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GETTING
TO CERES
WHAT TO SEE &
DO
WHERE TO BUY
WHERE TO EAT
GETTING TO
CERES
All access roads reach the valley
through mountain passes: the R303 from the Koue Bokkeveld in the north through the Gydo
Pass. The R46 from the south through Michells Pass in the Skurweberg range; and the
R46 from Touws River and the N1 through the Karoo Poort and Theronsberg Pass in the
foothills of the Hex River Mountains and other ranges.
see Route
Maps
KOUE BOKKEVELD
This is the area north of the Gydo
Pass. A wide range of fruit is grown in this valley. Koue Bokkeveld is not only famous for its red
apples, but also for producing, pears, peaches, plums apricots, potatoes, onions and
wheat.
PRINCE ALFREDS HAMLET
This village, 10 km north of Ceres was founded in 1861 and named after the
second son of Queen Victoria who had visited South Africa the year before. Mainly
deciduous fruit is farmed. The town has shown rapid growth in industry and business
development in the past five years.
CERES KAROO
The traditional southern entrance to the Karoo was from Ceres through
Karoo Poort. As the traveller enters, he sees before him the vast panorama of the Ceres
Karoo. A level, open, shallow valley with a melancholy atmosphere surrounds it as though it
remembers past years. Now forlorn, the Karoo awaits its inevitable end via erosion.
see Route Maps
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WHERE TO EAT
RESTAURANTS, TEAROOMS AND TAKE AWAYS
| Name |
Comments |
Address |
Telephone number |
| CERES FISHERIES |
Take-aways |
111 Voortrekker St, Ceres 6835 |
Tel. (023) 3121460 |
CERES
INN
Coffee Shop:
Mon - Fri: 07:15 - 17:00
Sat: 08:00 - 16:00
Sun: 08:00 - 15:00
Witherley's Restaurant:
Tue - Sat: 18:00 till late (kitchen closes at 21:30)
Sun:12:00 - 15:00 |
Coffee Shop & A
la Carte Restaurant
Sunday 3-Course Buffet:
@ R65 p/p (12:00 - 15:00)
Caters for functions, weddings, conferences
etc.
|
Voortrekker Street, Ceres, 6835 |
Tel. (023) 3122325
herbergceres@lando.co.za
|
HAMLET COUNTRY
LODGE
Mon - Sat: 10:00 - 22:00 |
Pub &
Restaurant |
Voortrekker Road,
Prince Alfred's Hamlet, 6840 |
Tel. (023) 3133070
hamletlodge@telkomsa.net
|
INSPIRA' TI @ 38 OAK
Mon- Fri: 09:00 - 17:00
Sat: Open on request |
Tea Garden, Boutique, Decor
& Gifts
Fireplace for chilly winters days
Book for small functions. |
38 Oak Street
Ceres |
Tel:023 312 2141
Fax:023 316 2840
Cell:082 456 9921
karinvanwyk@lando.co.za |
KUNDALINI RESTAURANT &
CAFE
Wed - Sun: 10:00 - 18:00 |
Seasonal menu with fresh food
& organic herbs.
Italian Coffee
Breakfast |
71 Voortrekker Road
Ceres |
Tel: 023 312 3591
Cell: 082 515 2209
kundalini.ceres@yahoo.com |
OPPI BERG RESTAURANT &
GUEST HOUSE
Open 7 days a week from 08:00 till late. |
A la Carte Restaurant
Bookings essential for evening meals and Sunday Lunch Buffet |
PO Box 93
Koue Bokkeveld
6836 |
Tel/Fax:023 317 0044
Cell: 083 457 2358
oppiberg@mweb.co.za
|
SKIBA RESTAURANT,
COFFEE SHOP & PUB
Coffee Shop
Mon - Sat: 08:30 -17:00
Restaurant
Tue - Sat: 18:00 - 22:00 |
Restaurant, Coffee Shop &
Pub
Book for small functions
|
PO Box 114
Ceres, 6835 |
Tel: 023 316 2119
Fax: 023 312 2418
ianversfeld@lando.co.za
|
TOLL HOUSE RESTAURANT at the old Toll House in Michell's Pass
Tue - Sun:
09:00 - 17:00
|
Restaurant
Bookings essential for Sunday Lunch Buffet |
Michell's Pass |
Tel: (023) 3121211
babasjem@telkomsa.net
|
| VILLAGE
GUEST HOUSE & RESTAURANT
Mon - Sat: 12:00 - 14:30 & 18:30 till late
(kitchen closes at 22:00)
Sun: 12:00 - 14:30 for lunch buffet
Breakfast for non-guests:
Mon - Sat:08:00 - 09:30
|
A la Carte Restaurant
Booking essential for Sunday Lunch Buffet
Caters for functions, weddings,
anniversaries, conferences etc.
|
64 Vos Street, Ceres, 6835 |
Tel. (023) 3162035
villageguest@telkomsa.net
|
WIMPY Ceres
Mon -
Fri: 08:00 - 19:00
Sat: 08:00 - 18:00
Sun: 08:30 - 14:00
|
Restaurant &
Take-Aways |
Shop 24, De Keur Centre
Voortrekker Road
Ceres, 6835 |
Tel/Fax: 023 312 2144
wimpy258@pfoods.netralink.co.za |
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WHAT TO SEE & DO
4X4 ROUTES
CERES GOLF COURSE
SAN ROCK PAINTINGS
CERES FRUIT GROWERS FACTORY
TOURS
Ceres Fruit Growers has one of the biggest packsheds for fresh
fruit in the Southern Hemisphere. Here a tourist can see the process of
washing, sorting, and packaging of fruit. . Booking essential. Tours Mondays to Thursdays at 10 am & 2 pm.
Phone the Ceres Tourism Bureau at Tel. (023) 3161287
FARM TOURS
Guided tour to visit a working fruit farm to see packaging &
drying of fruit. During the months of December - April.
Contact the Ceres
Tourism Bureau (023) 3161287/ 3161051
BABA'S JêM
Visit Eileen Baron for home-made treats - jam, chutney, etc. Visitors can even stir and taste during visits or be served homemade bread/vetkoek with Jam and Coffee/Tea.
Groups are welcome, but need to book in advance.
Eileen Baron
13 Bester Street, Ceres, 6835
Cell: 072 336 9950
Tel/Fax: 023 312 3545
babasjem@telkomsa.net
TOY CAR COLLECTION:
See a display of toy cars at Valley Funerals, currently the biggest private collection in South Africa.
Contact Mitch Jantjies
Cell: 082 575 3181
valley@polka.co.za
HORSE RIDING:
Hamlet Equestrian Centre in Prince Alfred’s Hamlet
offers horse riding for all.
Other activities include:
- riding
lessons
- children horse parties
- camps
- stabling
- scenic outrides
All riders are welcome and no experience is needed.
For bookings contact Suzette at 083 287 7751 or E-mail: wbotha@ceres.co.za
El
Cuesta Riding & Stabling, situated 7km outside Ceres, offers scenic
outrides in the countryside.
All rides are guided and horses and ponies
are specifically matched to suit your riding capabilities.
Champagne
breakfast or lunches can be arranged on request.
For further information and bookings contact Nina at 082 443 0732 or ianversfeld@lando.co.za
SKY DIVING:
Western Province Sport Parachute Club:
PO Box 7017
Roggebaai
8012
Tel: 021 462 5666
Fax: 021 556 1250
Cell: 083 462 5666
E-mail: bookings@skydive.co.za
Website: www.skydive.co.za
Jumps are available every weekend from 20 January 2007 when booked in advance. Please
contact the club for bookings. See details above.
Directions to the new dropzone:
Drive to Ceres via your preferred route and you will enter the Ceres valley via
Michell's Pass. Drive straight on through town and out the other side for approximately 10km. Just after a low bridge that spans a small lake you will see a
turnoff to the right. If you look carefully you will see a windsock just beyond the turnoff. Turn right here, and turn left at the second dirt road entryway (about 300m along). This takes you through a gate onto the airfield. To reach the WPSPC's operational area, drive along BEHIND the hangar (i.e. to the right of it as you approach) and follow the road to where you see other cars parked. The shipping container with the windows is our office, and that is where you should report.
DO NOT under any circumstances drive to the left of the hangar and follow the wide road you will find there. That is the runway and therefore no vehicles are permitted on it for safety reasons.
Static Line Jumps:
This method has evolved over the last thirty years from its military origins into a tried and tested method for training skydivers. Ground training lasts 8 to 9 hours from 08h30 on Saturday mornings dependant on group size. This is followed by a flight to 3000ft for your first jump, weather and aircraft permitting.
The class prepares you for everything you need to know about canopy control, landing, emergency procedures and safety checks. Only the feeling of a first skydive is beyond the instructor's ability to explain! As you fall away from the aircraft, the main canopy deploys by means of the static line attached to the aircraft. You will experience approximately 2 to 3 seconds of freefall while the parachute opens.
Requirements for Static Line Jumps:
 |
There is a maximum weight limit of 105kgs |
 |
You will require parental consent if you are under the age of twenty-one |
 |
The minimum age is sixteen |
Cost: 1 jump - R950 per person 3 jumps -
R1400 per person
Tandem Jumps:
A Tandem Jump is the ultimate way to experience the thrill of freefall with minimum preparation. A tandem passenger, or student, will receive an intensive thirty minute briefing including an introduction to the equipment that will be used, and how it works. Thereafter, your instructor will assist with the fitting of your harness, take you out to the aircraft, and take care of all the work while you experience a thrilling 37 second freefall from 10 000ft.
Requirements for Tandem Jumps:
 |
The combined weight of the Jump Master and the passenger
should not exceed 200kgs |
 |
The maximum weight for a passenger is between
100-120kgs |
 |
You will require parental consent if you are under the age of twenty-one
|
Cost: R1400 per person
KLONDYKE CHERRY FARM
Pick your own cherries from mid-November to end December at Klondyke Cherry Farm. The farm is situated
30km outside Ceres.
Visitors can spend the day picnicking.
Tel.
(023) 3121521 Fax. (023) 3122877
SNOWFALLS IN WINTER
During winter when snowfalls occur which are low and heavy enough to be
reached by road please contact the Ceres Tourism Bureau who will advise you on
the best routes, to avoid damage to vehicles and farmer's properties when visiting the
snow. Alternately take a 4x4 Bedford ride into the snow in the
Matroosberg Nature Reserve (Tel: Cordré Smith: (023)
3122282).
THE TOLL HOUSE
Michells Pass, which opened in 1848, passes through magnificent
countryside and fascinating rock formations. The Toll House was declared a national monument in
1972.
TRANSPORT RIDERS MUSEUM
The name "Togryers
Museum" originated from the great influence that the transport riders had on the
development of Ceres. The completion of Michell's
Pass in 1848 made the town accessible to wagons, and the main routes to the diamond
fields passing through Ceres. This lasted until the railway line to the north by-passed
Ceres.
In the museum the visitor can see a collection of wagons that were used in
Ceres during the period 1880 - 1940. Some of the interesting wagons on display are: - a
spider, half-tent wagon, hearse and two Cape carts. The other collections include the
earthquake of 1969, the midwife in the early 20th century, and some equipment used by
furriers and wagon makers. The museum also has an interesting collection of Africana
books.
Monday to Friday 9:00 - 13:00 and 14:00 - 17:00, Saturdays 9:00 - 12:00 in
the summer months and on request during the winter months. Tel. (023) 3122045
MATROOSBERG MOUNTAIN DRIVE
With 4x4 5-ton Bedford truck up into the
Matroosberg Mountains. See detailed information regarding more activities
at Matroosberg Reserve website www.matroosberg.com
Booking essential Tel. (023) 3122282
KAAP AGRI CO-OP
Visit Kaap Agri’s wine section, offering various wines of the Breedekloof wine route.
Tel: 023 312 1094
Monday – Friday: 08:00 – 17:00
Saturday: 08:00 – 12:00
KOELFONTEIN ESTATE
Koelfontein is the Ceres region’s only wine producer and their award-winning wines are available in selected outlets in Ceres & Prince Alfred’s Hamlet, as well as directly on the farm.
Wine tasting can be done by appointment only: Tel: 023 313 3130 Monday - Friday: 08:00 – 17:00
BUSHMAN PAINTINGS
|
Kagga Kamma Private Game Reserve
100 km North of Ceres. Visitors can see paintings on a day visit or
overnight stay.
Tel. (021) 8724343
|
Houdenbek Farm 57 km from Ceres in
the Koue Bokkeveld. A variety of paintings on hiking trail.
Tel (023) 3170759
|
|
Kunje Farm 90 km from Ceres. Rock
paintings visible on day hike.
Tel. (022) 9213536
|
Wethu Experience Based at
Op-die-Berg 45 km from Ceres. Experience some of the best paintings
in South Africa on a guided tour with one of our local guides.
Optional lunch.
Tel (023) 3170625
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Return to Index
LIST
OF ALL ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS
WHERE TO BUY
LA PETITE MARGUERITE
CRAFT SHOP Tel (023) 3162811
POTPOURRI CRAFT SHOP
A variety of hand-made crafts, preserves, gifts, etc
Open Mon - Fri: 08:00 - 17:00 & Sat: 08:00 - 12:00
BASSON SPORT
Sunhats, Caps, Fishing gear and fresh-water fishing permits
Tel (023) 3121270
WALLET FRUIT KIOSK
We sell: Fruit juice from the Ceres Valley, Fresh fruit & vegetables, and dried
fruit.
19 Joubert Street
Ceres, 6835
Tel: 023 312 1159
Fax: 023 312 1164
Cell: 082 897 2114
E-mail: williams@wol.co.za
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