Eastern Cape Provincial Article - South African Vacations

San rock art at Groenfontein Farm: There are two rock art sites on this farm
and, although some of the paintings have been damaged, others are in quite
good condition and well worth the trip.
San rock art at Hartebeesfontein Farm: Hartebeesfontein farm is situated
near Groenfontein farm and approximately 63 km from Tarkastad. The site is
a 6-m-long artwork with paintings of buck, giraffe and the characteristic San
hunters. The dinosaur fossil, not far from this site, can also be seen.
Leyklippoortjie Farm: This farm lies on the Tarkastad/Sterkstroom road. A
200-m-walk takes you to the 1-m-long rock art site with its bright pictures.
ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPING
Blanco Farm Holiday Resort: Situated at the foot of the Winterberg in the
Tarkastad/Queenstown district, this resort has been voted one of the ten best
holiday farms in South Africa. Children are viewed as special guests and are
taught to milk cows, feed pigs and groom horses, while the grown-ups have a
choice of activities, such as tennis, squash, bowling and swimming.
HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE
Historical Buildings: Some of the town’s noteworthy buildings include the
Dutch Reformed Church and Parsonage, built soon after the town was
established; the Presbyterian Church; the old watermills and inns and the old
iron water hydrants and lamp standards near the municipal offices.
Military posts: The old military posts in the area are stark reminders of the alltoo-familiar
history of conflict, of battles fought, of lives lost. The grave of one
soldier, Lieut. Sheridan, on the farm Modderfontein, is of particular interest as
he was a cousin of the famous British statesman, Winston Churchill.
NATURAL WONDERS
Hills: Two distinctive flat-topped hills near town have been given the names
Martha and Mary.
VENTERSTAD
Venterstad was laid out in 1875 on the farm of one Johannes Venter and was
called “stad” (city) to avoid confusion with Ventersburg in the Free State.
Although merino sheep farming is the primary economic activity in the area,
this sleepy little town soon became a supply base for the teams of builders
who arrived to construct the Gariep Dam (Hendrik Verwoerd Dam) and, later,
for the water-sport enthusiasts who frequent the dam. The dam has a 400-km
shoreline and, together with the PK le Roux Dam, forms the Orange River
Project. The project has some 270 km of canals, tunnels and pipelines that
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