OVK June 2013 web file.indd

Today, Willowmore forms the gateway to the Baviaanskloof,
a World Heri tage site. Stock farming (mainly An gora
goats, Merino sheep and Boer goats) makes up most
of the area’s economy with game farming and tourism
following close by.
In and around Willowmore you will find a number of restaurants/coffee
shops, 4x4/4x2 tracks, hiking trails, mountain
biking routes, bird watching as well as historic sites.
During the Anglo-Boer War Willowmore was in British territory,
but several Afrikaans speaking men from the Cape
Colony joined the Boer “army” in the north. The Co lo nial
rebels from the Cape Colony were regarded as trai tors
and rebels by the British authorities, and many were executed
after the war. Boer commandoes remained act ive in
the Willowmore-Aberdeen area for more than a year.
The old Boer graveyard has interesting graves dating
back to the Anglo Boer War. Most grave stones were
re stored to their former glory. Close to the graveyard is
a small gunpowder chamber which was used to store
gun powder and ammunition. In 1961 it was used by a
con struction company for storage of dynamite during the
build ing of the bridge.
The Pierre Ferreira hiking trail passes the remnants of two
old historic forts dating to the Boer War. These forts where
used by the Willowmore Town Guards in 1902 to guard
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over the building of the railway line to Willowmore. At the
time, the area was full of “Boer Rebels” who threatened to
blow up the railway line.
Before Willowmore had Eskom, the Blackstone’s, the
old power station power station, supplied the town with
elec tricity until 1984. There are six Lister Blackstone diesel
gene rators that were shipped from England and then
came up by rail to Willowmore.
A nine hole golf course is situated on the outskirts of town.
The total length is 5 980 meters (grade 72). The greens
are grass but the fairways are ground. You can use a
piece of artificial grass to place your ball on.
Today Willowmore is one of the cleanest towns in South
Africa and there is an ongoing beautification program in
place. This project of Baviaans Tourism includes gar dens
on public open areas in the town as well as a tree planting
project.
Aasvoëlberg or “Vulture Mountain” overlooks Willow more
and the district. There is a road going all the way to the
top. It is one of the few places in the Karoo where you can
find proteas and other fynbos species as well as suc culents.
The sandstone rock formation on the mountain
is a must see. The area is also rich in bird life and the
Cape sugar bird is often sighted.
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