Ladismith is a town and agricultural hub in the Klein Karoo region that serves as the seat of Kannaland Local Municipality in the Garden Route District of the Western Cape province of South Africa.
Overview
| Country: | South Africa |
| Province: | Western Cape |
| District: | Garden Route |
| Municipality: | Kannaland |
| Total Area: | 25.8 km² (10.0 sq mi) |
| Population: | 7,127 (2011) |
| Population Density: | 276/km² (715/sq mi) |
| Time Zone: | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal Code (street): | 6655 |
| PO Box: | 6655 |
| Area Code: | 028 |
About Ladismith
Ladismith is situated close to fertile irrigated valleys, at an elevation of 550 m above sea level, at the foot of the Klein Swartberg mountain range in the Klein Karoo.
Ladismith is located approximately 322 km north-east of Cape Town (the provincial capital) and 162 km north-west of George (the seat of the District).
The town is linked by tarred main roads to all major centres, including Cape Town, George, Montagu, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, and Gqeberha (previously known as Port Elizabeth).
In 1852, the farm Elandsvlei was set aside for the town, and it became a municipality in 1862.
Ladismith should not to be confused with Ladysmith (officially renamed to uMnambithi), a town on the banks of the Klip River in the uThukela District of KwaZulu-Natal province.
Both Ladismith and Ladysmith (renamed to uMnambithi) were named after Juana María de los Dolores de León, Lady Smith, the Spanish wife of Sir Harry Smith (then governor of Cape Colony from 1847–1852).
An impressive mountain peak called Towerkop (2198m) 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.
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.
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 Seweweekspoort – a gorge running through the mountain, spectacular rock formations can be seen as the road follows the winding riverbed for 21km through the mountain 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, figs, pomegranates, olives 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 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, Lithuanian, Edwardian, Cape Revival and Rural (Karoo) style, can also be found.
Approximately 180 species of birds have been spotted. Vegetation is widely varied and ranges from fynbos in the mountain to karoo broken veld, spekboom and succulent karoo on the koppies and plains.
The fynbos includes the rare Protea aristata and Protea pruinosa. Another endemic shrub to the Klein Karoo is the beautiful Nymania capensis or “Klapperbos”.
The nearest airport to Ladismith is George Airport, approximately 160 km away (a 2-hour drive) via the R62 Provincial Route.
