MyShire Farm

Experience our beautiful farm situated in the Weltevrede Valley, 30 kms from Prince Albert. Surrounded by breath taking scenery, The Huisrivier runs through the south side of the farm, where you can see wildlife like Kudu and the many indigenous plants found in the area. The Karoo violet in early spring creates a carpet of lilac and the horses are able to roam free.The farm comprises of:

hectares of natural veldt

pastures for the horses.

Enjoy a day trip to MyShire farm and experience the labyrinth, which is based on the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth in France. Walk the magical 11-circuit Medieval Labyrinth surrounded by mountains and wide open spaces and allow the silence of the Great Karoo to resonate within you.

Day Trip Details

Packed picnic lunch at R125.00 pp
Prepared lunch at the farm at R175.00 pp
Tea, coffee and cake at R85.00 pp
Any day trip has to be booked well in advance with Lisa, especially if you want to have lunch.

Sights of Price Albert

We have a number of fine local Wineries to visit, and of course Prince Albert is famous for its Olive and Cheese products.

Apart from these options, we also have something for the more adventurous visitor:

Gamkaskloof / Die Hel

This beautiful, secluded valley, roughly 20km long and less than 1 km wide, lies hidden in the heart of the Swartberg. It was inaccessible by road until 1963. Its many streams and fertile soil once supported a community who lived there for more than 100 years in isolation. Also known as "Die Hel" it is shrouded in romantic notions of mythical communities lost in hidden mountain valleys.

Relic farms and several restored cottages remain to stimulate the romance. Access was only on foot and the harvesting of dried fruit and honey were carried out by pack donkey - along seemingly impassable routes for barter with the outside world. Today, travellers can drive into Gamkaskloof along Elands Pass - an unforgettable journey of breathtaking zigzags dropping dramatically to the valley 1000 meters below. The turnoff to Gamkaskloof is 25 km from Prince Albert, on the Swartberg Pass ascent. Visitors should allow at least 6 hours for the return trip to Prince Albert. Lovingly restored self-catering accommodation and camping facilities are available in the valley allowing the imagination to wander through the web of stories, both mystical and true, of what life must have been like in this hidden valley.

Gamkapoort Dam

Only 42 km west of Prince Albert at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains lies this wide expanse of water in the middle of the Karoo. The dam is home to hundreds of birds.

Absorb the sound of silence, see buck and baboons, listen to the Fish Eagle’s call and watch birds fishing against the spectacular backdrop of the dinosaur-shaped mountains. The road to the dam is not suitable for a normal vehicle.

Meiringspoort

Marvel at towering rock faces as you criss-cross the river running through this dramatic gorge. Walk up to the waterfall with its bottomless pool where the “fabled” mermaid lives and see Herrie’s Stone - Langenhoven’s graffiti proclaimed a National Monument.

Meiringspoort is a deep cleft through the seemingly impenetrable Swartberg range. This natural passage forms a convenient link between the Great and Little Karoo. Soaring cliff walls with spectacular rock formations line the 25 km tarred road, which winds along the floor of the gorge, crossing the Groot River 26 times. Entry to the Poort is via Klaarstroom, 55 kms east of Prince Albert en route to Oudtshoorn and the coast. Hardy plants, including indigenous pelargonium, cling to the precarious rock faces while birds, baboons and smaller fauna abound in the protected kloofs & crevices. Among the most scenic spots is the waterfall tumbling into a dark pool that, according to legend, is bottomless. In Meiringspoort one feels insignificant against the overwhelming grandeur of the surroundings. Driving through this Poort with its winding road, the traveller is enchanted by the scenery with a kaleidoscope of every changing colour. The richness of the vegetation along the river will intrigue the plant lover and the birdwatcher will be amazed at the bird life. Meiringspoort was originally opened to traffic on the 3rd March 1858.

Swartberg Pass

A must for anyone visiting Prince Albert for the first time. The 27 km Swartberg Pass is considered one of the most impressive mountain passes in the world: an untarred road that winds to the summit 1585 meters above sea level in steep zigzags and sudden switchbacks with breathtaking views every turn. The road is supported in places by hand-packed stonewalls, a trademark of the brilliant road engineer of the 19th Century, Thomas Charles Bain.

Along the way there are relics of old prisons, tollhouses, and Way stations that bear historic testimony to past adventures. Often covered with snow in winter, the mountain's microclimate supports fynbos and a rich bird life in contrast with the arid-zone flora and fauna outside its cool shady kloofs. The Swartberg Pass was declared a National Monument in its Centenary year, 1988. Those who have crossed the pass will never forget it. Lookout for the soaring Black Eagles and the sure-footed Klipspringers.

Weltevrede Valley

Experience a sunset in the fruit farming valley when mountains are transformed from blue to the deepest purple and clouds are enhanced with golden orange and sultry pink hues.

Drive back to town beneath our sparkling star-filled Karoo sky..