Those who have visited this region of South Africa will always have a special place in their hearts for the Western Cape’s wide coastline and amazing beauty. It is renowned for its hospitable people and fishing villages. The modest coastal community of Lutzville is near the Atlantic Ocean’s fresh waters. This community is located along the gorgeous Olifants River, which provides stunning views and wonderful backgrounds for photographs.
The Khoi people, an indigenous tribe that used the resources of the country to sustain themselves as cattle farmers, originally lived in this area. These people prospered along the river’s banks because there was an abundance of food and lush greenery. When the first European settlers arrived in the late 17th century, they already had their informal settlements constructed.
Because of this, the Western Cape has an enduring history that transcends time and growth and gives the entire region a unique identity. The settlers gave the river its name in honour of the elephants that once roamed these meadows. Towns and communities nearby include Vanrhynsdorp, which is 22 kilometres away, and Vredendal (45 kilometres away). Due to its rich soils and suitable temperature, this area has attracted many wine producers who have set up lovely vineyards there. While visiting Lutzville and the surrounding area, wine fans from all over the world will undoubtedly savour some of the delicious flavours of the Cape.
History Of Lutzville
The name Vlermuisklip, which alludes to a nearby rocky outcrop called Vleermuijsklip, was once applied to the region surrounding Lutzville. Early travellers frequently used the cave as a shelter; Pieter Everaerts gave it its first name in 1661. Governor Simon van der Stel and Pieter van Meerhof, the first European to reach the Troe-Troe River close to Vanrhynsdorp, were among the other visitors. During the SA War, British soldiers also utilized the shelter (1899-1902).
Johan Lutz, an irrigation engineer who worked on the Clanwilliam Dam and also studied the Lutzville area for agricultural development, was the inspiration for the town’s name when it was formed in 1923. The village has slightly over 5,000 residents and provides support to a farming community that grows wine grapes, beans, and tomatoes for the canning industry.
Two national monuments near Lutzville are well-liked tourist destinations: the 1825 Melkboomsdrift farmhouse and Vleermuijsklip Rock.
It’s also worthwhile to view the Olifants River railway bridge that connects Sishen and Saldanha. The 22 pillars that support the 1 035 m high railway bridge, each of which extends 45 m into the riverbed, were finished in 1976.
Less than 1500 people live in Koekenaap, a village on the R362 that is located 7 kilometres north of Lutzville. In 1928, it was initially settled. The Rhenish Missionary Society’s two German missionaries are said to have cried “guck inab!” in awe upon first seeing the Olifants River after passing through the arid Knersvlakte. Eventually, “Guck inab” became “koekenaap”.
Things To Do In Lutzville
Cape Rock Wines
In response to the climatic difficulties of growing grapes and producing wine in the Olifants River region, on South Africa’s West Coast, Cape Rock embraces nature’s gifts and uses them to complement its wines rather than concealing the true origin of the grapes through more modern wine making techniques. Cape Rock is located on the banks of the Olifants River, between the settlements of Vredendal and Lutzville, roughly 300 kilometers north of Cape Town.
A Shiraz Viognier mix won the prize as Cape Rock’s first bottled wine, which was mostly sold to bulk purchasers. Cape Rock was founded in the year 2000 at the beginning of the third millennium. In 2007, a single cultivar Cabernet Sauvignon was introduced, and the rest, along with other award-winning wines, is history.
With an annual production of between 5,000 and 7,000 bottles, the industry can still be considered modest and even specialized. Their goal is to create wines that can age for a while but are still classy and simple to enjoy as soon as the cork is pulled.
Lutzville Vineyards
To “travel off the beaten road and discover the story behind every bottle,” Lutzville Vineyards invites you! Due to the estate’s special location, the chilly morning breeze from the Atlantic Ocean can cool the grapes. Major temperature changes between day and night are produced by the sunny days and chilly evenings, which enhance the flavor of the grapes growing on the vines. The vines have the proper soil, and everything comes together flawlessly to produce wonderful wine.
With access to more than 100 distinct locations throughout the valley, the Lutzville Vineyards are able to hand-select only the best grapes, ensuring consistency and quality. Every stage of the wine-making process is carefully done, and only the first press of free run juice is used after the first pressing. The red wines undergo a short oak aging procedure, while the white wines undergo cold fermentation. Experience everything the Lutzville Vineyards has to offer by visiting.
Seal Breeze Wines
Because their wine producer opted to change careers at the age of 51, Seal Breeze Wines are unique. Without any official training, Joan Wiggins made the decision to start making wine, yet you’ll taste her wine and realize she has a natural gift. The farm is located in the Olifants River Valley’s Lutzville valley, and the wine is created entirely by hand without the aid of any modern machinery! French and American oak barrels are used to age the wines, giving them a distinctive flavor.
The grapes are influenced by the cool breeze off the Atlantic Ocean to develop various layers of flavor. The farm produces three tons of grapes each variety and uses organic farming practices. Thanks to Joan’s zeal and passion, you can be confident that drinking this wine will take you on a special journey.
Swart Tobie Trail
Near the rural village of Koekenaap, this relatively recent hike leads you along a section of the West Coast that has hardly been explored. The red beak oystercatcher, sometimes known as the Swart Tobie, inspired the name of the nature track.
You can visit an alluvial diamond mine along the road that isn’t often open to the public. This, the stunning isolation of the coastline, the tidal pools teeming with crayfish and mussels, and the opportunity to explore some of the most amazing rock formations make this hike a must-do.
The trail is designed for slackpackers, so any bulky equipment are carried for you. But you must provide everything, with the exception of water, gas lighting, and firewood (and a trowel and toilet paper). Because your lodging is rural, bring everything you need for creature comforts. You walk the seashore for 16 kilometers on average each day. Green flags are used for halfway and overnight locations, red for ascending and descending, and white flags are used for fascinating locations.