Information Caledon - Conference Venues Centres Caledon, South Africa

Conference Venues South Africa brings you information on Caledon situated in the Western Cape Province of South Africa including information on history, location, geography, attractions.

Caledon is known as the Capital of the Overberg. It lends itself to some extraordinary history. Lying a mere 120 km from Cape Town towards George, it owes its origin to the hot water springs on the slopes of the Klein Swartberg

The town is locally well known for the Caledon Spa and Casino and for its rolling hills and yellow canola fields in spring. The town has a Mediterranean Climate of warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters.

Another asset of Caledon is the world-renowned wild flower garden and reserve famed for its dazzling array of wildflowers. Fly fishermen can enjoy still waters 5 kilometers outside Caledon where the farm also offers many activities for adventure seekers.

Among the activities are: trout & carp fishing, 4 x 4 trail, mountain biking, abseiling at the waterfall, hiking on all farm routes, water skiing with own boat and picnicking alongside the beautiful dam. Accommodation ranges from hotels, B&B’s, self-catering and farm accommodation.

Caledon’s wild flower garden is world-renowned and forms part of a reserve at the entrance to Venster Kloof, so called because of an interesting rock, which looks like a window. The garden has an annual show during September at the time of the year that best displays the abundant array of indigenous wild flowers that bloom in this season.

You can hike through the Nature Reserve to experience the indigenous fynbos vegetation, indigenous trees, abundant bird life and flowers, as well as the spectacular mountain views of the Swartberg

Caledon History

The town of Caledon is renown for its hot and cold springs. The water is free from any organic matter, and previously utilised for healing arthritic conditions and drank for medicinal purposes. There are altogether six warm water springs and one cold water spring. The Khoi people named the hot springs dispore kamma (hot water) and the river catchment the Hacqua (zebra).

In 1715, ten hectare ground surrounding the springs were granted to Ferdinand Appel for the development of a health spa. Conditions were not favourable, and eventually Governor Janssens persuaded the German doctor Johann Frederich Hassner to take control. He was the owner of the spa from 1805 till 1813. Hassner died in 1820.

The original name at that time was Zwartebergbad. Due to the number of people visited the hot water springs, there was a need to commune in church service, and thus Caledon has developed around such a requirement.

The owner of the farm on which Caledon has developed was J. Rademan and he received the amount of 10,000 rijksdaalders.

In 1813, Governor sir John Cradock proclaimed that as a mark of respect to the Earl of Caledon, who was governor of the Cape Colony from 1807 till 1811, the settlement formerly known as Zwartberg shall in future be called Caledon.

In the beginning of the 20th century the spa was developed to a three storey building with hotel and sanatorium facilities and accommodation for three hundred people. The complex was furnished with Victorian style furniture and to compare to today standard absolutely superb. But all things come to an end as the saying goes, and in 1946, this glorious place went up into flames. The cause of the fire never determined, and the complex never rebuild

Information on Caledon, Western Cape, South Africa

Caledon History

Towns and Suburbs of the Western Cape province of South Africa