DIE TUISHUISE & VICTORIA MANOR (MARKET STREET)
Market Street, a proclaimed National Heritage Street, laid out in 1847, is probably one of the only streets in South Africa where all the houses are original in core. These beautifully restored houses depict the different lifestyles of the people who lived in them from Victorian splendour to that of the rugged Boer. They were originally inhabited by ox wagon craftsmen. With the advent of trains and descent of poverty on Market Street, many were acquired by farmers as town residences for when they came in for church or on business. The houses are accordingly named ‘Die Tuishuise’ (at home houses). More than two dozen Tuishuise line Market Street up to the Victoria Manor, a grand old colonial hotel (est. 1848) that welcomes you with hearty country fare.
SCHREINER HOUSE MUSEUM (9 CROSS STREET)
Olive Schreiner, South Africa’s internationally renowned author of “The Story of an African Farm”, lived in this house as a young girl from 1867 to 1870. An extensive pictorial exhibition portrays her life and those of her eminent siblings. Some of her other literary works and manuscripts can also be found in the Cradock library, the second oldest library in South Africa. Open Mondays to Fridays: 08h00 - 12h45 then 14h00 - 16h30 AND WEEKENDS ON REQUEST.
BREË STREET
This is the oldest street in Cradock. Walking south you will come to:
No . 38 - This stately old gabled home is reputed to be the oldest house in Cradock built circa 1818. It used to belong to the Philips family. (Mr Philips was a pharmacist and druggist), and was used as a Drostdy in the 1820s. The lounge boasts one of two original painted ceilings in South Africa. It was painted by an Oxford graduate in 1880. Many famous people stayed in the house such as Sir John Cradock and Lord Charles Somerset. The current owner of the house is Sandra Antrobus, the owner of Die Tuishuise & Victoria Manor.
Oude Kasteel - The first parsonage in Cradock, bought in 1824 by Mrs Evans after the passing of her husband, the Reverend John Evans, the first minister of the Dutch Reformed Church and shortly thereafter bought by the church. Unfortunately, the house has been modernised by subsequent owners over the years and lost its mystique.
Strolling north through the jacaranda lined street you will see delightful buildings such as Heritage House (pre-1900), St Peter’s Anglican Church(1858), the Wesleyan Methodist Church (1842) the Oude Pastorie (1903) and opposite the Pastorie, on the corner of Bree and Church street, the site of Guy Butler, author of Karoo Morning, childhood home.
GREAT FISH RIVER MUSEUM (BEHIND THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING)
Built in 1849, it was the Second Dutch Reformed Church Parsonage in Cradock and declared a National Monument in 1971. The museum collection dates from 1630 – 2000. Ox wagon, different horse carts and old hearses are on view. In the Gallery see videos on the Boer War and the Cradock Four. According to hearsay it houses the organ that was played at Paul Kruger’s baptism as well as copies of his christening certificate. Copies of the Midland News (Cradock’s local newspaper) printed on silk dating back to 3 September 1912 are also found here. The museum is open weekdays: 08h00 – 16h00.
DUTCH REFORMED MOEDERKERK (CORNER OF J.A CALATA AND CHURCH STREET)
Styled after St Martin’s-in-the-Field on Trafalgar Square, London, the Moederkerk was consecrated in 1868. This church community, the first in Cradock, was established in 1824, 10 years after the town received its name. The design of the church was based on the “St Martin’s-in-the-Field on Trafalgar Square, London, to appease the minister’s wife who was longing for England. The first President of the South African Republic, Paul Kruger, was christened in the first church in 1826. During the South African War the church was used as a lookout point by the British who occupied the town.
CRADOCK CLUB AND ILEX OAKS (DUNDAS STREET)
The house was erected in c.1850 as a private residence and was taken over as the Cradock Club in 1955. During the South African War (1899-1902) it was used as a mess by the officers of the Sherwood Forresters Regiment. Women have only been allowed into the club since 1998. One of the largest Quercus Ilex Oaks to be found in the world is situated outside the Clubhouse. Charles Scalen, who used to live in this house at the time, planted it in1850. DUNDAS STREET is the second oldest street in Cradock. The other historical double-storey building in the street is Albert House, which was built in exactly the same style as the Club.
MUNICIPAL PARK (PARK STREET)
Established in 1881 on the banks of the Great Fish River, the park offers picnic facilities and includes the Cradock Four Memorial, Jurie Lombard Watermill, the Great Trek Memorial and a range of sports facilities including a modern, synthetic athletic track where meetings are held at regional and provincial level.
CRADOCK CEMETERY (DEARY AVENUE)
There are many interesting graves in the cemetery, but the most famous is that of Reginald Koettlitz, the famous geologist, who was the senior medical officer with Captain R.F. Scott’s first expedition to the Antarctic, on the ‘Discovery’ in 1905. Later he moved to South Africa and started a medical practice in Somerset East. On 10 January 1916 both he and his wife died in Cradock on the same day - she of a heart disease and he, a few hours later, from dysentery. The inscription on his gravestone reads: “Here lies Reginald Koettlitz, explorer and traveller, surgeon and geologist to the expeditions North Polar and Abyssinia and with Scott to the Antarctic.”
There is also the grave of General Pieter Kritzinger of South African War fame and, believe it or not, even that of a man named Harry Potter! The cemetery is open to the public during the day.
EDWARDIAN DRINKING TROUGH (FRERE STREET)
This was a typical watering hole for horses after a long journey. The Cradock town council built it in commemoration of King Edward the VII Coronation in 1902.
LINGELIGHLE TOWNSHIP (Township Tour on request at Victoria Manor)
Highlights include: Vusubuntu Cultural Village, Cradock Four Garden of Remembrance, Lingelighle Cemetery, Nondis Restaurant, JA Calata House and a Tavern. Lingelighle is famous for its struggle icons: amoungst others the Cradock Four and Canon JA Calata, the longest serving Secretary General of the ANC.
The Cradock Four: Matthew Goniwe was a founder member of Cradora (Cradock Rate Payers Association). He was a teacher in Lingelihle and his house was used as a crisis centre. In 1984 he was transferred to Graaff-Reinet – he refused and was dismissed. The Lingelihle School boycott of 15 months – the longest in history, tried to get him to retain his post. In October 1984 he served a prison sentence at Pollsmoor prison with Nelson Mandela. On his release he was regarded as a hero. In 1985 Cradora withdrew from the local municipality, other community associations in the Eastern Cape followed suit. On 29 June 1985, Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata (grandson of Canon JA Calata), Sparrow Mkhonto (Cradora leaders) and Siklo Mhlauli (a teacher from Oudtshoorn) were killed outside Port Elizabeth. For more information on the Cradock Four – buy a DVD from Victoria Manor reception, go to the Great Fish River Museum, or go on a Township Tour and see the Garden of Remembrance and their graves in Lingelihle,
EGG ROCK KAROO GARDEN (Turnoff 2KM FROM CRADOCK OFF THE QUEENSTOWN ROAD)
This 10m-high, egg-shaped dolorite rock, weighing approx. 488 tons, is precariously balanced on seemingly unstable material. Unfortunately, it has a piece missing on the southern side, which was reputedly cleaved by lightning in 1937. Travel on the Tarkastad / Queenstown road, look out for the aerodrome sign, once you have turned left one must travel 6km from the turn-off to where a typical Karoo atmosphere prevails. A visit to the rock with time to climb and admire the scenery will take about an hour and a half.
KAROO KRAAL – EXCELLENT OUTDOOR KAROO BOMA RESTAURANT (5KM ON MORTIMER ROAD)
OLIVE SCHREINER GRAVE, BUFFELSKOP (26KM ON THE MORITIMER ROAD- MINIMUM 7 HOURS)
On 13 August 1921, Olive was reinterred on Buffelskop together with the bodies of her child and their much loved fox terrier, Nita. It took 12 farm labourers to carry her up the slopes of the steep mountain. Locals tell of how the pallbearers had to be fortified with drink, but they quit anyway. Cron joined his wife, 16 years later. Arrangements for visits can be made at Schreiner House. The climb is only recommended for those who are reasonably fit.
THE CRADOCK SPA (4KM ON THE MARLOW ROAD)
Just outside Cradock and next to the Great Fish River, lies the Cradock Spa. Here one could experience the therapeutic properties of natural sulphur spring water. In 1814 Sir John Cradock gave permission for a spa to be built, it resembled a farm dam. The present outdoor pool was only built in 1920. The sulphur is reputed to aid in the healing of rheumatism, TB and other lung diseases. In 1891 Samuel Austin erected a wool-washer there and they used to do all the washing for the Cradock public. There were plans to build a Sanatorium there, but due to financial constraints it was stopped. The indoor swimming pool was built in the late 1980s at a cost of over R1 million.
A Mr Opperman of Fort Hare did excavations at the Cradock Spa and found animal bones and artefacts. He discovered twelve species of animals, five of which were extinct at the end of the Pleistocene era (10 000 – 12 000) years ago. He also discovered that there was human habitation here in the early and mid-stone ages.
Note that the sulphur pump at the Spa (2012) is broken, so the pools are only recreational.
KAROO RIVER RAFTING, EERSTE KRANS HIKING TRAIL AND ABSEILING (HOFMEYER ROAD)
Tubing, rafting, canoeing and abseiling available, enquire at Victoria Manor reception or call James on 084 429 9944 and Wayne on 082 450 7207.
OUKOP HILL (2.5KM FROM THE TOWN CENTRE ON THE MIDDELBURG ROAD)
A climb to the top of the hill provides a superb panoramic view of Cradock and the surrounding Karoo landscape. Oukop was used as a lookout post during the South African war. Rock etchings made during the War form an interesting feature on this hill, the most famous being “ What avail a man if he gains the world, but loses his soul.” Note this road is currently (2012) in a bad state, it’s better to drive to the base and climb up the road.
MOUNTAIN ZEBRA NATIONAL PARK (10KM ON THE GRAAFF-REINET ROAD)
The park measuring more than 28 000 hectares in extent and having a diversity of wildlife, including the Cape Mountain Zebra, offers superb opportunities for game-viewing, hiking and picnicking. The park is situated 1957 meters above sea level. The Mountain Zebra National Park is known as South Africa’s most scenic park, the views are compared with Graaff-Reinet’s Valley of Desolation. The visitor is able to see the rare Mountain Zebra (about 300), Eland, Kudu, Buffalo, Black Rhino, Springbuck, the Red Hartebeest (its horns are in the shape of a heart) Black Wildebeest, Mountain Reedbuck, Blesbok, Duiker, Steenbok, Cape Buffalo (150 at present), Black Rhinos and Ostrich. Carnivores include cheetahs, caracal, black-backed jackal, bat eared fox, cape fox and the Aardwolf. There are also over 200 species of birds to be found in the park. Arrangements can be made to view Bushman paintings, go on a game drive, hike or go cheetah tracking. For more details, contact the Mountain Zebra Park at 048 881 2427 or 048 881 3434.
POST CHALMERS (APPROX 50KM FROM THE GRAAFF-REINET ROAD)
This former Police Station was used by the security police as a place for torture for anti-apartheid activists. The Pebco 3, three leaders of the Port Elizabeth Black Civics Organisation, were killed here.
KAROO PRED-A-TOURS (APPROX 60KM ON THE GRAAFF-REINET ROAD)
Pred-A-Tours is home to a program designed to protect and bring to public awareness the lesser known cats of the Karoo: the Caracal (South African Lynx), the African Wild Cat (the ancestor of the modern domestic cat), the Small Spotted Cat and the unusual looking Serval. For guided tours and game drives, call ahead. Suggested visiting times to the cats are best in the early mornings and late afternoons. Summer months: 0600 to 0900 and 1700 to 1830 and winter months: 0800 to 0930 and 1600 to 1700
LOWLANDS ESTATE AND SAN ETCHINGS (APPROX 40KM OFF THE MIDDLEBURG ROAD)
Lowlands is a beautiful sheep, cattle and pecan nut farm on the Fish River. A wide variety of activities for guests to enjoy include canoeing, river rafting, bird watching, mountain climbing or just relaxing in tranquil and comfortable surroundings while enjoying traditional Karoo hospitality. A visit to see six and ten thousand years old Petroglyphs (San Etchings), is possible, they are found on a neighbouring farm.