Historical history on your way to Karreekloof

Prieska – the place of the lost she-goat

Prieska is situated on the south bank of the Orange River at the foot of the Doringberg and it was originally named Prieschap, a Khoisan word meaning “place of the lost she-goat”. It is renowned for its semi-precious stones. The Schumann Rock Collection, including semiprecious stones and Khoisan stone implements, can be viewed at the municipal offices.

The area between Prieska and Vioolsdrif is often called the “Rock Garden Route” – where the rare halfmens and succulents of the Lithops family can be found – and the Ria Huysamen Aloe Garden outside town contains a large array of succulents.

Attractions in and nearby Prieska include:

Die Bos Nature Reserve with indigenous trees, shrubs and abundant birdlife, picnic spots, angling and suspended bridges across the Prieska River.
Fort on top of Prieska Koppie, built with tiger’s eye by the British during the Anglo-Boer War
The Memorial Garden in town which contains the graves of British soldiers killed during the Anglo-Boer War.

Prieska Museum

Wonderdraai where a horseshoe-shaped island is formed by the flow of the Orange River and makes it seem as if the river turns to flow uphill.

Battle of Magersfontein

The Battle of Magersfontein, just outside Kimberley took place during the Anglo-Boer War on 11 December 1899. The Boers scored a decisive victory in what became known as Britain’s ‘Black Week’.

The Battle of Magersfontein was a triumph for the Boer forces, a disaster for the British army, and came close to wiping out Scotland’s proud Highland Brigade. During the second South African War, the Boers had besieged Kimberley and its 50 000 inhabitants since November 1899. Supplies were scarce in the diamond-mining town and relief was imperative. The British public and press were demanding action. British forces advanced north along the railway line in an attempt to relieve Kimberley, but a Boer force was in their way at Magersfontein.

https://www.places.co.za/html/prieska.html

http://www.britishbattles.com/great-boer-war/battle-of-magersfontein/

http://www.thesolomon.co.za/magersfontein-battlefield-museum.html

Agricultural road to Karreekloof

The world we live in today, we sometimes miss the little things in life that actually provide life itself.

The food we eat, the food animals live on and clothing that protects our bodies. Take the time to appreciate the beauty of agriculture.  So, start thinking:

Once in a while maybe, just maybe in a totally impulsive moment, you decide on taking a road trip and of course, it must be one to be planned to perfection, one not to be forgotten easily.  Not everyone has the same taste in destinations on where to go. But what if your decision is based on taking route N12 into the upper Karoo to a farm not far from a little town called Strydenburg. By now your head is spinning and thinking but what to do and see while taking this route to this farm I need to see, to spend some quality time and to understand the history of the name Karreekloof.

Agricultural things to do on your route to Karreekloof:

Stimulus your taste by taking a little detour to Jacobsdal where a peaceful and calm atmosphere Landzicht Winery will greet you and where you as a visitor are welcome for tasting and a tour through the winery.  Landzicht Winery has two cellars – one in Jacobsdal and one in Douglas.

Or, what about something a little bit sweeter maybe something a little bit Italian?  A brand-new Farm-Foods-Fabric opened at Modderivier next to the N12 where you can find nice pasta and delicious cookies.

In light for a movie feeling? But this time the movie takes you to greener pastures. Biggie Popcorn and country shop in Hopetown, has been popping the most scrumptious, crunchiest and the freshest popcorn.

Getting in the mode for that farm feeling.  Britstown Farmstall sells jams, chutneys, canned fruits, dried fruits, quince sweets, fruit sweets, homemade ginger beer, lemon syrup, rusks, biscuits, spices and much more.

Or just take a break at Victoria Trading Post Stop in Victoria Wes for some ginger beer, succulent biltong, and preserves, only because you want to take in as much as possible fresh air, after all, it’s a road trip to your final destination, Karreekloof.

Live your journey!!

Agricultural Tourism

People have become more interested in how their food is produced.

They want to meet farmers and processors and talk with them about what goes into food production. For many people who visit farms, especially children, the visit marks the first time they see the source of their food, be it a dairy cow, an ear of corn growing in a field, or an apple they can pick right off a tree.

“Once you carry your own water, you will learn the value of every drop.”

Value-added agriculture entails changing a raw agricultural product into something new through packaging, processing, cooling, drying, extracting or any other type of process that differentiates the product from the original raw commodity.

Examples of value-added agricultural products include garlic braids, bagged salad mix, artisan bread, lavender soaps, and sausages. Adding value to agricultural products is a worthwhile endeavor because of the higher returns that come with the investment. The opportunity to open new markets and extend the producer’s marketing season as well as the ability to create new recognition for the farm.

Increasingly, value-added products are hitting the local market as producers take advantage of high-demand product niches.

This is the key to success in value-added agriculture—niche markets are where

smaller producers can be most successful in creating value and establishing a profitable business.

https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/lifestyle/agritourism/