Swellendam on the N2
Heading further west along the N2 we pass the picturesque little town of Swellendam, an oasis of green, lying at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains. Its origins date back to the Dutch Colonial times, one of the oldest buildings being the Drostdy Museum, which was built by the Dutch East India Company in 1747. The town gets its name from an early Governor, Hendrik Swellendgrebel and his wife, Helena Ten Damme.
Swellendam probably began its life as a replenishment station for those undertaking the arduous journey along the coast, and you could say that little has changed. Still renowned for its numerous restaurants and pubs, it has become popular as a place to retire and as a retreat for artists. It also serves as a link between the Southern Overberg and the Garden Route.
Nature lovers can enjoy the Bontebok National Park, just 6 km outside of town, home to the beautiful Bontebok antelope and dedicated to the preservation of this rare breed. There is wildlife aplenty in the park, with charming picnic spots along the banks of the Breede River, plus more than 8o km of walking and biking trails with plentiful stopover huts.
Always worth a detour.