S1 - Ep 486 - Calitzdorp, Western Cape!

Excitement was running high in the car as we headed to Calitzdorp, where we planned to stay overnight at The Station. On the way, we stopped at an adorable farm stall, which was very tidy and charming. Upon arriving in town, we went straight to The Station to check in, eager to explore the beautiful surroundings. We instantly fell in love with Calitzdorp; it had a wonderful atmosphere, and the buildings were well-maintained. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to De Krans and even picked up a delicious bottle of sparkling wine. We could easily see ourselves settling down in this delightful town. #DustBugs #dustbugstravel #adventuretravel #southafrica #southafricavlog #travelongravel #westerncape #Calitzdorp
Accommodation in this episode was provided by:
The Station Calitzdorp
Shaun and Andri Dare
082-686-0016
[e-mail]
www.thestationcalitzdorp.co.za
FB: The Station Calitzdorp
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[@lindakukard1557]

My uncle has a farm in Calitzdorp, and we used go and visit in the June school holidays, as kids, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Totally different way of life for a city kid. We learnt how to speak Afrikaans. We used to have great fun. Although you said they got electricity, not everyone could afford it and my uncle didn't get electricity till much later, and wd used to use candles and lanterns when we visited. Whenever I mentioned I was going to Calitzdorp, people always asked where that was, as it wasn't well known back in the day. Those slutes were definitely for water. Every farmer had their turn for their "lui water" and my uncle used to get up at all different times when it was his turn to irrigate his land. His farm borders the Gamka river. Many great memories on the farm.

[@rudiekeyser2495]

Awesome thanks for the moment. Cheers Cape Town

[@capefox8321]

Thank you for this most enjoyable trip. The soil must be very fertile in the area - the vegetation looks so luxuriant!

[@GailNetherlands]

Awesome place Calitizdorp. Love the station. I was in hysterics watching Curtis on that rail cart. Once again the drone shots and music were outstanding. Thank you Sonia and Curtis. Safe travels and I look forward to your next trip.❤

[@beryl9538]

Wow, fantastic accommodation at the old Calitzdorp station. Curtis you made my day with that trolley on the track. As we grow old it is nice to stay young at heart. Enjoy the moment and stay safe.❤

[@deonzar]

Wow...how fantastic it is to make a train station into accommodation...and Curtis on the "pomptrollie"...bringing back memories of my father that worked on the railway lines. This station is now definitely on my bucketlist. Been to Calitzdorp quite a few times...and enjoyed lovely port wines. Lovely town. Maybe they should play a recording at night of a steam engine going past...that would be incredible..

[@DustBugsTravel]

I think that is a fantastic idea! 🚂🛤️ The place is super cool and authentic, you'll love it if you decide to stay over one day.

[@rudiekeyser2495]

Exactly 💯 love it and I will catch it in my dreams. Cheers Strand Cape Town 🇿🇦

[@malcolmcarter881]

Love it as they say boys and there toys we'll done had a good laugh. Love to do a camping trip there thanks.

[@rudiekeyser2495]

Exactly 🤣

[@mariusroos]

I love Calitzdorp. What a lovely pretty small town. Drone footage excellent. Quite a lot to see. Green wherever you go. Thanks for this onewell done

[@benlubbe7875]

At the end of the video where you left and it was still dark, I almost thought it was Curtis getting up in the middle of the night to take another ride on the tracks with the trolley 😂 Thank you Dustbugs Travel for showing us all these beautiful places

[@dawnbarnes1361]

OMW back again I must say I love the houses and the bright colors they are painted ❤❤❤

[@thewanderer58]

What a beautiful town with immense character. The Train Station is just priceless! I drove through Calitzdorp some thirty years ago, and your journey there now revived the pleasant visions of the little village I must have stored in my subconscious. An "overload of awesomeness" to quote Sonia! Definitely worth another visit. Thank you for the experience.

[@sicko_the_ew]

Authentic. I think that word hits it right on the nail. And with that comes character (as opposed to something that can even turn ugly, like "posture" or "display", or the sterile forms of tidiness.)

[@benjaminlabuschagne9101]

Leka Port country there !!! .... enjoy & hope it's not too cold !!!!

[@johangouws8855]

Glad you found a station to sleep and it is so heart warming to see the station is being put to good use (and so neat )….next should be a church converted to a B&B. Calitzdorp is such a nice town. Thanks for taking us with you.

[@jcr_jcr]

Calitzdorp looks a beautify place to visit and stay. Good roads and no loadshedding this series. or have I missed pot holes and generators.

[@DustBugsTravel]

We were lucky to escape loadshedding, which is always a bonus when we travel. 😁💡 The roads in Calitzdorp are in urgent need of attention and repairs, but the rest of the town is so charming that we didn't even notice them for the most part. 🚙🛣️

[@emmerentiagroenewald3694]

Loved Calitzdorp!!!❤❤❤❤🌹🌹🌹

[@Helgardt6189]

Actress Lida Botha and actor husband Johan Botha are residents of Calitzdorp.

[@1812nico]

Hi you two! Thank you for this very interesting trip. The town is so beautiful with everything, new or old, so clean and neatly painted. And an old railway ! With a station to live in ! Your drone views were great, as usual. I'm ready for the next trip. Keep safe!

[@rudiekeyser2495]

Me too!!

[@theexperimentalcqdx4208]

The DA could fix those streets honestly

[@africansunset6826]

Fantastic!

[@jonathanhopkins4042]

This just might have been my favourite episode, thank you

[@user-ij1fv7ff1d]

❤🐞

[@susannaemmerich1166]

Lovely, lovely, thank you!!!!🙃🙏💕

[@CHibb217]

Stunning episode! Well done julle🩷

[@claravanrooyen4131]

Thankyou.I enjoy your enjoyment on " the track"

[@rudiekeyser2495]

This was so nice, l enjoyed every second and the short video with Sonja on the railway platform was a first. She enjoyed it as much as I did. What a beautiful town with all the flowers 🌼🌹 and old houses. The town rock💥😳💯 Cheers Strand Cape Town 🇿🇦🎉🎉🎉

[@mk-xq1tt]

Lovely town and 'station'.

[@lee-anneadams9222]

Hi Curtis Sonia and Dusty, so sometime during this week I saw a photo of the station at Calitzdorp and I thought to myself, this is a place I know Curtis would love and just look where we ended up on this trip, absolutely loving it ❤, safe travels 🥾

[@doraduplessis2727]

Ons het jul video oor Calitzdorp so baie geniet, maar het net een versoek. Maak asseblief vir ons 'n kort video clip van jou op die treintrollie, pleeeze!

[@DustBugsTravel]

😁 It was so much fun!

[@Flippie-Pretorius]

Thanks for this video ! My Pretorius ancestors stayed there for 150 years . Part of the original farm was sold to Calitz family where the town is . ❤

[@anthonykoeslag]

Love your escitement opver the ticket office :D I visit Calitzdorp often, it's a sweet town, and I love the drive up to Kruisrivier

[@renerabie4255]

So sad we don't have trains as a means of transport...trains were my favorite.. thanks for all the videos ....so much enjoyed...

[@beatrixp447]

Great video! We once travelled from Zimbabwe to Calitzdorp by rail - many decades ago. We really love Calitzdorp! We have a little house near the Calitzdorp Hot Springs. My grandfather used to farm across the river, at what is now Karoowater Guest Farm. It is a beautiful spot. Next time you should have a look at those two locations and also at Gamkaberg Nature Reserve on the way to Oudtshoorn, which has pitched tents and a campsite. All these places have hikes and some game - mostly buck.

[@johndawes8296]

Good PR for Calitzdorp, it is a great Karoo Town, we have a small farm which hopefully will turn into a visit fir all former and serving Royal Marines. A great vacation destination for the outdoors adventures

[@Scotty7268]

That beautiful peach coloured flower hanging over the wall is a Datura - very poisonous.

[@ChristaGodley]

Hi en daar wen julle wat n pragtige plek , Het die reis daar lsaam met julle baie geniet, Curtis jy is n bok vir sports

[@DustBugsTravel]

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Station and exploring this pretty town. It was a wonderful experience from start to finish. 🚙🤩

[@NatureTravel1844]

Looks interesting to sleep at a station with proper accommodation! I ended up sleeping at stations twice when I missed my bus, but that was outside on a hard bench-once in Thailand and once in Israel.

[@annabyrne7308]

Lovely little Dorp,,but the roads are really very nasty 😮

[@annaatkins2971]

Curtis on the trolley 😂 classic

[@frederikbrits9559]

First house on the right belongs to a friend of mine when enter town ....Fourie

[@SKHoolinary]

We had those flowers in our garden in PMB, my gran called them Moon Flowers. Apparently the black seeds are quite poisonous. I hope someone can correct me on the name if I am wrong.

[@Scotty7268]

Have you seen the movie The Station Agent with Peter Dinklage?

[@DustBugsTravel]

I don't believe I have. It certainly sounds intriguing, I'll have to put that right. 🚉🎬

[@rogerruthven2195]

Calitzdorp has now become crime ridden

[@DustBugsTravel]

Hopefully that is addressed soon, it's such a beautiful town. 👮🏻👮🏻‍♀️

[@johndawes8296]

Just don't judge Calitzdorp on the main street R62, take time to look around and enjoy what we have to offer

[@rudolfstrydom4522]

Ou Kallieklip (Calitzdorp) is my geboorteplek. Het vir 18 jaar daar groot geraak saam met my broer en susters. My alma mater, HS Calitzdorp Sine Cera! Ons famielie plaas op Kruisrivier 30km weg teen die hange van die Swartberge. Ek mis dit en sal daar aftree eendag. Dankie vir die mooi video julle. Veilig reis.

[@alvirabarrow9957]

Ek het as kind in Calitzdorp gebly saam met my ouers en die ouer kinders. Ek dink my pa was stasiemeester daar. Ek is 81 jaar oud, so ek was seker tussen 3 en 5 jaar oud daardie tyd.

[@tonynz9954]

Die Klein Karoo, verre land van verlaatenheid. Remember that song ? Great to watch Curtis operating that railkarretjie. No need to go to the gym .At least Curtis got to sleep in a railway station and not a Police Station. I remember Curtis your little stay in die polisie stasie😄. Calitzdorp is a beautiful little town. Thanks for the visit guys. Has Curtis ever come across any snakes when he wanders around old buildings and derelict railway stations ?

[@DustBugsTravel]

Yes, we know that song well and love it! We were singing it out loud in the car while on our way to town. 🎶 I'll never forget my little sleepover in the police station back in the day. This was vastly different and so much more pleasant and comfortable! 😁 We've seen quite a few snakes on our travels, but only when we're travelling in the car. I've never come across any while I was exploring on foot. Hopefully my boots will protect me if I should ever run into one. 🥾🐍

[@dawnbarnes1361]

OMW😂 that was a favorite joke of my Dad's 🤣🤣🥰🤣 Calitzdrop is great. The colours of the trees and Bougainvillea are soo beautiful. The Station accommodation is fantastic Wow, love it ❤ A very Special place is Calitzdorp. A Very Peaceful vibe 😌 Thank you again 🙏 ❤

[@susaneverton5760]

Beautiful, never been to Calitzdorp, thank you.

[@dalenehitge3524]

Thank you for taking me to kammaland. My grandparents stayed on a little farm and i have the fondest memories of Caltitzdorp. The swimming pool was the only thing i recognized. Beautiful video

[@ajl1973]

My stepdaughter is named, "Bella." Except, she doesn't sell such delectable chutney.

[@charlietreston4035]

Hi guys WOW WOW and wow again a gem of a town love the houses so colourful. Well if anyone likes a drink this place has it port brandy whisky vineyards in town as Sonia said authentic definitely Well established with beautiful bourgonviar and flowers surrounding the amazing mountains and the cherry on top staying in the ticket office at the station you couldn't make it up wonderful to hear the laughter especially when Curtis was on the trolley 😅 I know that I've said it before ONLY IN SOUTH AFRICA amazing video thanks for taking me along cheerio till the next one

[@annawitter5161]

Two tickets to Cape Town.....one way or return.... definitely return!!! How fantastic you got to stay at the ticket office! I feel so much nostalgia for those days when train travel was the norm. "Allie kaartjies asseblief". Calitzdorp was a favourite place for me and Roger to visit. I have also done some paintings of this area. Many happy memories. So bietjie eina ook. Love the camp site, so pretty surrounded by enon rock. That trolley looks so much fun! 😂 I would have jumped on too. Who wants to be a groan up!! We didn't attend the festival but certainly visited Boplaas and De Krans and treated ourselves to vintage port and potstill brandy. Amazing to see that the town still has the leiwatertjie. So good to see they are looking after the graveyard. Love the wild witch tree in the cemetery. The ring of stones reminds me of the Medicine Wheel of the Lakota Sioux which I was once very interested in.❤❤❤

[@samsonkjoseph6087]

Baie dankie vriende

[@lynoconnor9818]

Africa is reclaiming the roads in Calitzdorp

[@rudiekeyser2495]

Exactly 💯

[@EurikaKruger]

Ek het die kuier in Calitzdorp so geniet. Dis so kleurvol. Ek gaan beslis eendag by die stasie kamp. Ek voel jammer vir die inwoners om elke dag op daai slegte paaie te ry. Dankie dat julle 2 ons saam op reis neem. 😀

[@The_ElunduExpeditionProject]

Great little town with fantastic port! We always used to go and stay at the hot springs years ago, I wonder what they look like these days?

[@DustBugsTravel]

I never even knew there were hot springs close to Calitzdorp. 😁 I see on their website that it's 25km out of town and the place still seems to be going strong.

[@southafricaawakening6666]

@@DustBugsTravel Those hot springs are amazing. Sit in the pools outside cooking while there is frost on the ground around you. Last time I was there the accomodations were a little run down. Hopefully they have done some uogrades since. There are so many neat little estates to visit in the area if you like wines, ports, etc

[@terrimeyer3815]

What a stunning dorp...really enjoyed this town so much. The food Looks great the old houses and What a find. Station bnb. This town always grabbed me with the mountain backdrop....perfect 🎉❤🎉 you looking cool on the trolley Curtis 😂

[@pietjoubert6903]

Was born and grew up in Calitzdorp jou drove past our house very nice town

[@ArthurWright-x6x]

Looks like the main roads in Calitzdorp are good but the side roads not so good.

[@rudiekeyser2495]

4x4 world, love it.

[@michaellukas1333]

Beautiful ❤️, not far is Calitzdorp Warmbaths ,great place to spend the holidays or just get away from a busy life and explore, really beautiful 🌄🇿🇦🇿🇦👍

[@davenewbitt]

Calitzdorp, looks wonderful, would love to visit, thanks for sharing. Must admit we saw Sonia, in the car window as she was walking around the ticket office, she looks wonderful. Was that a tease for us fans? Thanks again, another lovely show.

[@DustBugsTravel]

😁 Sonia is still not keen on me filming her, so I'm afraid not. 🥰 I'm glad you enjoyed Calitzdorp, it's a fantastic town to visit.

[@davenewbitt]

@@DustBugsTravel Yes, a lovely place, would love to reite there. As mention i am not sure you understood what we said , we saw Sonia's image at the station, when she was walking around, we saw her image in the cars drivers window, quite clearly.

[@barbaraburns1056]

❤What a beautiful interesting toen and lodging. I grew up on port as we always had it in the house in winter to sip to warm up when coming home. First time I've seen a port tasting usally attributed to Portugal. Thanks again for most interesting visit

[@SuddenStorm982]

Must agree with you, what a lovely town full of character. I just love those old houses. I'm sure David Kramers brother John, the painter, will have a difficult time deciding what to paint there 😅. (I see he did paint "M. Katz Kontant Winkel" - not sure in what street it is)

[@lulamantshephe5595]

Fantastic❤❤❤❤❤

[@frederikbrits9559]

Curtains in the ticket office?

[@DustBugsTravel]

Correct, for obvious reasons. 🏠