If you revel in period travel, a trip to Matjiesfontein in the Central Karoo has got to be on your to-do list. No other village – in its entirety - in the Western Cape has been declared a Heritage Site, and only Pilgrims Rest in Mpumalanga shares this honour in South Africa.
As such, the authenticity of Matjiesfontein has freeze-framed at exactly where it was 125 years ago, and driving onto its quiet streets pretty much transports you into a living museum. Despite its minute size, Matjiesfontein racked up quite a few firsts in its heyday, including the first residence in the Cape Colony to have water-borne sewerage and electricity, as well as the longest telephone line at the time.
One contemporary claim to fame is that the village’s Marie Rawdon Museum rates as the largest private museum in South Africa. To get to Matjiesfontein, turn south off the N1 240 km from Cape Town; you’ll reach the village within minutes where it simmers upon the arid and sparsely populated Karoo plains. The climate is generally hot and dry, with rain and icy nights in winter.
Matjiesfontein is an almost insignificant little town that is quite easy to miss. It is situated about 30 km from the town of Laingsburg jus...
Situated in the Northern Cape, the Karoo Highlands Route route covers a very unique part of South Africa. The Karoo also offers some of the ...