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Prince Albert Tourist Information

Prince Albert population=11000

A 3,5 Hour drive from Cape Town and an hour from Oudtshoorn. Located at the North side of the Swartberg pass.

Swartberg Pass Nature Reserve

Opened in 1888, this spectacular pass is considered one of the finest mountain passes in the world. An un-tarred road that winds to the summit of 1 583 meters above sea level with breathtaking views at every turn. Links Prince Albert to Oudtshoorn. If you have the opportunity to drive this pass then this is a must.

Gamkas Kloof ( Die Hel)

This is a fascinating valley near Prince Albert, where a small, proud community lived in isolation for more than 100 years. Access to Gamkaskloof ( Die Hel) is 15km from Prince Albert near the northern summit of the Swartberg Pass. The drive into hell is a 50km 2 hour drive and rivals any mountain pass. You go straight down and hope like hell nobody is coming the other way. It is possible to camp or hire a self catering house.

Meiringspoort

Soaring cliffs with spectacular rock formations line the 25km tarred road which winds along the floor of the gorge, crossing the Groot River 25 times. Entry to the poort 55km east of Prince Albert en-route to Oudtshoorn and the coast. Amongst the most scenic spots is the waterfall tumbling into a dark pool which, legend has it, is bottomless.

Prince Albert is the definitive Karoo town: a living record of South African rural life over the last two centuries, during which well-watered orchards and colourful gardens have been patiently coaxed from the harsh African wilderness. Essentially a farming town, it is inhabited by people who live close to the earth. An excellent infrastructure and crime free environment preserves its history and natural beauty. There is a nameless quality of life here that has lured visitors from around Southern Africa and the globe to return to make it their home. Prince Albert and its surroundings offer attractions for everybody from hikers and bikers, to birdwatchers, stargazers and botanists. Artists & writers find themselves enthralled by the stark and dramatic beauty of the endless plains and the towering peaks. 

Prince Albert is architecturally a small gem. The last 150 years of South African rural history is captured in its 11 national monuments and eclectic mix of Cape Dutch, Victorian and Karoo architecture. More than anything else it is a place to slow down, forget the hectic pace of urban life and rediscover the bare essentials such as sunsets & thunderstorms over the plains, clear morning air & night skies crowned with stars. The high wide sky and broad landscapes have infused the community with a peacefulness and patience which has equipped them to endure past hardships prepared them to face any eventuality.

One third of the whole of South Africa is composed of the Karoo - the Bushman's dry and dusty plain. The Little Karoo runs along a narrow valley between the Outeniqua and Swartberg Mountains. The Great Karoo - home to the charming town of Prince Albert - lies to the north of the Swartberg, a vast region of of  far-flung towns and sunlit spaces, laying claim to the world's largest unbroken fossil record and treasure trove of minerals.
The interior is mainly semi-arid or arid in nature, with scrubby plant life adapted to over-doses of sunshine and not enough rain. Yet it supports millions of sheep, ostriches and goats, yielding the best in mutton, wool and feathers. 

In 1891, a shepherd found a gold nugget, and the Prince Albert gold rush began. Although spirits soared and expectations rose, only 504 ounces of gold were found, and that was the end of that.

At the breakout of the Anglo-Boer War in 1899, a British Garrison was formed in the little village, and saw a few skirmishes between commando's and troops in the area.  The commandant, Gideon Scheepers, was taken captive and later executed in Graaff-Reinet.