Alicedale

A small residential town. 18 km off the Port Elizabeth / Cradock road. The town was developed by the SAR&H as a major railway junction from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg, with a branch line to Grahamstown. The town was named by a railway engineer for his wife, Alice Slessor (born Dale). Alicedale is well known for it’s mohair factory which spins mohair yarn and produces beautiful mohair carpets, curtains and cushions.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

On route from Port Elizabeth to Cradock 12 km from Paterson – turnoff to the right, is 18 km gravel road. Port Elizabeth 100 km, Grahamstown 55 km. on the Grahamstown / Port Elizabeth road from Grahamstown – 27 km turn to the right to Alicedale 28 km gravel road.

Altitude: 800 m above sea level

Average Rainfall: 150 mm summer rainfall area

Average Temperature

Summer 28°c – 30°c; Winter 15°c

Mountains

Zuurberg Mountains

Rivers

Bushmans River

HISTORICAL VIEW

Beautiful Sandstone Houses

Six houses in Jacaranda Street built by SAR&H for their workers.

Beautiful Bridges

Built by SAR&H across Bushmans River

Dutch Reformed Church and Hall

Municipality Buildings

First Station building for SAR&H

Primary School

Technical College of SAR&H

St Barnabas Church

Water Purification Works

Sandfilters and Braithwaith tanks to store water

NATURE

Burchell’s Game Reserves – Chalets

Calmoesfontein – Chalets

New Year’s Dam

Bird watching, picnic spots and fishing – carp and bass

San Rock Art

On farms near New Year’s Dam

Shamwari Game Reserve

8 km from Alicedale – Chalets

ATTRACTIONS

Burchell’s Game Reserve

Furniture Factory

Mohair Spinning and Weaving

Shamwari Game Reserve

ACTIVITIES

Game Viewing

At Shamwari Big Five to be seen