You might not realise it, but small Karoo dorps like Montagu offer some fantastic shopping opportunities, especially for fresh goods or things you might not find anywhere else. Here are my favourite things to buy in Montagu:
1. Wine, and lots of it! My favourites in this area are from Rusticus, Arendsig, Springfield and Arabella. If you run out of time to visit all the wine farms, the wine shop next to the Total garage in Ashton has most local wines at cellar prices.
2. Dried fruit, nuts, and olives from the Montagu Dried Fruit Farm Stall. There’s also a self-guided tour. It’s just outside town on the road to Avalon Springs. Tel 023-614-2682, email [email protected].
3. Klipdrift Gold brandy is only available from the Klipdrift distillery in Robertson. It’s a multi-award-winning blended potstill brandy at a ridiculously good price (R240) and makes an excellent gift. The distillery also offers tours, tastings and a restaurant. Tel 023-626-3027.
4. Proper farmer’s wellies from Agrimark. I got a pair with pink and blue polka dots for R130. Bargain!
5. Home made goodies from the Montagu Saturday morning market in Euvrard Park on Bath St. Try the apricot mustard and the cherries in vodka. Tel 083-494-0661, email [email protected].
6. Herbal remedies from the Montagu Museum treat every-thing from anemia to whooping cough. The farmers who settled in this area used the indigenous medicinal plants and herbs of the Khoi and San people. A packet of herbs costs R50.
7. Cacti from Sheilam Cactus Farm, which has 2000 different species of cacti, succulents and cycads and is recognized as one of the finest specimen gardens in the world. It’s off the R60 between Robertson and Ashton on the Klaasvoogds West road. Tel 023-626-4133, email [email protected].
