De Rust is situated in the Klein Karoo at the foot of the Sw

De Rust is situated on the N12 en route to the Garden Route and the R62 to Cape Town, is a Victorian Village flanked by the Swartberg Mountains. Home to blueblood ostriches, golden vineyards, sundrenched orchards and spectacular displays of the rare pelargoniums from which geraniums emanated.De Rusts most renowned attraction is Meiringspoort, an incredible passageway of towering red cliffs that pierce through the heart of the Swartberg Mountains. Some of the most primitive beetle species (Colophon spp.) in the world can be found on the peaks of Meiringspoort.

De Rust produces excellent dessert wines and has much to offer the outdoor enthusiast. Explore the famous Red Hills during a 2 hour hike, or try numerous other hiking trails.

Accommodation in De Rust

• Die Gat Guest House is situated in the valley of Middelplaas , near De Rust. It has been in the hands of numerous generations of the Schoeman family since the early 1800s. Characteristics of the old homestead, such as the paint of German origin on the interior walls of the voorkamer (lounge), theoriginal architectural form of the house and the picturesque environment have ensured that many a South African film has been shot here.
• Housemartin (Three Cities Group) - Boutique Hotel offers B&B accommodation in De Rust. Situated in the peaceful, tree-lined village of De Rust on South Africas Garden Route.All 35 rooms are fitted with en- suite with there own verandahs, bathrooms have under floor heating, alll beds have under blanket heaters, air-conditioning, Percale linen and Mohair blankets in winter. Tea and coffee making facilities, homemade biscuits and rusks, and muscadel and port

(Including Klaarstroom)

Situated at the southern entrance to Meiringspoort, only 35 km east of Oudtshoorn, is the picturesque village of De Rust. Apart from being a country escape for many artists, the area is well known for producing excellent dessert wines and fruit, cheese and, of course ostriches.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Beaufort West 144 km, Cape Town 500 km, George 84 km, Oudtshoorn 35 km.

Altitude: 500 m above sea level.

Average Temperature: summer 15°c – 33° c; winter 3°c – 20°c.

Banks: Standard. No ATM’s

Dams: Stompdrif Dam

Mountains: Kammanassie and Swart Mountains (The Kammanassie Mountains derive their name from the name of the Kammanassie River – Khoi for ‘the river that always has water’).

Rivers: Hazenjacht, Klein, Meirings, Nels, Olifants.

HISTORICAL VIEW

Early in the last century a young man from Worcester, near Cape Town, Petrus Johannes Meiring and his two friends, Marincowitz and Denecke, rode into the Klein Karoo’s Elephants River Valley, looking for employment. They decided to stay and Meiring started his new career as foreman on the farm De Rust, which belonged to one Marthinus Bekker, he worked diligently and under his guidance De Rust. When Bekker died, Meiring marries his widow and thus became the new owner of the farm. Meiring and his two friends never stopped exploring and this led to the discovery of the route through the Swartberg mountain which in later years became known as Meiringspoort, an awesome gorge which links the Little Karoo and the Great Karoo. The town and it’s district have close links with well known Afrikaans writers such as Prof. Bun Booysen and Ettienne Le Roux. CJ Langenhoven, who lived in Oudtshoorn, was very fond od De Rust and when he wrote South Africa’s National Anthem the lines ‘Over everlasting mountains, where the echoing crags resound’, he definitely had De Rust in his mind. Landscape artists like Gawie Beukes, Tinus de Jongh and James Yates found peace in the Poort and left a lecacy of beautiful works of art. The well known sculptor Moses Kottler had his studio in his uncle Jacob Kottler’s shop at Middelplaas. He had a beautiful sculpture of his uncle which is now displayed in the CP Nel Museum in Oudtshoorn. On the northern side of Meiringspoort is a little village called Klaarstroom (‘timeless place of clear waters’). The very first wool washing plant in South Africa was built here in 1874. the ruins can still be seen on the river banks. The police station was built in 1897 and is still in use today. Many ghost stories are told in the area and there are some graves dating from the Anglo Boer War. For more detailed information of the Le Roux cheese making factory, the witblits still and the fossil museum on Zwartkraal, visit Marie Gerber at Poort Pourri, a home industry and craft shop.

NATURE

Stompdrif Dam

With a shoreline of more than 25 km this is by far the largest dam in the Klein Karoo. The dam is located adjacent to the scenic Meiringspoort, 6 km from the charming hamlet of De Rust, and less than 30 minutes from Oudtshoorn. Pristine hills and mountains surround the dam. The vegetation is arid and harsh and an interesting interaction between water fowl and Karoo birdlife is noticeable. More than 30 species of birds has been recorded to date, including the majestic African Fish Eagle, whose cry is aptly referred to as the ‘Cry of Africa’. The dam is fed by the Elephants River, and numerous game species roam freely in the inaccessible hills and gorges – also the last free roaming herd of the endangered Quagga. Unfortunately, they are as elusive as the Cape mountain leopard and gracious kudu, which are in abundance. Expect a close encounter with Mountain tortoises, one of the bigger tortoise species in the world.

ATTRACTIONS

Annual Events

Carp Derby – twice annually during April and October.

Oudtshoorn Klein Kunste Fees (Arts Festival) – March / April

Half marathon – October

Arts & Cape Wine Shop – selling local wines and other liquor

Crafts Groen Bliktrommel – local home industry, gifts and curios

Klapperbos – gifts and curios

Schoemand Gallery – Antigues, carpets and paintings

Historical Buildings – Some more than 100 years old

ACTIVITIES

Bird watching, Hiking, Mountain Biking, 4x4 Routes, Fishing, Swimming and boating.

Accommodation in and around Melmel