Hope to see you browsing around Ladismith soon!

Best wishes,
Ladismith Tourism Bureau
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2. Description of the town

Ladismith (550m) nestles at the foot of the Klein Swartberg mountain
range in the Klein Karoo. It is linked by tarred main roads to all major
centres, including Cape Town (300km), Oudtshoorn (100km), Montagu,
George (160km), Mossel Bay (185km) and Port Elizabeth (420km).

An impressive mountain peak called Towerkop (2189m) looms above
Ladismith. Local legend has it that a witch, flying overhead, struck the
peak in anger with her wand because it obstructed her passage over the
mountain. Her anger resulted in Towerkop's unique appearance - the
peak is split in two. For more information on the trial, please click here.

Halfway up Elandsberg (2128m) you'll find a famous landmark, sometimes referred to as Ladismith's extra star in the galaxy: Stanley's Light (1500m). Erected in 1963 by Stanley de Wit, an inhabitant of the town, it consisted of a bicycle lamp and dynamo being powered by a waterstream. An indication of the availability of water for the surrounding farms and the town itself was hereby established.
For more information on the hiking trial, please click here.

A wide variety of scenic routes are accessible from Ladismith. If one travels east through the beautiful Hoeko Valley, breathtaking views of
orchards in the spring and autumn can be experienced. Turning into the Seweweekspoort pass, spectacular rock formations can be seen
as the road follows the winding riverbed for 21km through the moun tains and emerges in the Great Karoo.Travelling west of Ladismith one
can visit the picturesque valleys, with the orchards, vineyards and old farmhouses of Dwarsrivier, Voorbaat and Van Zylsdamme.

It serves an extensive farming area with ideal climate for the production of apricots,peaches,plums, nectarines, and grapes. Approximately 30% of the total apricot export market comes from the district . There are two cheese factories as well as a winery.
Ladismith's businesses are listed here.

Ladismith is unique in the sense that is has its own individual building style. The so-called Ladismith style is a simplified Georgian design and dates from the 1830's. Several other architectural styles, i.e. Neo-Gothic, Georgian, Victorian, Regency and Rural (Karoo) style, can also be found.
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3. Natural Surroundings and Wildlife

Vegetation varies widely and ranges from fynbos in the mountains to
karoo broken veld, spekboom and succulent karoo on the koppies and
plains.

The fynbos include the rare Protea Aristata and Protea Pruinosa.
Another shrub endemic to the Klein Karoo, is the beautiful
Nymania Capensis ("Klapperbos").

Wildlife in the area include gray rheebok, klipspringer and occasional kudu, Cape mountain zebra, steenbok, duiker, red hartebees, eland, springbok and numerous other small species. Troops of baboons are common and Leopard are occasionally spotted in the mountains. Reptiles are represented by five species of tortoise, boomslang, cape cobra, puff adder and various other snakes and lizards.
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4. Climate

Ladismith enjoys a pleasent, healthy and polution-free climate.
Cold winters with snow on the mountains are followed by
hot summers. The most pleasent weather conditions are experienced
between March and September.

The hottest months are between December and February, with tempa-
ratures going up into the 40's.


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6. Other Information

- Population: - Safety: - Malaria: - Map: - Closest Airport:

Approximately 6500 Relatively crime-free Completely malaria-free Ladismith and region on Route 62 George Airport, approximately 170km

7. Useful Links

- Looking for accommodation in another town - go to www.sleepsleep.co.za