Towns and suburbs

Vredendal

Vredendal is the main service town of the lower Olifants River Valley on the West Coast. It supports surrounding irrigation farms and nearby coastal settlements, with access to Lutzville, Ebenhaeser and the river mouth area.

Vredendal is a town in the Matzikama Local Municipality on the West Coast of the Western Cape, South Africa. It lies in the lower Olifants River Valley, about 300 km north of Cape Town and 12 km inland from the coastal town of Lutzville. The town developed as a service and agricultural centre for the surrounding irrigation farms and is reached via the R363 and nearby R27 West Coast route. Vredendal serves the wider farming region, including Lutzville and Koekenaap,  Ebenhaeserand the coastal settlements along the Olifants River mouth.

History of Vredendal

Origin of the name

The area was originally known as Bakkeley Plaats. According to local tradition, the name Vredendal, meaning “valley of peace”, arose after an altercation between early Dutch colonial livestock barterers and the local indigenous Khoikhoi people over stolen cattle in 1668 was settled peacefully. The modern town took its name from an older farm of the same name, which dates back to 1748.

Vredendal was laid out in 1933 as part of the Olifants River Irrigation Scheme, an important project that brought water into the otherwise dry valley and transformed the local agricultural landscape. Irrigation made it possible to grow vegetables, fruit and vines on a large scale, and Vredendal developed into the largest commercial centre in the region. Today the surrounding farms produce wine, raisins, table grapes, olives, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, pumpkins, watermelons and sweet melons. Agriculture, viticulture and mining are important to the local economy.

The town’s vineyards contrast the arid, dry surrounding Namaqua landscape. This is due to the Olifants River Irrigation Scheme, a 321-kilometre network of concrete water canals built to mimic ancient Roman engineering. Yet, there is not a single water pump along the entire main route of the canal system. The large volume of water flows by the natural force of gravity, moving from the regional dams down to the town’s farms. 

While the irrigation scheme began as simple hand-dug trenches in the 19th century, the sturdy concrete structures seen today were built by Italian Prisoners of War (POWs) 
 

The settlement gained town status in 1944 and became a separate municipality in 1963. Vredendal lies in a climatic transition zone between the Mediterranean conditions of the south and the increasingly semi-arid landscape further north. Summers are extremely hot and dry, while winter nights can be surprisingly cold. In October 2015, Vredendal recorded 48.4°C, one of the highest temperatures recorded anywhere in South Africa during that month. The hot and dry conditions in summer make this an ideal wine-producing countryside. The town lies beneath the Gifberg, Maskam and Koebee mountains, whose rugged peaks provide a striking backdrop to the surrounding vineyards and dry valley.

Vredendal is home to one of the largest cooperative wine cellars in South Africa and the Southern Hemisphere—Namaqua Wines. It caters heavily to commercial distribution and box-wine production.

The postcode for Vredendal is 8160, and the license plate prefix is  CV

Things to see and do in Vredendal

  • Parkrun – Parc de Lausanne, Lausanne Rd,7.00 am every Saturday, vredendal@parkrun.com
  • The Matzikama Eco-Park, Matzikama means “place of water has hiking trails, bird hides, botanical gardens, and a bird aviary.
  • The Olifants River wine route. Explore wine farms in Vredendal
  • It is home to one of the largest wine cellars in South Africa. Namaqua Wines, as well as several boutique wineries
  • Some of the most diverse examples of succulent plant species in the world can be seen in Vredendal. 
  •  The annual ‘Rittelfees’ at the end of October brings together eight towns from the district for a music, arts and crafts festival.

Resources

Practical information for the Western Cape, Regulations, permits and helpful tips. See the Colourdots coastal and nature use guide

local WEATHER TODAY

Browse businesses and things to see in Vredendal

 

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Useful Numbers

Residents and visitors can find important local contact numbers below, including police, medical services, utilities, and community facilities

  • Emergency Services

  • Police: 027 201 3200
  • Fire: 027 213 1379
  • Ambulance: 10177

  • Medical

  • Closest hospital: 027 312 2036
  • Pharmacy: 027 213 1510

  • Municipal & Utilities

  • Water: 027 201 3404
  • Electricity: 0823237464

  • Transport & Roads

  • Traffic department: 027 213 1269

  • Community & Safety

  • NSRI 087 094 9774
  • SPCA: Matzikama dierebeskerming 027 213 4182

  • Local Contacts and Community Resources in Vredendal

  • Tourism: 027 201 3376
  • Home Affairs: 027 213 2052
  • Post office: 027 213 1100
  • Library: 027 213 1045

  • Schools in Vredendal

  •  Spruitdrift 027 213 4344
  •  

 


Other towns in the Matzikama district include Bitterfontein; Doringbaai; Ebenhaeser; Klawer; Lutzville and Koekenaap; Strandfontein; and  Van Rhynsdorp 

  • Colourdots is an independent regional information resource for the Western Cape.
    Learn more about the project HERE

 

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