Rock Formations near Kaapsehoop.

The village of Kaapsehoop, originally gained fame as a gold mining town once known as the the Devil’s Office. Established towards the end of the 19th century, when gold was discovered in 1882 in a small creek running through the town. This led to a portion of the original township layout being cancelled and opened up for gold diggings. However, the earlier better paying discoveries of gold at both Pilgrim’s Rest in 1873 and Barberton in 1881, followed by the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886 (later to become the city of Johannesburg), coupled with the meagre returns obtained at Kaapsehoop, led to the town going into decline, and becoming almost a ghost town.

It has now become a popular weekend retreat with its period housing and includes many accommodation establishments. The town is amid the rock out crop, a fascinating formation… and with the horses is a hotly photographed area…

The rock field formations near the town are made up of quartzite’s. Here are a few photos I’ve taken, but it is difficult to decide which to post, as what I like you might not.. here goes…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kaapsehoop Waterfall.. a casual stroll…

There is a wonderful little stroll across to a waterfall near the village, an easy walk down and not to bad back up. Down to the bottom of the waterfall is a different story, but me being me, a hot day, and no one around… a skinny dip seamed the way to go… till I felt the water… I wonder where they keep the refrigeration unit..??  It could have been a very small, painful swim….

On the way I passed horses…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There didn’t seem to be enough to eat…

and further down one catches sight of the water fall…. disappearing into a hole…

The climb down and the resultant sight made it well worth the effort…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This pool seemed the ideal spot to skinny dip… till the water temperature told me differently…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This waterfall is well worth a visit if you ever find yourself in Kaapsehoop… one passes and old grave yard on the way, if that scratches your fancy..

Kaapsehoop… a Village Deep in my Heart.

In 2001 our house suffered a disastrous flood that took everything from us… It happen just prior to Christmas and Linda decided that we needed to get away, just the two of us… the only place she could find that had an opening was in Kaapsehoop. We stayed in the rooms above a pancake /coffee shop the owner of which was going away for the weekend, and just handed us the key and said “What’s mine is yours.. enjoy yourselves… Oh and by the way I’ve booked you in for the Christmas party across the road.” Well to be honest we were not in the party mood, and pancakes and coffee sounded just right. A long discussion led to an evening Christmas Dinner decision, and at 7pm we stuck our heads into the establishment across the road.

We were taken in by the locals as though we had lived there all our lives… did they know about the flood and our loss.?? No, they are just like that. Wonderful people, we had a great night with excellent food and dancing, followed by visits to nearly every house in a group till almost sun up. To bed we went, with the noises of the wild horses drinking from the many fountains surrounding the coffee shop. The next day we sojourned to the veranda and every passing soul stopped to chat. The local dog “Blue” adopted us for the rest of the weekend and went where ever we did…

This began a love for Kaapsehoop that still remains with me to this very day, and whenever I get the chance, I return.

The pan cake den welcoming sign… but please take note they don’t open on Tuesday…???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the small merchandisers.. you can find allsorts here…

Another form of accommodation… the Royal Family, when they visited South Africa used this coach… not where it’s standing now… but on a slightly longer railway line…..

Some of the other houses and accommodation…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The roads are a little up and down… and this one leads to the ………. Corner Cottage…….

And there’s a church… where you can get married…. look carefully at one of these photos… my reflection is in the window.. (very Pro looking.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And sadly Blue died in 2008… but was given an honourable burial and place of position in the middle of the village he loved…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a finale respect to good old “Blue” who helped us through what would have been a hard Christmas…