Lutzville
A Farming Town

Previously known as Vlermuisklip, Lutzville is an agricultural town in the Matzikama Region some 320 km north of Cape Town and about 26 km from Vredendal. 

©Marinda Louw
Vineyards near Lutzville.

The town was named in 1661 after a rocky overhang nearby called Vleermuisklip - ‘bat rock’. In 1923 Lutzville was renamed after Johan Lutz, an irrigation engineer who worked on building the Clanwilliam Dam.

Tomatoes and More

©Marinda Louw
Tomatoes packed for transport to the processing factory in Lutzville where it will be made into tomato paste.
The town is centred around farming, with farmlands irrigated by the canal and the Olifants River. Fruit and vegetables grown in Lutzville include wine grapes, export table grapes, sundried raisins, watermelon, beans, potatoes, beetroot and pumpkin. The ‘All Gold’ factory produces tomato paste from locally produced tomatoes. The factory is an important job provider in the area.

Historic Sightseeing to Wine Tasting

©Marinda Louw
Sishen-Saldanha railway bridge spanning the Olifants River.

Lutzville has two national monuments, the beautifully restored Melkboomsdrift Farmhouse built in 1825 and Vleermuijsklip, a rocky overhang near town used as a shelter by early travellers. The Sishen-Saldanha railway bridge over the Olifants River is also worth a visit. The 1 035 m long bridge, completed in 1976, is supported by 22 pillars, each extending 45 m into the river bed.

The town has a 9-hole golf course, wineries that offer wine tastings as well as outdoor activities along the Olifants River such as kayaking, fishing, river cruises and bird watching. There are some San rock art in the area.

The start of the 92 km Swart Tobie Hiking Trail is near Lutzville and the town is about 30 km from Strandfontein on the Atlantic Coast. Self-catering stays, guesthouses and farmstays such as the restored Melkboomsdrift Farmhouse provide accommodation in Lutzville.