Go in Secret Season
If you want to visit Nieuwoudtville, you have to commit to trekking all the way through the Knersvlakte like the Dorsland (Thirstland) Trekkers of yore. Fortunately, the independent suspension and air conditioning in contemporary vehicles mean that you don’t have to suffer too much while passing through the roadworks on Piekenierskloof Pass.
Nieuwoudtville Flower Season
There are quite a few terrific farm stalls along the way (Ou Tol and Kardoesie, to name but two) where you can stock up on goodies, but chances are you’ll reach your dorp destination without the need for roadside distraction. The trick to visiting a town such as Nieuwoudtville is the go there during the ‘secret season’, though. From August to October, the flowers are in full bloom, which means every man and his dog will be heading this way.
Go and visit during the rest of the year, and you will practically have this little corner of the Hantam region to yourself. Space, fresh air, outstanding accommodation options, interesting restaurants, waterfalls, accordion players on stone steps, a butchery where you can have your chops cut three fingers thick while you wait, and even a secret forest … it’s all waiting for you.
Did You Know: It is no joke that Nieuwoudtville is known as the ‘bulb capital’ of the world … More than 1 350 plant species are found along the Bokkeveld Plateau, and many of them are of the bulb variety as this helps them survive both the arid climate and extreme temperatures. At least 80 species are endemic to the area.
