The Cape’s famous Route 62 has been named as one of the must-do road trips while visiting the Western Cape. It’s an iconic drive that winds its way through numerous country towns hugged by vineyards and fruit orchards, and offers visitors an opportunity to explore the more remote and historical country-style part of the Cape. Looming mountain ranges and cliffs offer sweeping views of carpets of countryside and endless farm lands. Route 62 most certainly is a journey into the heart of the Cape, and it’s an unexpected delight.
This country route is also a prime destination for food, wine and friendly people. You don’t have to travel far to discover off-the-beaten track gin distilleries (Six Dogs in Robertson), and stand alone craft beer brewery’s with rustic and delectable food. The plethora of farm stalls, art galleries and fresh country fare attracts many visitors, with each small town offering something different to its neighbour.
The vast areas of this country part of the Cape certainly don’t only cater for foodies. There’s plenty of wilderness and adventure activities on offer, especially close to the Breede River which is ideal for canoeing and water sports. There are even expansive nature reserves just waiting for eager visitors to discover the archeological and historical significance of the Karoo region.
A recent discovery of ours is the Roam Private Game Reserve in the Great Karoo. A stay at the reserve ties in perfectly with a Route 62 trip and a Garden Route exploratory trip. Staying at Roam will allow you to immerse yourself in the semi-arid desert surrounds of the Karoo. Roam offers its visitors a choice of three accommodation options, and their primary focus is to offer its visitors insight into conservation efforts of the area. You will have the opportunity to observe cheetah that have been rehabilitated and introduced into the area, and there are also opportunities to watch buffalo herds roaming the reserve. Coupled with observing these current conservation projects at Roam, you will also be able to spot a wealth of plains game such as giraffe, Kalahari gemsbok, hartebeest and even a colony of meerkats.
In terms of the immediate environment, the Great Karoo is the place where time began. Flanked by the Swartberg mountains and hugged by endless arid savannah with craters and canyons; the Great Karoo is quite the biome. Palaeontologists delight in the fact that remnants and fragments of dinosaur bones have been found scattered throughout the expansive reserve. Dry riverbeds also have evidence of ancient civilisations and more recently, tools used by the original inhabitants of the area – the San people.
The three accommodation options include the Roam Explorer Camp which is a tented camp ideal for the adventurous, Roam Safari Lodge which offers a typical country guest house experience, and then Roam Manor House that offers an exclusive self-catering experience ideal for families.
The Route 62 region that you will be following to get to Roam Private Game Reserve will allow you to follow your way through the villages of Robertson, Montagu and Calitzdorp. Slightly off from route 62 drive is the delightful Prince Albert, and further afield is Oudtshoorn. Roam Private Game Reserve is the perfect midway point between the Garden Route and Route 62; and certainly offers a perfect wilderness experience in a culturally and environmentally significant area.
