Essecke: South Africa 4: To Biedouw Valley via Calvinia

On Thursday the 22nd it was time to say goodbye to Kanoneiland and head south towards Cederberg Mountains and Biedouw Valley. We had booked a Chalet at the Enjo Farm for 540 ZAR per night (36 EUR / 39 CHF) for three nights. We decided to take the road 27 via Calvinia. The estimated travel time was about 8 hours and 30 minutes respectively about 650 kilometers. So we had another day of driving, long straight road, Karoo/Namaqua landscape waiting for us.

Close to Calvinia

We stopped for lunch in the small town of Calvinia. I had done some research already before and found a place called Hantam Huis Restaurant and that's where we had our lunch break. By the way, they also offer accommodation, if you are planning to stay in the area. The place isn't only a restaurant but a museum and a small shop as well. I ordered chicken pie and Hubby Springbok pie, but at the end we shared them because they were both very good. The place is well worth a stop, even just a short one.

Hoop street in Calvinia

The Hantam Huis restaurant

The garden in the restaurant. I would love to have a courtyard like this with so many plants and flowers. Our cats would hate all the birds though.

One of the cute corners in the garden

Lecker! Pie with beetroot, carrot and cabage salads

The cat in the shop had the best place ever to sleep.

A short break to admire the landscape (between Calvinia and Van Rhynsdorp)

The view

Cows in the Biedouw Valley

They have plenty of space

The Enjo farm is kind of off the beaten track. The place is absolutely beautiful. We would go back there anytime... now if we could. No mobile phone network, no wifi but just peace and quiet and fabulous starry nights. The road to the Biedouw Valley and to the Enjo farm is a dirt road easily drivable with a normal car although in some parts a bit bumpy with some loose stones. The cottage is self catering with adequate possibilities for cooking and braai. It's simple but there is electricity and enough hot water. The bedding and the towels are included. I think that there's also a possiblity to book breakfast and dinner if you don't want to do self catering, but we went with our own supply because Hubby wanted to braai and this was easy enough.

Before driving to the Enjo Farm, we filled up our tank in Clanwilliam, which is recommended, because the gas stations after Clanwilliam are non-existent. We also did grocery shopping for the next three days because we weren't sure if we were going to leave the farm during our stay. Luckily we arrived before dark so we had enough time to admire the landscape, settle in and start the braai before sunset and sundowners.