Prince Albert Chronicles – November December 2024
The festive season kicked off in fabulous Prince Albert style with the Night Market Christmas Fundraiser. The town was out in full cheer, and in the spirit of giving, funds were raised for PADS and the Fransie Pienaar Museum.
Staying with the giving spirit, a special group of Prince Albert angels pulled together to spread some festive season happiness to the less fortunate little members of our community.
Boerewors rolls, watermelon, cold drinks, toys, and sweets were handed out to 140 gleeful recipients, all thanks to the Prince Albert Spar, Karoo Slaghuis, and the greater community that generously opened their purses.
A fantastic initiative driven by the Prince Albert Ratepayers and Residents Association, huge round of applause to them for cheering up the festive season all round!
Prince Albert is famous for many things, scrumptious cheese, fabulous figs, delicious olives and olive oil, the magnificent Swartberg Pass, breathtaking nature, perfect peace. The list goes on but most remarkable of all, are our town’s humans.
We have ‘gees’, we have compassion, and we certainly have passion for our tiny Karoo dorp, we go the extra mile to ensure all our visitors experience just that.
‘Kom maak ‘n draai’ when next you are road tripping through the Groot Karoo and rediscover the magic of humanness!
To meet more of the Humans of Prince Albert virtually, follow us on Instagram or Facebook
There was great excitement early December when Courtney Hundermark’s book ‘A Guide to the Reptiles of Prince Albert & the Swartberg Pass’, proudly and officially launched in Prince Albert.
The Karoo is home to an array of unique and diverse biota, both flora and fauna. This basic field guide aims to promote interest and appreciation for some of the region’s lesser known and often maligned inhabitants – the reptiles. Fully illustrated, this publication introduces the reader to over 70 reptile species known to occur from Prince Albert to the Swartberg.
Don’t miss out, get your copy online at R220 including VAT.
Welcome to Prince Albert’s secret garden, an ever-changing wonderland where you can lose yourself indefinitely in a mesmerising rose garden or wander the bountiful rows of perfect organic produce.
This is Roosplaas, a combined labour of love by owners and overseers Christel and Neil Dixon.
Neil has been a full-time gardener from the age of 16 and lovingly tends to all the flowers, roses being his passion. Christel has had a love for cooking from the age of ten and combined with Neil’s green fingers for all things growing, they are a match made in garden bounty heaven.
This suitably brings us to Karoo Bounty, the name of the end product from this perfect union, a delicious range of pickled produce that is taking Prince Albert by storm.
Starting with a few bottles for friends and family five years ago, the venture turned into a bigger business in 2022 with stocks now available at Gay’s Dairy, Hendry’s Artisanal Bakery, The KarooHaus, and at the Saturday Markie where goods are sold by the maker herself.
Their beautiful roses and other flowers are also for sale seasonally, at the market or direct from the garden.
Contact Christel for orders or a garden tour on: +27 74 927-2942
* Our tip, don’t pass by the pickled brinjals or chili paste top sellers.
Making a happy splash and thanks to the generosity of our wonderful community, 100 children a day can enjoy free entry to the public swimming pool in Prince Albert until the end of the school holidays.
Made possible by the Prince Albert Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association and supported by the Prince Albert Municipality, this happy development comes just in time to help beat the current Karoo heat.
If anyone would like to contribute to this feel-good initiative going forward, please contact the Prince Albert Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association via WhatsApp: +27 76 504 7163
Here’s to sun, fun, and generous hearts.
There is an exciting new organic store in town boasting a variety of interesting larder items. Looking for Matcha, chickpea flour, barley grass powder, Ashwagandha capsules, or organic cacao, Prince Albert Provisions is your go-to store. Also stocking locally sourced fresh produce such as cheese, lamb, olive oil, and gorgeous bunches of country flowers, your next dinner party shopping is sorted.
Be sure to pop in at Prince Albert Provisions located in the Watershed building on Church Street for a good dose of culinary surprises.
For more information contact Kevin: +27 83 749-2719
Gay’s Guernsey Dairy is where you will find the sweetest milk this side of the Swartberg.
Happy cows and super staff result in the yummiest cheese and yoghurt available to purchase at the plaas deli, along with homegrown produce and other lip-smacking local lekker items.
For a ‘behind the scenes’ peek, contact Gay’s Guernsey Dairy to book a tour, or just pop in and stock up on proudly Prince Albert produce.
Introducing De Bergkant, Still Karoo. Dating back to the mid 1800’s, De Bergkant is a beautifully restored, nine-bedroom stay, an extended Cape Dutch home that is the epitome of elegance in architecture, while an important figure in the town’s history.
The recently transformed De Bergkant is furnished in collectable antiquities and local treasures, the hotel offers old-world glamour in four suites and five double rooms – all pet friendly, a sauna and steam bath, as well as three swimming pools set within lush gardens.
Each room has extra length beds, double showers, and a bathtub. The property is run largely off solar, and all rooms have air-conditioning, fans and underfloor heating.
Within walking distance from the quaint village centre, guests can enjoy the local restaurants, shops, and Saturday market.
The breakfast served poolside is prepared with a passion for good food using local produce from the Prince Albert community.
Bronnie, Tara, and wonderful manager, Tracey, look forward to welcoming you.
To end our November/December Prince Albert Chronicles, a few images showcasing the beauty of our little Karoo dorp.
