Visit
Along the edge of the Bokkeveld
Cloudskraal lies beside Nieuwoudtville, a small town steeped in local history, on the plateau where the fynbos, the Karoo and the Knersvlakte meet.
Sunset tastings on the krans
Perched on the edge of the krans, nearly a kilometre above the Namaqualand plains, you look out over eighty kilometres of the Knersvlakte. As the sun drops, the plain turns gold and then violet, the light glinting off the sandstone underfoot. We taste the Nieu Sauvignon Blanc here, among the proteas, as the day ends.
- Open
- by arrangement
- Reserve a tasting
- +27 73 166 5972
frances@cloudskraal.co.za
Trails and the vineyard
A trail runs along the mountain's edge, with wildflowers and open views for birdwatching. Look out for regional birds such as sunbirds and secretarybirds; sightings depend on season and conditions. Vineyard tours walk the only estate in the Nieuwoudtville Wine of Origin and end with a glass. Both by arrangement.
August to September
Flower season
Nieuwoudtville is known for its remarkable diversity of bulbs and wildflowers. After winter rain, patches of pink, yellow and red appear across the plateau. What flowers, and when, depends on the rain and the locality. Book early; the season is brief and the town fills up.
Before you set out
Getting here
Up the pass, left at the lions.
- 1Drive up the N7 and turn onto the R27 at Vanrhynsdorp; climb Vanrhyns Pass onto the plateau.
- 2Turn left at the two lion sculptures on the left side of the road.
- 3The first building on the hill is the Garsland Homestead; the Garsland Suite and the Garsland Cottage are on Garsland too.
- 4For the Stone Cottage, continue on down the road. The family call it Kliphuis.
- The N7
- From Cape Town the N7 runs through Piketberg, Citrusdal and Clanwilliam, with the last large shops and fuel at Vanrhynsdorp.
- Vanrhyns Pass
- Turn onto the R27 at Vanrhynsdorp; the pass climbs the escarpment in a few kilometres; the view back over the Knersvlakte is the one you came for.
- Signal
- Mobile signal can be patchy on the plateau: download your maps before Clanwilliam and keep these directions to hand.
- If you get lost
- Call or WhatsApp Frances on +27 73 166 5972.
What to pack
- Walking shoes and a warm layer: evenings on the plateau are cool, even in summer
- A head torch and a power bank
- Water bottle, hat and sunscreen
- Binoculars for birdwatching along the escarpment
- Patience with the phone: signal is patchy, and that is part of it
Rates, arrival and departure times, what is provided in each house and the terms of the stay are confirmed in your booking quotation.
Nieuwoudtville wine region in numbers
- 820 m
- Altitude
- 81 km
- From the coast
- 450 mm
- Annual rainfall