Calvinia Tourism Information

Quick Facts: Calvinia

• The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park- Calvinia is situated in the Northern Cape province of South Africa
• This town has been named after the Swiss religious reformer John Calvin
• Calvinia forms part of the Hantam Local Municipality which belongs to the Namakwa District Municipality
• The Calvinia district is part of the Great Karoo, South Africa
• Calvinia lies south of the Hantam mountains on the banks of the Oorlogskloof River
• The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park- Calvinia is situated in the Northern Cape province of South Africa
• This town has been named after the Swiss religious reformer John Calvin
• Calvinia forms part of the Hantam Local Municipality which belongs to the Namakwa District Municipality
• The Calvinia district is part of the Great Karoo, South Africa
• Calvinia lies south of the Hantam mountains on the banks of the Oorlogskloof River
• The distance from Cape Town to Calvinia is 470 kilometers measured on tar road
• Calvinia is located at an altitude of 970 meters
• Calvinia is known for its spectacular spring wildflowers
• An asteroid is named after the town of Calvinia: 1245 Calvinia
• Afrikaans is the main language spoken in Calvinia
• The main religion of the population is Christian
• Calvinia Museum
• Akkerendam Nature Reserve
• Calvinia's annual Hantam Meat Festival
• The Calvinia Boekhuis (book house)

Introducing Calvinia

Calvinia is a South African regional town which is situated in the Northern Cape Province.  Named after the Swiss religious reformer John Calvin, Calvinia forms part of the Hantam Local Municipality which belongs to the Namakwa District Municipality. The Calvinia district is part of the Great Karoo, South Africa. The town of Calvinia lies south of the Hantam mountains on the banks of the Oorlogskloof River.  From Cape Town, Calvinia lies 470 kilometers by tar road north at an altitude of 970 meters.

Attractions in and around Calvinia, Northern Cape (South Africa)

Calvinia Museum

The Calvinia Museum is located in the former art deco styled Jewish synagogue which was built in 1920.  The Calvinia Museum displays the lives of the early European settlers in this region of South Africa. One can find a cedarwood horsemill and mounted Cape fat-tailed, Merino and Dorper sheep.  Unusual specimens such as a 4-legged ostriche and genetically strange sheep can also be viewed in the Calvinia Museum.

Akkerendam Nature Reserve

The Akkerendam Nature Reserve is located three kilometers north of Calvinia. The Akkerendam Nature Reserve in the Northern Cape is home to unique flowers and offers two hiking trails across the Hantam mountains. The indigenous and rare sterboom can be found here.

Hantam Meat Festival

The Hantam Meat Festival which is a popular agricultural show and great barbecue / 'braai' takes place annually in late August.

Boekhuis, Calvinia

The Boekhuis, which can be translated to 'book house', was built in 1860.  It features a Cape Dutch style building with a concave-convex gable.  It is a historical T-shaped house located in Water Street and is made available for the exclusive use of writers.