Farmstay accommodation in this rural agricultural region of the Eastern Cape

Dordrecht is situated in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is a small farming village with a large number of merino sheep and cattle ranchers in the region. Farmers also grow potatoes. There are farmstay holidays available in the region. They are well known in South Africa for trout fishing, pheasant hunting and game hunting. The village of Dordrecht is also situated near to the Western Drakensberg Mountains where the only snow skiing resort is in South Africa. The village is on the Route 56 from Durban to Middelburg. Population: 8,741 (2001). It has a school ( Dordrecht high school) that is 102 years old.

Astride the main R56 route between Molteno and Indwe, on the northern slopes of the majestic Stormberg mountain, lies the picturesque little town of Dordrecht. Originally a Dutch Reformed church settlement established in 1856, the town was named after Dordrecht in Holland, where the National Synod was held in 1618. Municipal status was granted in 1867. With such superior grazing in the district, there is naturally a firmly established farming community, many of the farms having been owned by the same families for over a century. Local sheep and cattle studs are well known both at home and abroad. Dordrecht is also famous for the champion race horses, bred by the Birch brothers. Dordrecht, with it’s many shops and facilities, serves as service centre for a widespread farming community. Dordrecht has an unsurpassed summer climate of mild sunshine without the wind found in some areas. Winter, however, can be extremely cold with heavy snowfalls. In fact Dordrecht has the reputation of being one of the coldest towns in South Africa, if not the coldest.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Aliwal North 132 km, Indwe 40 km, Molteno 72 km, Queenstown 72 km

Altitude: 1600 m above sea level

Banks

FNB, Standard

HISTORICAL VIEW

Anglo-Boer War

During the Anglo-Boer War (1899 – 1902) the town was annexed by the Boer forces and incorporated into the Free State.

Library

Dordrecht’s first library, the Wodehouse Library, was opened on 3 November 1865 with a solemn speech by the Rev De Beer.

San Rock Art

The kloofs and ravines of the Stormsberg holds many samples of San rock art, while stone implements and other artifacts are also found. Most of these are in a very good state of preservation and can be viewed on a number of farms in the district. Contact the Town Clerk or the Museum for details.

The Anderson Museum

Depicts the cultural history of the town and the area. Of interest is a sign (in English and French) pointing to Napoleon’s grave site on the island of St Helena, through to have been brought back by a Boer prisoner of war. The museum contains several vulnerable collections. The latest addition is the Bert Wodenhouse Art Gallery which feature, inter alia, a comprehensive range of large mounted photographs of San paintings in the district.

The Courthouse Building and Magistrate’s Office

Built on the site of the original offices, which were very primitive with thatched roofs.

ATTRACTIONS

Dordrecht Kloof

The well wooded, tranquil Dordrecht Kloof with the Hogsett Reservoir on which the town was dependent for it’s water supply for almost a century until February 1991, is a popular picnic spot and ideal for walks. Due to weathering and vandalism the San paintings on the walls of the rock shelters are now almost invisible.

ACTIVITIES

Hiking Kranskop Hiking Trail

The recently establishment Kranskop Trail starts on the farm Gelegenfontein. The overnight spot is a huge open cave on the Kranskop mountain. En route the church museum of the Dutch Reformed Church on the former church farm can be visited. The second day takes hikers to the farm Waterval for lunch and then back to Gelegenfontein via picturesque, narrow kloofs.

Sport

Badminton, Bowls, Golf, Rugby, Squash, Tennis

Accommodation in and around Dordrecht