Ebenhaeser

© Marinda Louw
Locals in Ebenhaeser make a living farming and growing various cash crops like lucerne.

Ebenhaeser is a tranquil rural fishing hamlet near the banks of the perennial Olifants River. The town is about 340 km north of Cape Town and can be reached via Vredendal some 37km inland. Locals depend on the river to make a living farming cattle and sheep and growing cash crops like lucerne, beans, tomatoes, paprika and coriander. Some still even use the traditional plough and horse system to work their fields.

Vineyards in the town produce wine and the propagation of vegetable seeds for a Dutch company provide more income. 

Founded in 1831 as a Rhenish Mission Station by Baron von Wurmb, Ebenhaeser is one of the oldest towns in the Matzikama region and still has some clay buildings known as ‘riethuise’ - reed houses. The town’s name is a version of Ebenezer, of biblical origin (1 Sam. 7:12) which means 'stone of help'.

Things to Do in Ebenhaeser

©Roger de la Harpe
African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer).
©Karl Svendsen
Experience the wildflower season in Ebenhaeser.

The 5-day, 92 kilometres Swart Tobie Coastal Hiking Trail starts or ends at Boesmansgrot, north of Ebenhaeser. This challenging slackpacking hiking trail follows the coastline over rocky crags and desolate beaches. 

Birdwatchers will love the sightings of fish eagles and other waterbirds at the Olifants River estuary nearby. 

Other activities in Ebenhaeser include fishing, a boat ride on the Olifants River between Ebenhaeser and Papendorp and experiencing the Namaqualand wildflower season in August in September.