S1 - Ep 90 - Driving over the Botterkloof Pass to Calvinia!

When we left the Englishman’s Grave, we went over a gravel road pass called the Botterkloof Pass. It was a short, but very steep pass. We then found a monument just before we reached Calvinia on the R27 which commemorated the end of the Anglo Boer War. Our tummies were rumbling by the time we arrived in Calvinia, so we stopped at Die Hantam Huis for a quick bite to eat and then just took a slow drive through Calvinia. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #calvinia #hantamhuis #botterkloofpass
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[@funkdunk]

Another incredible episode, Calvinia is such a great town, I was also there on a Monday and the town was bustling. We went to a fete at the NG Church hall (across from the church) and it was one of the best with excellent local offerings. Are you referring to the Calvinia Vleis in the Strand ? They probably have the best droewors in the area. It was so great to see water in the dry landscape, what a contrast. When it rains in the Karoo it rains with roads turning to rivers. I cannot wait for the next episode.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Interesting to hear that it was busy on the Monday you were there. It was really quiet on the Monday we drove through the town. We did buy a local delicacy though which you'll see in the next episode. 😁 Yes, we could happily eat droewors from Calvinia Vleis in Strand for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so good! The rain they had in the Karoo since October last year, has truly changed lives and we couldn't stop talking about all the water which was everywhere!

[@mysimplevanlife]

Hi there thank you for another great video. Happy Trails, safe journeys and be blessed

[@munesumangava9751]

The Pass….top marks, my kind of drive! Scary yet intriguing!

[@munesumangava9751]

Beautiful green river👌

[@munesumangava9751]

And that rock outcrop……such beauty in the Karooo

[@magdalenalombard3256]

What a trip. Thanks. It is/was Lombard country. My dad grew up in Loeriesfontein in the Boesmanland. Seeing a trip like this make me really miss South Africa. Did you drive past Loeriesfontein?

[@DustBugsTravel]

We didn't quite make it to Loeriesfontein this time, but will most definitely include it in a future trip. We've heard quite a bit about the place, so are keen to see it. Thank you so much for watching! 😊

[@joziek3728]

Daar uit die verre Engelse eiland verlang jy seker na jou hartland. Dankie vir die aanstuur van die video.

[@flodillon991]

Just loved the road through the mountains really gorgeous. The place where you ate outside was amazing with all the birds all over, was exceptional it gives us insight howva paradise could be very beautiful. Waiting in anticipation for your next episode.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Those birdies were hanging around, waiting for any little crumb from our table. 😁 So glad you enjoyed it. You'll enjoy the next one just as much!

[@willieexplore]

That is the tallest post box in the world! As a kid growing up we always drove through Calvinia on our way to the Kalahari, where my grandparents lived. Next town Brandvlei a mammoth 150km away before you hit Kenhardt after another 150kms! Vast landscapes personified in this part of our beautiful country

[@DustBugsTravel]

Yes! The Northern Cape has a charm all its own. 🤩 We haven't been to Kenhardt and Brandvlei yet. Kenhardt was one of the options in our poll three weeks ago, but our subscribers chose a different route for our most recent trip. 😁🚗

[@annawitter5161]

Calvinia has grown so much! Looks fantastic. Ons was daar in toeka se tyd. 1987. Ons het oorgebly in die hotel oppad na Verneukpan toe. Dit spook in daai ou hotel, ek het iets in die gang gesien. Marvelous how the tourism industry is keeping the town going. Beautiful!

[@DustBugsTravel]

It was only our second time in Calvinia and we loved seeing the town again! It was also bigger and busier than we expected and we arrived there on a random Monday. The Northern Cape Karoo has stunning beauty and the town is surrounded by this landscape, absolutely wonderful! 🤩

[@sammymachaka2509]

One of the other locations I have been to in 2016, The picture is still so clear in my mind, and that is because Calvinia Hotel not far from Tankwa Lodge did not have enough rooms, I was given a key and directions to Tankwa Lodge, it was about 20:00 at night. When I arrived at Tankwa I expected a reception only to find that the key was for the main door. I stayed two days alone in that building. I woke up to footsteps just after midnight, and every time I went to investigate there was no one. In the morning when I wanted to take a shower water coming out of the tabs was so rusty and had an unpleasant odor What a stay I had. On day 3 which was my last day Calvinia Hotel, brought someone to stay for the night since they were booked to capacity, and guess what happened, He was robbed at night while he was asleep and we had the main door and our rooms locked. His room was on the first floor These people gained access through the main door using a key they left behind. thank you for the content.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Wow, what an experience! 😨 I would've checked myself right out just after midnight after hearing those footsteps. Super brave of you to stay there for three days, luckily you weren't the one who was robbed. Thank you for sharing, it was quite cool to read. We appreciate you watching our videos. 🚙😁

[@RyanDH]

Next time you go to Calvinia you must stop at a place called Republic of Rustica on Stiling Street, they have quite the display of scrap metal work, they even have a collection of ancient road sides and various other stuff (even old boots being used as planters...lol), they even have their bakery and they were baking bread the last time we went there. We stumbled on it accidentally while trying to look for our accommodation.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for the info, it sounds like a super cool place! 😎 We'll be sure to check it out when in Calvinia next. 👌🏻

[@lorismasin9076]

Hi, is this the road that starts from Sutherland and arrives in Calvinia? More precisely the R354? Thanks

[@DustBugsTravel]

We never took that particular road. We took the R364 from Clanwilliam over the Pakhuis Pass through to Calvinia. 🚙

[@queenrea9169]

Is Calvinia still Dry?

[@DustBugsTravel]

We've only ever driven through Calvinia and live very far away from there. I'm not familiar with their current weather conditions, but the Northern Cape generally being a dry and arid region, I think the area remains dry for the most part. I am speaking under correction though. 🤷🏻‍♂️