Prince Albert Snapshot
A quaint and well-preserved village at the foot of the Swartberg Pass, Prince Albert (400km from Cape Town) is the quintessential Karoo dorp. There is no ignoring its visual appeal: pretty streets of Cape-Dutch, Victorian and Karoo houses with corrugated-iron roofs, fly-screen doors, shuttered windows and cool stoeps. Unlike the surrounding peppercorn plain, the village is a verdant oasis, thanks to a perennial spring that trickles down a system of furrows along the sidewalks. The entire town can be explored on foot – both the main street and the dusty residential neighbourhood are a pleasure. At sunset the village lies more often than not under a golden glow and the silver church steeple shimmers against the dusk sky – this is Prince Albert at its best.
Things To Do
- When in Prince Albert, do as Prince Albertinians do. Slotting into the sleepy village lifestyle is easy as pie. Start the day with a visit to the local dairy for fresh milk, yoghurt and cheese. Move along to the Saturday market for fruit and veggies, hot bread, jams and pickles. Kill the afternoon with a siesta, followed by moerkoffie and beskuit. Then, as the air begins to cool, rouse yourself and explore the back streets and gracious old buildings, 13 national monuments among them.
- Of course, you can also play fatcat tourist in Prince Albert. Many flock to the village for the drive through its southern gateways – the Swartberg Pass and Meiringspoort. Some of these tourists motor in one way, take a bed for the night, and zoom out the other. A few even squeeze the spectacular but tortuous journey to Gamkaskloof into the itinerary, driving in and out the same day. Personally, we think they’re nuts.
- Prince Albert has a good sprinkling of restaurants, dotted up and down its dusty streets. Not all are of equal standing - Captain Getaway swears the one he visited for morning coffee uses shaving cream for their cappuccinos.
Weltevrede Fig Farm
Prince Albert, Western Cape
In a valley at the foothills of the mighty Swartberg Mountains, where huge blue gums tower above you, is Weltevrede Fig Farm. Here you can wander down to the dairy to buy your milk, cream ...
Rate Guide
From R1200 to R4750, depending on unit, guests and time of year
Prince Albert Cottage
Prince Albert, Western Cape
Enjoy peace, tranquillity and great hospitality. Prince Albert cottage is annexed to the old 1851 Cape Dutch farmhouse. It has its own private entrance and patio. A pretty courtyard with fruit trees a...
Rate Guide
From R900 to R2400, depending on unit, guests and time of year
Bushman Valley
Prince Albert, Western Cape
This is a real Karoo experience, set on 1200ha (that's big) of private nature reserve at the foot of the Swartberg Mountians, not far from Prince Albert. Bushman Valley has air-conditioned thatched s...
Rate Guide
From R400 to R2500, depending on unit, guests and time of year
Karoo View Cottages
Prince Albert, Western Cape
Appointed just outside Prince Albert is Karoo View Cottages - four stylish farmstyle units with an outlook that delivers on the name. With the tin roofs and church spires of Prince Albert in the for...
Rate Guide
From R1250 to R3050 per unit, depending on number of guests and time of year
Wolvekraal Guest Farm
Prince Albert, Western Cape
The Nel family are your typical salt-of-the-earth Karoo sheep farmers. And a stay on their 4000ha spread is your typical Great Karoo experience. Lying just 8km north of Prince Albert, Wolvekraal Far...
Rate Guide
From R600 to R2000, depending on unit, guests and time of year
Acacia Cottage
Prince Albert, Western Cape
Private safe quiet graded 3 star retreat, solar powered, within walking distance to the village. Acacia Cottage is a self-catering private retreat, located on a hectare of farmland in Prince Albert, ...
Rate Guide
From R700 to R2500, depending on unit, guests and time of year
Where You'll Also Find Us
Arniston (Waenhuiskrans) • Barrydale • Beaufort West • Betty's Bay • Bonnievale • Bot River • Bredasdorp • Caledon • Calitzdorp • Cape Agulhas and Struisbaai • Cape Town area • Ceres • Citrusdal • Clanwilliam & Cederberg • Darling • De Rust • Franschhoek • Gansbaai • George • Grabouw & Elgin Valley • Greyton • Heidelberg • Hermanus • Knysna • Ladismith • Laingsburg • Lamberts Bay • Langebaan • Malgas • Matjiesfontein • McGregor • Montagu • Mossel Bay • Napier • Oudtshoorn • Paarl • Paternoster • Plettenberg Bay • Porterville • Prince Albert • Pringle Bay • Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay and Kleinmond • Riebeek West and Riebeek-Kasteel • Riversdale • Riviersonderend • Robertson • St Helena Bay • Stanford • Stilbaai • Strand, Gordon's Bay and Somerset West • Swellendam • Tulbagh • Uniondale • Velddrif • Vermaaklikheid • Wellington • Wilderness • Witsand • Worcester & Hex Valley • Yzerfontein • Baviaanskloof • Cape St Francis • Cape St Francis & St Francis Bay • East London • Graaff-Reinet • Hogsback • Jeffreys Bay • Makhanda (Grahamstown) • Middelburg • Nieu-Bethesda • Rhodes • Sutherland