Swellendam

From World travel guide

Swellendam (pop. 35.000) is in the Western Cape region of South Africa. It`s one of the oldest European settlements in South Africa and offers some fine examples of Dutch-Cape architecture. The tourist office is in the old mission at Voortrek Street (mon-fr 9am to 5pm). - Local area code: 028; Postcode 6740

Contents 1 Get in 1.1 By car 1.2 By bus 1.3 By plane/ rail 2 Get around 3 See 4 Do 5 Eat 6 Drink 7 Sleep 8 Get out 9 External links

Get in

By car

It will take about 2-3 hours on the N2 to reach Swellendam by car from Cape Town (240km).

By bus

The major companies serve Swellendam on their run from Cape Town to the Garden route but the service isn`t very extensive. Swellendam is also served by the Baz Bus on it`s way from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth.

By plane/ rail

There is no airport nor rail to Swellendam

Get around

The town is so small that it`s best viewed while walking through the streets. There is no public transport in the town except for the minibuses. The minibus stand is on Voortrek street behind the SPAR supermarket.

See

- The Drostdy: the former magistrate`s seat was built in 1747 and no function as a museum. It`s a fine example of Dutch-Cape architecture.

- Bontebok National Park: Just a few km out of town this park offers a nice scenery. Worth a day of hiking and a view of the flora and fauna

- De Hoop Nature Reserve: Beautiful little reserve, perfect for spotting wales!

- Marloth Nature Reserve: On the southern slopes of the Langeberg Mountains it offers an abundance of wild flowers and fynbos as well as some hiking trails

Do

- Visit the museum and then go for Bontebok National Park. For those with more time hiking in the Marloth nature reserve is worth a thought.

Eat

Several restaurants line the main street.

• Mattsen`s Steakhouse (44 Voortrek St.) is popular not only for its steaks

Drink

Sleep

Many guesthouses and B&B (from basic to luxurious) offer their services so there should be no problem to find something that suits you. There`also a backpackers in Swellendam which is on the Baz Bus route.

• Braeside Bed & Breakfast, 13 Van Oudtshoornweg (Tel: (028) 514 3325; FAX: (028) 514 1899; http://www.braeside.co.za/) is a very nice Cape Edwardian building with rooms starting at R250 pps. And the breakfast alone on the terrace is worth most of the money ... as are the hosts.

Get out

External links

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