Aloe Ridge Self-Catering

Situated on a small ridge overlooking the Breede River in the Western Cape, Aloe Ridge Self Catering accommodation is an absolute must for families and couples wanting a total getaway from city life with all the creature comforts.

Aloe Ridge comprises of five luxurious thatched self-catering A-frame houses with ensuite bathrooms and a magnificent riverside setting. Each house also boasts a large deck with a swimming pool and braai area. There are a total of 5 Houses in the Aloe Ridge Collection, each with two rooms ensuite sleeping a total of 4 guests each in either twin or double. All Linen and towels are supplied along with a comprehensively equipped kitchen.

Houses are available on a self-catering option only. *Please note we advise high clearance vehicles for the dirt road section, however, if traveled slowly it is fine and many visitors have not found it a problem in standard vehicles.

Mon–Fri: 08:00–16:00

Aloe Ridge Direction from Cape Town:
Take N2 towards Swellendam. Turn right at Infanta / Malgas. Felix Unite signboard (turn-off +/-8km before Swellendam). Turn left at Napkysmond turn-off (2.1km on the dirt road from N2). Continue along Napkysmond road for 4.5kms. Turn left at 2nd farm road & the "ROUND THE BEND / ALOE RIDGE" sign on the right hand side of the road. Follow "Round The Bend / Aloe Ridge" signs for 3.7km on dirt road. At a stone wall turn sharp right after 2nd cattle grid. Follow dirt road down to the river and check in at Reception to collect your keys.

NB: the road to Aloe Ridge is a dirt road and can be navigated by standard sedan vehicles, however high clearance vehicles are a lot easier to navigate, you are welcome to leave your vehicle at reception when checking in and we will gladly shuttle you to the front door of your house!

AREA INFO:
Early travellers and explorers who visited the Cape in the 16th century traded with the Khoikhoi people who lived on these shores and in the interior. When the Dutch East India Company established a replenishment station at the Cape in 1652, trade continued inland as far as Swellendam.

In 1743 Swellendam was declared a magisterial district, the fourth oldest in South Africa, and was named after Governor Hendrik Swellengrebel (the first South African born Governor) and his wife, Helena Ten Damme. This outlying settlement soon became a gateway to the interior, and was visited by many famous explorers and travellers including Francois Le Vaillant (1781), Lady Anne Barnard (1798), William John Burchell (1815) and Thomas William Bowler (1860). In time, a village was established beyond the Drostdy, where artisans including numerous wainwrights and traders settled. To travellers and explorers, the services of the village folk were indispensable, as Swellendam was the last outpost of civilisation on the eastern frontier.

By 1795 maladministration and inadequacies of the Dutch East India Company caused the long-suffering burghers of Swellendam to revolt, and on 17 June 1795 they declared themselves a Republic. Hermanus Steyn was appointed as President of the Republic of Swellendam, he was the first to be appointed the title of President in South Africa. The burghers of Swellendam started to call themselves "national burghers" after the style of the French Revolution. But the Republic was short-lived due to the occupation of the Cape by the Kingdom of Great Britain. With the arrival of British settlers in the early 19th century the Overberg boomed, and its capital, Swellendam, was soon the heart of the famous mercantile empire of Barry and Nephews, created by Joseph Barry.
The Breede river is the only navigable river in South Africa and ships sailed 35km up river to Malgas to unload and load merchandise.

By the middle of the 19th century, the eastern districts had been colonised by the British settlers and Swellendam was a thriving metropolis. The town served as a useful refreshment station on the long, slow journey up the coast. Today Swellendam is a flourishing agricultural area, and has many attractive and historic buildings which serve as a reminder of its exciting past. The first known sketch of Swellendam was of the Drostdy, by Johannes Schumacher in 1776, when he accompanied the son of Governor Swellengrebel to the town. Today the Drostdy forms part of a museum complex that consist of several heritage sites,namely the Drostdy, the old Goal and Mayville.

In June 2011, the Swellendam Municipality area, which includes Barrydale, Suurbraak, Malgas, Infanta and Stormsvlei, re-declared itself a Republic. This republic is dedicated to the principles of the New South Africa, and celebrates rural life, racial harmony, respect for nature and wildlife, and aims to promote sustainability and an "unplugged" way of life for all to enjoy.

ATTRACTIONS:
Visit the nearby Moederkerk, Swellendam Hiking Trail, Bontebok National Park, Swellendam Golf Course, De Kloof Driving Range and Putting Green.
Kunstehuijs Fine Art Gallery

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