent of South Africa’s fruit juices are packed in Ceres.
In recent years, the district has also become a major producer of potatoes, and accounts for 40 per cent of the total production in South Africa. In winter, snow often falls in Ceres, attracting large numbers of visitors on their South African holiday. Michell's Pass When the explorer Henry Lichtenstein travelled along the first road through the Skurweberg ravine in 1803, he described it as ‘one of the worst and most dangerous roads in the Colony’. Construction of the new pass was begun in 1846 by 200 convicts under the direction of Andrew Geddes Bain, and the 9-km road was officially opened on 1 December 1848. It was named after Major Charles Michell, the Surveyor-General at the time.
A tollhouse was built and passing wagons were charged a toll of three pence a wheel. Following the discovery of diamonds near Kimberley in 1870, Ceres became an important stop-over on the northward route to the diamond fields, and heavily laden wagons made their way across the pass. WolseleyLying in a beautiful valley of the Breede River, Wolseley is surrounded by the Waaihoek, Witsen and Watervals mountains. The town was established in 1875 and named in 1910 after Sir Garnet Wolseley, the British Governor of Natal. Fruit, vegetable, wheat, dairy and stock farming are practised in the area.
Of historical interest are two blockhouses built during the South African War to protect the bridges along the railway line south of the town. The Jan Danckaert Museum, named after the early Dutch explorer, depicts the town’s history through photographic displays and other museum pieces. | 
