Laurens van der Post Memorial Garden
Laurens Jan van der Post was born in Philippolis in 1906. He went on to become a mentor to Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and godfather to his son Prince William. Van der Post was also a friend of famous Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung and was known to the Bushmen of South Africa as ‘the white Bushman’.
The memorial garden in Philippolis dedicated to van der Post was built with the following idea in mind: life is a journey. Various aspects of the design of the garden symbolise van der Post’s belief in this. There are also symbols of the different stages of his life and where it led him. The memorial centre also houses a museum room where his books are displayed.
Reserves and History
In close proximity to Philippolis is the Tiger Canyons, a reserve founded by documentary filmmaker John Varty with the goal of rehabilitating endangered cats in Africa. Here, Varty wants to create a thriving population of tigers as a solution to the dwindling numbers of tigers in Asia. This little Karoo gem is the perfect place to experience wildlife at a leisurely pace; visitors can opt for a morning or afternoon tour of the reserve, which includes an educational talk, tiger spotting and breakfast or dinner at the lodge overlooking the canyons in the area. You’ll also find the Orange River running under a bridge between Philippolis and the town of Colesberg, which is worth a stop to breathe in fresh Karoo air and admire the vastness of the area.
Back in Philippolis, you’ll have your pick of historic buildings to tour. The Emily Hobhouse Memorial Garden is perfect for an evening stroll, where you can revisit the British welfare campaigner’s life and times in South Africa. Across from that building is Griqua leader Adam Kok’s original homestead, which is now a studio and gallery for resident pewtersmith Jann Morrison. There are various lodging options and great restaurants in town to choose from.