A tour of ABERDEEN and the Valley of Desolation, South Africa - A real Karoo experience!
Hi everyone! Welcome back to the channel. In this episode, I travel to the Eastern Cape region in South Africa to explore more of the Great Karoo.
I visit the town of Aberdeen on my way to the Camdeboo National Park and the Valley of Desolation, which was formed millions of years ago. The Karoo is known for its breathtaking beauty of seemingly endless landscapes, but also some very interesting towns such as Aberdeen in the agricultural heart of South Africa.
Aberdeen is a town in the Eastern Cape, approximately 60km from Graaf Reinet and 150km from Beaufort West. It is known for its tall Dutch Reformed Church, which has a disputed claim for having the tallest church steeple in South Africa.
CORRECTION - note that in the video itself, I refer to the church itself rather than the church steeple.
The town has a very peaceful vibe with lots of interesting architecture, gravel roads and seemingly goats that simply roam the streets and eat the bushes! Walking around this small town on a quiet Sunday morning and early afternoon was a wonderful experience.
After a brief visit to Aberdeen, I travel to the Camdeboo National Park where I visit several lookout or vantage points, en route to the spectacular Valley of Desolation. I explore several walking trails and come across some interesting plants and animals.
The vlog ends with me doing some shopping in a Graaf Reinet supermarket for the 'braai' or barbeque at night. I mention the prices of several meat-related items to give you an idea of the cost of living in this part of South Africa.
Hope you enjoy the video! If you haven't done it yet, please LIKE and SUBSCRIBE! Also please leave a comment in the comment section!
Happy exploring!
Willie
Restaurants in Willowmore, South Africa
Have a really tasty meal again, in a good restaurant or eatery nearby. Enjoy a great dinner with near Willowmore. Whether gourmet, fast food or a romantic candlelight dinner, you will find something suitable here.
Here you can find Restaurants in Willowmore, South Africa:
00:00 - Intro
00:22 - 1) Lou's Place Willowmore
00:32 - 2) Belly Deli Willowmore
00:41 - 3) Kapoet
00:50 - 4) Royal Hotel
00:59 - 5) The Willow Historical Guest House
01:08 - 6) Inwag Cafe
01:17 - 7) BAVIAANS KAFEE
01:26 - 8) Lapidaria- Karoo Rose Guest House
01:34 - 9) The Old Jail Willowmore
01:44 - 10) Amigo
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#willowmore #southafrica #restaurants
WILLOWmore sa SOUTH AFRICA
On a warm summer day in 1856 Frederick Lehmkuhl developed a homestead that became the village of Willowmore in 1864, the gateway between the Great Karoo and the harbour at Knysna. The Dutch Reform Church built a rectory, which later became a girls hostel, and today was our accommodation as the Willowmore Historical Guesthouse. We were warmly welcomed by Deon van der Merwe, (HTTP:// a friendly large Afrikaans, who rearranged guests and assisted me to a cabin. Our traditional room was outfitted with nineteenth century furniture, brass beds, antique chairs, dressing table and an old original oil painting. Unfortunately it was also unheated, about fifteen degrees Celsius, and cold. Our dinner was delivered to the cottage, babotie for Richard and I ate very tough Calamari and tough rump steak consumed with a Carling Black Label beer, brewed here under license from Canada. We ate, and then went to bed to escape the cold at 10.00 pm. Richard later told me, I heard four women visitors getting very vocal and pissed at the bar, and I intended to join them, but I fell asleep.
Saturday 16 August Knysna
We dressed by 8.30 am and ate a hotel breakfast of fried eggs and bacon, checking out about 11.00 am. The cost with meals was $150.00, which I felt, was excessive, but last night we were very pleased to get any accommodation. Im not sure why we were so slow getting going, but I need time to type my journal, and Richard likes to walk and explore. We drove for an hour to Uniondale, turned off the N9 there onto R339, a secondary road, and then drove to Adventuur, where R339 narrowed to a double lane dirt track running ninety kilometres over a series of towering, blue tipped mountain ranges to the coast at Plettenburg Bay or Knysna.
Willowmore
SOUTH AFRICAN ROADS
The purpose of these videos are to show the road conditions between towns for potential travelers.
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4 Unique Places to visit in South Africa
#Mapungubwe #Travel #Holiday #Breathingstone
In this video, Jr talks about 4 most unique places that you can visit in South Africa according to his research, he explain them as follows
1. BREATHING STONE
2. THE GIANT FOOTPRINT
3. MAPUNGUBWE (THE KINGDOM OF MAPUNGUBWE)
4. THE DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS
Scenes From The Karoo...........Willowmore to Steytlerville
Driving from Willowmore to Steytlerville in the Karoo on the R329 in January 2014
Scenes From The Karoo............. Uniondale to Willowmore
Driving on the N9 from Uniondale to Willowmore in the Karoo in January 2014. The video includes drives through Ghwarrie Poort and Buys Poort
Steytlerville to Willowmore cement road R329
Steytlerville to Willowmore cement road
The construction for the cement Road (R329) between Willowmore and Steytlerville commenced in 1952 and was completed in 1954 and is 36 Km’s long
Passing cars on this road (oncoming included) can be a bit tricky. As you can see in this video
#chaumontwanders #steytlerville #smalltownsouthafrica #r329 #sarahbaartmandistrict #easterncapetourism #steytlervilletourism #grootrivier #deanbremnerphotography #suzukijimny #southafricabackroads #cementroad
Campsite Review: Uitspan Baviaanskloof, Eastern Cape
Baviaanskloof Uitspan is located at the western end of the Baviaanskloof, some 45 kilometers from Willowmore, 10 kilometers from the Nuwekloof Pass.
Stay at Baviaanskloof Uitspan and really Span Uit amid the spectacular scenery and peace and quiet of the Baviaanskloof, the scenic wonderland of the Eastern Cape.
#Ironman4x4Africa #travelfurtherseemore
Valley of Desolation - Eastern Cape - South Africa
Always wanted to drive through the Valley of Desolation between Graaff-Reneit and Willowmore in the Easter Cape Province of South Africa but never had the time? Look no further because this hyperdrive assisted sequence will take you through the long drive at 1000 km/h!
Similar stories are told in my chronicle; 'Journey to Everywhere'
Baviaans - Ep4 - Bergplaas to Patensie
EPISODE 4
We took on the spectacular road all the way through the Baviaanskloof in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The variation in scenery, road conditions and mountain passes make this a truly unforgettable (if not iconic) drive!
We were joined by my sister Madeleine, and her family, so it was great to share this experience with them. :-)
We drove the complete route through the Baviaans from Willowmore to Patensie over three days and present this in 4 separate episodes. In this 4th and final episode the road from Bergplaas to Patensie is shared with you, we hope you will find it interesting!
For more footage of Back Road Chronicles trips, make sure to have a look at Werner’s other channel:
@wernersview
ENJOY THE ROADS WITH US!
[248] Grasnek Pass, Eastern Cape, South Africa (2022-01-26)
I rode Grasnek Pass, on the R332, between Patensie and N6, close to Willowmore, and part of the Baviaanskloof trail, Eastern Cape, South Africa, on 26 January 2022.
Others that joined me on the ride are:
1. Rassie (F800GS) from Oudshoorn.
Music: The Big Beat 80s by Kevin MacLeod, Syrinx Starr.
Type of road: Tar
Technical Difficulty: 3 of 5
Scenery: 5 of 5
Other videos of the pass:
MPSA:
Things to Do in South Africa - Visit South Africa, Free Travel and Wildlife Films
Karoo
TEN REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT SOUTH AFRICA
1. You can drink our tap water (at most places, anyway).
2. You can see Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Giraffe, Rhino and Crocodile in the wild (and lots, LOTS more -- the Kruger Park is a MUST!!!!).
3. South Africa has the longest wine route in the world, the R62 wine route
4. The Tugela Falls is the second highest waterfall in the world, where the water tumbles down 850 metres. First place goes to the Angel Falls in Venezuela at 979 metres.
5. Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world -- and the largest green one. The Grand Canyon in the US is the biggest, and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia the second.
6. South Africa has some of the best reefs in the world for scuba diving.
7. We have really good weather. Really, really good weather!!! Especially in the Lowveld in winter!
8. Pretoria has the second largest number of embassies in the world after Washington, D.C.
9. The only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace prize winners is in Soweto. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both have houses in Vilakazi Street in Soweto.
10. South Africa houses one of the three largest telescopes in the world at Sutherland in the Karoo.
All content copyright by Photos of Africa
Filmed with HD camera , 2012
South Africa Today on 25 March 2025
Today's daily update video from SA is from 25 March 2025. In this video, we begin with a flooded road in Upington, South Africa, today. This after a burst pipe along Schroder Street. Heavy rain in the Eastern Cape resulted in the Oppi-Vlak Padstal being flooded near Willowmore. Rain is also falling in Smithfield in the Free State. We stop for a beer at the Royal Hotel in Pilgrims Rest. We hike the Drakensberg mountains from Monk Cowl to Zulu Cave. It was a beautiful day for a round of golf at the Umdoni Golf Course in Pennington. Feeding Frenzy at the De Charmoy Estate in Verulam, KZN. Stop for a decaf latte at the Surfers Point in Jeffreys Bay. We camp next to a stream at Merry Pebbles outside the town of Sabie and show you several more places across South Africa.
Here's a short weather forecast for South Africa today:
Today, the Eastern Cape Province is anticipating significant and disruptive rainfall, which may lead to localized flooding in areas particularly susceptible to water accumulation, as well as in highly informal settlements.
If you enjoyed this video, please watch my other videos as well at the following link:
This video features additional clips from around South Africa, including lions in the Kruger National Park. Walk around Heckers Nursery in Boksburg. Attend the SAR trains at Centurion Model Society of Engineers that ran from 21 - 23 March 2025. Hiking and kloofing along the Swart Rivier near George along the Garden Route. We conclude the video today at the Word and Life Church in Boksburg for the 10:30 a.m. service in the Gauteng Province of South Africa.
Don't forget to subscribe and join me again in the following video about SA today.
We hope you enjoyed this video journey across South Africa today. By subscribing to our channel, you're not just a viewer. You're a valued part of our community, and your subscription is essential in ensuring you never miss our daily travel and weather updates, keeping you informed and prepared. But it's not just about us sharing information with you. We value your thoughts and experiences and look forward to hearing from you. So, don't hesitate to hit that subscribe button now and join our journey! Your voice matters to us, and we're eager to engage with you and fellow viewers in the comments section. Share your thoughts, ask questions, and build a vibrant community together! Your active participation is what makes our channel unique.
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Welcome back to my channel, South Africa Daily Update! My name is Christiaan, and I am a passionate traveler who loves exploring with my wife. On this channel, you will find daily travel videos that showcase the stunning scenery and hidden gems of South Africa. From bustling towns to breathtaking national parks, we will take you through this diverse and captivating country. We are a team of people across the country working together to provide a daily video that showcase our beautiful country and videos from outside South Africa on occasion.
The aim is not only to highlight the incredible sights and experiences but also to shed light on the realities of life in this amazing country. South Africa is home to some of the most iconic animals and tourist attractions. And we feel fortunate to have the opportunity to capture them on camera and share their beauty with all of you. Let's explore South Africa together!
Where possible I will add interesting information on the area or animal in the video and indicate where the video was captured and in what province of South Africa. So, whether you're a fellow traveler looking for inspiration or wanting to learn more about this incredible country, we hope you'll join us on this journey.
If you enjoyed the video please let us know and also tell us what the weather was like in your town today.
#southafrica #flood #rain #easterncape #aberdeen #willowmore #today #dailyupdates #satoday
Baviaanskloof and Antoniesberg! Our last off-road trip in SA.
We've been MIA for a while now and now we're settled I'm finally getting this uploaded - yippppeeeee.
We had a banana's 2019 and this was definitely one of the highlights. We took Roelof with us to Baviaans this time and took a different route back towards Willowmore with Egbert and Almari, 2 other good friends of ours. It was stacks of fun and hope you enjoy the video!
Here is the Baviaanskloof trip we did with my mum where we stayed in a tree house which was really cool:
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Road Trip to Finchley Farm
A drive through the scenic Karoo Route to Willowmore which was laid out in 1862 on the farm The Willows.
Willowmore is a town in Sarah Baartman District Municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
Finchley Farm is conveniently located 3 kilometers outside Willowmore on the R407 – Prince Albert Road.
The cottages on Finchley farm date back to the late 1800’s and are tastefully furnished and decorated with numerous historic items which will without a doubt be of interest to visitors. They are situated in the beautiful tranquil garden
#chaumontwanders #willomore #karoo #smalltownsouthafrica #R329 #R407 #sarahbaartmandistrict #easterncapetourism #willomoretourism #deanbremnerphotography #suzukijimny #southafricabackroads #finchleyfarmaccommodation #finchlyfarm #willomoreaccommodation #karooworkingfarmstay
Trans Baviaans, Part 1: The Road Less Traveled
A three-day journey through the magnificent Baviaanskloof mega reserve in South Africa begins! Join Nicole and I as we head West to the entrance on the road less traveled and descent through the Nuwekloof pass into true isolation.
Info on Baviaanskloof:
R19,700,000 | 10,400Ha Farm For Sale in Laingsburg
LAINGSBURG: POTENTIAL GAME FARM OR ECONOMIC VIABLE SMALL STOCK FARM..........
This 10,400 hectare truly remarkable farm lies in a sought-after area which is well known for its good quality meat and wool. Located about 60 km from Laingsburg of which 40 km is tar.
Due to its isolation it has retained a lot of its historical value. In the northern section of the farm it is surrounded by majestic mountains with secluded valleys and riverine trees on the banks of the dry rivers, supporting the sustainability of the vegetation due to the abundance of trees and riverine vegetation. Various rivers which only flow in the rainy season traverse the farm.
Vegetation and topography is diverse and this well-established fully operational farm is known for as an above average livestock unit. Furthermore is absolutely secluded with no roads passing through it, making it ideal to be transformed into a large game farm. A public road only cuts through the south eastern side of the acreage.
The entire farm is equipped with jackal proof fencing and there are numerous inner-camps with sheep handling facilities. All with quality and abundance water from windmills and fountains. About 20 hectare consists of cultivated land planted with Lucerne, fodder or cash crops.
The quaint 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom / spacious lounge farmhouse with its historic thick walls and low door frames dates back to yester-year and is still fitted with a traditional AGA-stove.
Vegetation is sweat mixed veldt, with several grass species, shrubs, Koup succulents, bushes and plenty of drought resistant ganna as well as Acacia- and Karee trees.
The carrying capacity is 1:36 LSU and is suitable to carry about 1200 ewes when managed properly and the wool produced normally reached record prizes. At present the farm is a sheep and boer goat farming enterprise with the entire infrastructure to support a farm of this size and nature.
The road infrastructure is laid out and well graded to access the plains, plateaus and mountainous areas with ease.
The combination of mere size, location (isolation), topography, variety of vegetation, abundance of water and sufficient farming infrastructure, makes this farm suitable for an economically viable sheep, goat and game unit.
The farm in its exclusive location (no public roads through the farm) offers numerous opportunities for further development as a sough after eco-venture or game farm. Kudu, Blesbuck and Springbuck roam the farm together with the indigenous Reedbuck, Duiker and Klipspringer. It emanates a great sense of closeness to nature and offers an ideal setting for a lifestyle getaway with substantial income. It consists of 4 title deeds on which lifestyle accommodation can be built. Each spot will boast with its own unique beauty with stunning appeal.
This idyllic area of land remains exclusive to most of us mortals.
Farms of this size and nature are seldom offered for sale in this area and is for sale at R19 700,000.00
Victoria Bay Caravan Park, Victoria Bay | Campsite Review
Victoria Bay is one of the most beautiful places in South Africa. it is on the Garden Route, between George and Knysna. There are three campsites and we were at the one with private ablutions, overlooking Vicbay beach. It is a lovely campsite with a stunning view. The ablutions are clean and the campsite is well looked after. Vicbay beach is especially popular with surfers and a holiday paradise in summer time. Do go visit!!!
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Exploring the Groot Winterhoek (Western Cape)
If you like rocks, this might be for you. Filmed at Rockhaven.