For visitors, driving from Cape Town along the N1
to the north, the town of Touws River is the gateway to the Great Karoo. It is located on
the banks of the river with the same name. In November 1877 a station by the name of
Montagu Road was opened on the then newly built railway line to the north. In 1883 the
name was changed to Touws River.
Travelers only speeding past this once lively railway settlement, will
never discover any of the hidden gems of this district. The odd adventurer turning off the
highway will be surprised to see wheatfields, vineyards, orchards and grazing fields
hidden behind the hills surrounding the town.
Being part of the Karoo, one can indeed see flocks of sheep grazing on the
hillsides. Visitors to the area are normally surprised to learn that the biggest ostrich
farm in South Africa can be found on the eastern outskirts of the town
The owner of our weekend destination, the farm Leeuwenbosch Fontein, is a
builder from the Swartland. He calls this enormous stretch of land his “beach”
property, as he basically paid about the same for this farm as other people would be
willing to pay for coastal properties. After purchasing it a few years ago, he immediately
started renovating the main homestead and some labourer’s cottages, converting it to
tourism accommodation.
He also cleared some of the old tracks and roads and laid out a 4x4 trail.
Some sections of this trail are just as difficult to negotiate as the much feared
Wupperthal trail itself. After Eksplôr SA’s first visit to the farm, he even opened
a special 4x2 trail for us.
Visit webpage www.leeuwenboschfontein.co.za
for more information about the farm. |
