When one thinks of Calvinia, wildflowers most likely spring to mind. But there is so much more that this Northern Cape town has to offer, especially for those seeking a bit of adventure slightly off the beaten track.
Calvinia was founded in 1845 by the Dutch Reform Church to establish a parish and was first known as Hantam, after the Khoekhoe word meaning ‘mountains where the bulbs grow’. While apt for the area, the name was changed to Calvinia after the French religious reformer Jean Calvin in 1851, following the arrival of the first minister in the town.
Today, the town not only offers a look into its past and well-preserved architectural history, but also plenty for visitors to do.
Turn Back Time
Get to know Calvinia’s rich history with a visit to the Calvinia Museum (44 Church Street). The museum is in a property built in the ’20s that served as the town’s synagogue. Opened in 1968, today, it is the second-largest museum in the Northern Cape, boasting three separate buildings and outdoor exhibits. Exploring this space is a step back in time, old clothing, antique sewing machines, tools, furniture and more on display. Here, you can also learn more about the town’s history with sheep farming, a practice that continues to bolster the town’s economy. The museum also boasts a display of local visual art.
If you really want to absorb the town’s history, you can even call the museum home for a night as it offers accommodation for up to four people by prior arrangement.
In the Post
Post boxes are rare, but not in Calvinia, home to South Africa’s tallest post box at 6.17 m. It was converted into a post box in 1995, is known as ‘The Flower Post Box’ and is still in use. Many visitors to this ‘mother of all post boxes’ post something, whether actual mail or a snap for social media.
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Take a Hike
Pack your hiking gear when you visit Calvinia, as there are plenty of trails from a few hours to longer.
Tankwa Camino (tankwacamino.com) is pegged as a ‘modern-day Great Trek’. Participants travere one of our country’s most starkly beautiful areas. This 10-day, 256.6 km hike takes you through various magical landscapes and tests your physical endurance.
If you only have a few hours to spare, visit to the Akkerendam Nature Reserve on the slopes of the Hantam Mountains, which has picnic spots and hiking trails. Tackle the Agter (behind) Hantam Route that circles the mountains surrounding the town with its spectacular ‘rugged scenery and red ironstone hills’. You can purchase a permit for the area from the local municipality (Hoop Street, Calvinia).
Get a Better View
Grab your binoculars because there’s so much to look at when visiting Calvinia. Birdwatchers will delight in sightings of cardinal woodpeckers, European bee-eaters, black storks, African spoonbills, red-faced mousebirds, and even our national bird, the blue crane, among many you can spot in the area.
When the sun sets, erect your telescope because Calvinia’s night sky will make it seem like you could reach out and grab a star from the inky black sky.
Flower Power
A visit to this part of this world wouldn’t be complete without taking in the beauty of the area’s flora, which put on a spectacular display in early Spring. Explore the Hantam Flower Route, which includes the Hantam National Botanical Garden. Less than an hour’s drive from Calvinia, this 6 000 ha garden is wondrous.
This article was written by Megan Paulse for Getaway’s November 2023 print edition. Find us on shelves for more!
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