S1 - Ep 186 - Tarkastad - A Little Karoo Town on the Banks of the Tarka River!

The gravel road we took to Tarkastad lived up to the reputation of the Eastern Cape and had rather bad potholes. We had to drive slowly, even at a crawl in places, to navigate these roads. But, we finally reached our destination and what a pleasant experience. Tarkastad is a clean and neat little Karoo town on the banks of the Tarka River. We thought the town was really trying to keep itself going and not fall into despair like many of the smaller towns we visit. Unfortunately the station is no more, even the tracks are gone. The church buildings which were built with such a beautiful dark stone look so beautiful we just had to share that with you. Then it was off to another exciting place. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #southafricavlog #tarkastad #karoo #banks #river
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[@munesumangava9751]

Massive potholes right there eishhhh🙆‍♀️

[@user-oe4yl3qd7e]

❤

[@hloyihloyi4681]

Thanks

[@DustBugsTravel]

Sure, thank you for watching! 😁🚗

[@xKelseyxKayx]

Wow, thank you so much for exploring my home town. 5:16 is my grandparents house Bob & Val. It brought tears to my eyes. I live in Ireland now and this really made me home sick. The first church you showed us across from the firetruck is the Anglican Church 8:20, I grew up in that church and got married there. What a beautiful town Tarka is. The first two mountains you saw together that were flat are called Mary & Martha 4:11. I'm so glad I have this video to view whenever I miss home, thanks again for showing my beautiful home town Tarka😊❤️.

[@waughthogwaugh3078]

So good to come across your video. A large part of my formative years soaked the farming dust of this little town into my veins. Our family roots are here. (Rogers family of Breedeleegte). I was christened at that Presbyterian church, where my parents were married, and many more of our relatives too.. I remember that firetruck and some playground equipment always tucked behind fences and thorns and too hard to get to in our Sunday best. I could almost smell the clear air of the veld that your images sparked in my memory. Great video, thanks so much for sharing it here.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for your very kind comment. Just reading it, transported me back to Tarkastad. We thought it was a lovely town and really enjoyed driving through it. The surrounding landscape is right up our street as well, we just love the open spaces. From the moment I laid eyes on that firetruck, I had to get close! 😍🚒 I heard from another viewer that it has been there since he can remember, which I found amazing. It has so much character and deserves to be seen by more people, as the entire town of Tarkastad does. We so appreciate you watching our video of your old hometown and we're happy to see that you were reminded of some great times you spent there. 😁🚗

[@riagouws3211]

Ek geniet julle program en toer dis so intresant maar kon nooit toer nie moes werk om my kinders te laat leer maar nou kan ek dit geniet baie dankie dis so mooi dankie

[@ivanblumenthal]

I used to live there seventy years ago. It was wonderful to see the place again. I remember playing on the cannon. Thank you.

[@stuff0music]

One of my ancestors was born in Tarkastad in the late 1700’s. He died at Bloukrans in 1838. Most of his ancestors came from the Cradock and Graaff Reinet area and further back Stellenbosch. Would love to explore there one day soon. Would love to know exactly the route they took from Cape Town and split between the areas the trekked through. Hard as nails people they must have been.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Hard as nails all right! I often think that when I look at the sometimes treacherous and mountainous terrain they would've had to cover where they wanted to go. ⛰🐂 It would certainly be a very interesting trip for you, to try and follow literally in your ancestors' footsteps. 👣

[@hermanvisser6684]

Brings back good memories. I matriculated at Tarkastad in 1980 and stayed in the school hostel. Tarka people were friendly, sincere and so beautiful at heart. I have not been back for decades, but I think it is time for a visit. Cheers.

[@DustBugsTravel]

We're always so happy when our videos bring back fond memories of a town, thank you for sharing those with us. 😊 It certainly does sound like you're overdue for a visit, to experience the beautiful spirit of the people in Tarkastad. 🤩🚗

[@marlenegreyling8620]

My ma het ons baie van Tarkastad vertel. Sy het daar gewerk na skool (1929 geb) en baie tennis gespeel op die tennisbane. Ons het haar een keer teruggeneem en het nog die fotos van daardie dag. Destyds in 2009, was die tennisbane nog daar soos in haar jongdae. Dalk nie meer nie. Die Oos-Kaap het 'n besonderse bekoring vir almal van daardie wêreld.

[@ritaschoeman9678]

Hi Herman, matriculated with you 1980.

[@hermanvisser6684]

@@ritaschoeman9678 Hi. Nou werk my brein oortyd! Rita Marais?

[@ritaschoeman9678]

@@hermanvisser6684 Dit is reg ja.

[@robinboyes8749]

I have travelled on the R401 between Hofmeyr and Tarka on many occasions - it's not for "everyday use" these days as you well experienced. Back in the day, one could cruise on that road at 100Kmh without fear or failure !!! On my last trip the R401 between Hofmeyr and Conway was having a "major facelift". The name Tarkastad is believed to come from the Khoi-Khoi word Traka (meaning women) or the Celtic word Tarka (meaning otter) and the Afrikaans word Stad (meaning city). The fact that the town is overlooked by Martha and Mary; two peaks which look like two women resting after a hard day's work, also lends to the name.

[@DustBugsTravel]

It's encouraging that some roads are being upgraded, that might increase tourism to the area too! 🛣 For us, the potholes and poor gravel road were very quickly forgotten once we reached town. 🚗😁 We found it to be a great place to explore. Martha and Mary are doing a great job watching over the town, I love that! ⛰

[@fwdadventuresza254]

I've always wondered what Tarkastad looked like... Certainly bigger and prettier than I'd imagined... Awesome episode... Thanks🙌🏻

[@DustBugsTravel]

Likewise! 😁 We were so pleasantly surprised by what we found. Thank you for joining us again! 🚗😎

[@aginn9506]

Another wonderful video of our little gems, what you guys do is remind us there are alot of places to visit locally, no need to go international. Thank you again

[@DustBugsTravel]

Absolutely, there are indeed so many more places we've only ever heard about, but never been to. Yet. 😉 Keep watching, plenty more to come! 😁🚗

[@aginn9506]

@@DustBugsTravel definately looking forward to them

[@angieswartz4676]

I can’t stop watching DustBugs 😊 Thank you! We have such a beautiful country, full of history. I learn something new in each episode. ❤ Awesome!!

[@61sunset]

I really enjoyed this episode. Loved seeing the goats doing their job , keeping the grass trimmed . Must admit the town was bigger than I thought it would be and what wide streets. You are doing a great job, love and look forward to your videos. Safe travels.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much for always watching our videos! 😊👌🏻 The lawnmowers at the church were doing a great job, you're right! 🐐😁 Our visit to this place was a very pleasant one and we're so glad we stopped there.

[@zirra69er]

Tarkastad is an awesome little town my dad grew up there and spend my childhood there. See you missed the white Tarkstad name on the mountain packed with stone

[@DustBugsTravel]

We had a lovely time exploring Tarkastad and I'm sure it was a fantastic place to grow up in. We showed as much as possible of what we saw in the time we were there, so we probably missed much more than just the name on the mountain. Thank you for watching. 😎😎

[@zirra69er]

@@DustBugsTravel If you guys decide to go into that part of the eastern cape I can organise accommodation on the family farm and you can explore Klein Mostert hoek and if you pass through Groot Mostert Hoek you will head straight to Sterkstroom.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you very much! 👌🏻 I'll certainly keep that in mind when we head that way again. Those sound like great areas to explore. 🚗😁

[@arleneselby6202]

Thanks for sharing this episode on Tarka which was our home for about 6 years until we retired 6 yrs ago. We worked at a pvte Christian school a few Km’s outside Tarka - 6 very happy years spent there?

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for sharing your wonderful memories of your time here. 😊👌🏻 It certainly sounds like they were happy times indeed. We had a fantastic time exploring the town. 🚗🤩

[@1812nico]

Thanks again you two! I've never been to Tarkastad and it is much bigger than I imagined. Interesting history also from the churches and graveyard. Oh, and congratulations on finding a real proper dirt road! Keep safe!

[@DustBugsTravel]

😁 Thank you, it was a proper dirt road, all right! 🚗 Tarkastad was an unexpected delight, we loved it! We so appreciate your support of our channel and that you always join us as we explore, thank you! 👌🏻

[@mzoxolomdiza2649]

Hey good to watch you exploring my home town Tarkastad I am watching and following all your travels while im in Cape Town

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much! 😁🚗 It's great to hear that you enjoyed our video of your hometown. 😍 We had a fantastic time exploring it and hopefully good memories came flooding back for you! 😎

[@flodillon991]

Thank you an interesting little town pretty to. The goats walking in town is so cute. Also the golden mongoose is so geogeous just loved it.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much for watching! 😁🚗 We loved the town too, so much to see in those wide streets of theirs! 🛣️ We thought you might enjoy the goats and the mongoose, for once we saw a mongoose which was actually moving slow enough to film more than just a blur! 🐐🦡

[@mzoxolomdiza2649]

That fire truck is been there for as long as i live

[@DustBugsTravel]

So it's an integral part of Tarkastad! We love that! 🚒❤️ Thank you for sharing that with us.

[@debbiekruger9414]

So much in our own country that we didn't know. Thank you once again. I love watching the plants and grasses changing from town to town. We live in a beautiful country with so much diversity. And to hear Winston Churchill lost of his family there, was quite surprising.

[@DustBugsTravel]

It's so true. 👌🏻 The landscape and surroundings gradually change as we travel and each little town has such a stunning and unique setting. 🤩🚗 Thank you for always watching our videos.

[@infocus-media]

Tarkastad lodge is the old Freemason lodge, quite a few towns in the Eastern Cape had Freemasons Lodges, a popular thing back then.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Yes! We only saw that it was a Masonic Temple when we zoomed in on the cornerstone. What a beautiful building! 🏤 We appreciate you sharing the info! 👌🏻

[@montenell7940]

Thanks for a great video. What stands out is the cornerstone of the Masonic Temple. I just cant beleive it is from the 1800's. There must be a lot of people in the town those days. Keep up with it! I enjoy every video in the morning when i knock off from nightshift.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, it's great to hear you enjoy our videos. 😎🚗 Agreed about the Masonic Temple, I could also not believe it dated that far back and is still in such good nick. The workmanship in those days was truly outstanding! ⚒🕍

[@premierhoner614]

It seems to me that time stood still in Tarkastad. Ou ryperd is still on the Top 20 with Sarie Marais following.........

[@DustBugsTravel]

😁 That is such an apt description. The town has a great vibe though and it was fun to visit. 😁🚗

[@funkdunk]

Thanks Dustbugs 😊, still busy at midnight trying to solve some compIexities and your video popped up, I couldn't resist. Tarkastad looks like a great place and as Sonia stated "a surprise" , I noticed that the Kwid entered the cemetery with some trepidation, I must add that its in fairly good condition even compared to other cemetaries. Interesting facts re the cousin of Sir Winston Churchill. I cannot wait for your next installment. Youre probably going to hit 40000 subs later today so congratulations and for exceeding 500 000 views!!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Tarkastad was a fantastic stop for us and we thoroughly enjoyed exploring this surprise! 🎁The entrance gate to the cemetery was rather narrow, even for the Kwid. 🚗 The gravestones were in fair shape for the most part and had some pretty sad stories to tell. 🏛️ We would like to thank you for being so supportive of our channel and for sticking around! 🚗😁 A wee scheduling error made this video go live a few hours earlier than normal, but we're glad it provided some distraction in the midnight hour. Hope you were able to resolve those complexities, it sounds rather intense! 😨

[@infocus-media]

I grew up not far from there, in the Winterberg Mountains, and once again we went to Tarkastad quite often and it looks so sad and tired now, the towns spirit broken.

[@DustBugsTravel]

You must know the area well. It was our first time and, although the town can clearly do with some major upliftment, it was good to visit and explore a little. 😊🚗

[@simonsparks5738]

Lived here for 23 years and it has gone backward to the point where I have been wanting to move out for at least 10 years. Nah guys , dont let a short drive about seduce you , the place is moertoe with a totally non functioning municipality and fast been taken over by foreign informal businesses.

[@robinboyes8749]

The beautiful church you were looking at is St Mary's Anglican Church. It started off as a Methodist Church. Not much historical info I can find at the moment.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you! 👌 A fantastic church with very interesting architecture and those small crosses on the towers. Fascinating stuff. 🕍

[@johannels9598]

Wonderful video. Thanks so much! I attended a Freemasons meeting in that Masonic temple back in 2001, and it was extremely cold that evening. Glad you stopped at the building.

[@DustBugsTravel]

That's an interesting memory! We thought that the architecture was amazing and couldn't believe how old the building actually was! 😳 I can only imagine the workmanship on the interior and hope that's also still well-preserved. 🏤

[@charlietreston4035]

Wonderful town war memorial magnificent so interesting about w Churchill cousin and the battle of elands river very well kept town thanks for a great video

[@DustBugsTravel]

It was really a great town to explore and we're so happy to hear that you enjoyed it too. 😊 Indeed a number of interesting monuments and buildings in this town. 🤩🏛️ We so appreciate you joining us on all our travels, it's fantastic to have you along for the ride! 🚗😁

[@charlietreston4035]

Thanks for the reply see another war memorial brought to mind some info in the early 2000s I took a general in my black cab and he told me 20% of the British infantry in Afghanistan we're white South Africans of course the msm would not highlight it in fact on the TV back then a programme called all the Queens men an afrikaans guy rode one of the huge shire horses playing the drums plus in parliament Square in London Jan smuts stands next to w Churchill

[@terrimeyer3815]

Tarka was a lovely surprise for me. Not been there in many years. Nearly 4k subs well done

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much for your continued support for our channel, we appreciate that so much! 😁🚗 Happy to hear that you also enjoyed Tarkastad! 👌

[@elsabestegen8383]

When you enter Tarkastad from Queenstown, you pass the show grounds/ rugby field. We lived right oppiste. We had the privilgde to watch Peter and Graham Pollock, Ali Bacher and their EP team practise cricket there. I have their signatures in my auotograph book.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Wow, cricket legends indeed! 🏏 Definitely a privilege to have been able to see them in action in your hometown. We appreciate you sharing that special memory. 👌🏻🤩

[@sandragrobler2957]

Beautiful town.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Agreed! 👌 Thank you for watching!

[@mthozamixiphu2772]

My grandmother's house used to be close to the railway station. I lived there from 1959 to 1962, when all Black Africans were forced to relocate to the a 'black' township called Zola, a few kilometres away from the town centre. It's a pity your trip didn't go up that geographic and histric road.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for watching our video of our visit to Tarkastad. 🚙😊 We arrive in a town and explore on our own and include what we happen to find. That's the way we prefer to travel. It's simply impossible to go down or up every road and we'll always 'miss' some things in a town or place we decide to visit. We're not too bothered by that, instead we're just too grateful for what we do manage to see.

[@simonsparks5738]

You missed the turn off to the actual battle site a few km's back toward Tarka town. There is a national heritage site with the graves of Sheridan and other soldiers on the farm Modderfontein. The fight took place there against the Smuts Kommando during their expedition through the Cape colony. Reitz who was party to this gives a detailed account of the battle in his book Commando - a brilliant read.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for the very interesting info. 👌

[@xKelseyxKayx]

I didn't know about that Si, I need to check that out when we head back.

[@boerplaas388]

Tarkastad is oulik . Weereens n pragtige video. Dankie baie. 👌

[@DustBugsTravel]

We loved our time in Tarkastad or 'Tarka' as the locals call it! 😁🚗

[@frederikbrits9559]

Geniet julle reeks. Remember in the future to do the Baviaans River route between Cookhouse and Tarkastad. Also study the "Slagtersnek rebelion".......you will love the route

[@DustBugsTravel]

Perfect, we will certainly keep that suggestion in mind. 👌🏻We followed a different route this time though. As for another road associated with Slagtersnek, keep watching. 😁🚗

[@nwabisaluti4711]

Hi there, I have not seen my favorite place in your videos Adelaide ❤❤

[@DustBugsTravel]

Not yet, you mean. 😁 We work full-time and have limited time to travel, but we hope to eventually cover them all, including your favourite one! 😍 Until then, we hope you enjoy the ones we visit. 🚗

[@nwabisaluti4711]

@@DustBugsTravel Thanks for all your traveling. I enjoy every bit of it. Have God's traveling mercies always❤

[@annawitter5161]

What pretty town with the tree lined avenues! Thanks for showing us the lovely old buildings. Someone famous was born here, wasnt it Piet Retief? I have probably got my history mixed up, its been a while! Such a peaceful and beautiful graveyard.

[@DustBugsTravel]

We appreciate you watching! 🚗😁 Tarkastad was fun to explore, so glad you enjoyed it too. Two separate sources on Google indicate that Piet Retief was born in or near Wellington. I believe Steve Biko was born in Tarkastad. 👌🏻

[@annawitter5161]

@@DustBugsTravel thanks. Got my history sorted now.

[@patshes1951]

Did you know ? Tarka and Takoeza are cousins

[@DustBugsTravel]

I did indeed! 🤣 You forgot about Ben Brand though! 😁🐎

[@mopailothatelo583]

With so much quality infrastructure left by colonialists, Eastern Cape and Western Cape were supposed to be the most wealthiest provinces in South Africa. I still don't understand why EC could so poor.

[@DustBugsTravel]

It is sad to see how some towns are clearly struggling, but there is also so much to be hopeful about. We're no experts, but if the railway system could be resurrected somehow, I'm sure that would have a huge positive impact on the economies of these smaller places. Thank you for watching! 👌🚗

[@henrysteenkamp5309]

Tarkastad buurvrou van komani.en cradock

[@DustBugsTravel]

We find it fascinating how many people know others who either live in the towns we travel through or have some connection with them. 👌🏻