Our History | Danielskraal Farm

The History of Daniel’s Kraal

The earliest wagon route from Cape Town to Grahamstown and finally on to Port Elizabeth (a distance of over 850km) took hardened traders, explorers & pioneers along a rugged wagon trail to Swellendam (established 1743) through Zoar (established 1817) continuing eastward through a daunting mountain kloof discovered by Gerrit Pretorius in about 1807 originally called Welgevonden Pass (well discovered).

By 1809 the pass was already experiencing heavy wagon traffic. By 1810 the Welgevonden Pass was renamed the Caledon Kloof Pass in honour of the Governor of the Cape at the time, in the hope that Lord Caledon would sponsor the rebuilding of this pass. This never happened. An interesting record left by Dr Wangemann of the Berlin Mission Station, described the route as extremely beautiful but frightening

It was nothing but the roughest of wagon tracks following the bed of a stream through the mountains. On exiting this kloof, exhausted travellers could rest up at the confluence of two mountain streams named Waterkloof Rivier and Taais Rivier and this was where the original farm of Daniel’s Kraal was located.

The Stassen family of Daniel’s Kraal, applied for a trading permit in 1810 to repair ox wagon wheels and farm sheep and vegetables on these grounds they leased from the government. A rest station was opened here for these weary travellers and on 1st November 1838, the government of the Cape, recognised ownership of the farm Daniel’s Kraal to the lessors and 3’799 morgan were granted to Messrs CC Stassen, GJ, JJ, and JJG Strydom, which fell under the district of Swellendam. The farmhouse could now be built. Here was a good flatland, surrounded by mountains and perfect to set up camp, outspan the horses and oxen, repair wagon wheels and gather one’s energy to continue the further 480 km eastward to Grahamstown. Calitzdorp (founded in 1821 established in1852) had yet to be built and Oudtshoorn (founded in 1848, and established in 1853) was not even on the map.

It is unusual that the name of the builder of the original farmhouse could be traced to an Irishman, Mr Horace Terry, a bricklayer, who’s descendants still resided in Calitzdorp until 2023.

In 1885 the whole pass was washed away in a flood. Finally in 1896 a new route was built through the Huis River Pass from newly established Ladismith (established 1862) to Calitzdorp (established 1853).

Map from 1849 with Daniel’s Kraal mentioned (far right)

In 1966 this route was again upgraded to its current state and now part of the R62 which is known as the longest wine route in the world and a road filled with splendorous small farming towns, all with their own uniqueness.

It is believed that the author and poet Cornelis Jacobus Langenhoven, who wrote the words of the Die Stem, our original National Anthem, stayed at Daniel’s Kraal on an extended visit. Perhaps it is here where he was inspired to write the lyrics of “Die Stem”, as Waterkloof, which lies behind the old farm house, is said to answer you back when shouting loudly – “Waar die kranse antwoord gee”. Langenhoven wrote the book “Spookstories” or “Ghost stories” whilst staying on the farm, after strange unexplained encounters he had whilst travelling through the Caledon Kloof. Langenhoven was born on a farm in the Hoeko area outside Ladismith and lived in Oudtshoorn (est 1848) for many years.

During the Anglo Boer War soldiers on horseback from both sides used the pass. General Jan Christiaan Smuts was chased by the British through Daniel’s Kraal.

Over the years many of the original families who settled in Calitzdorp have farmed on this ground. Family names such as Stassen, Strydom, Geyser, Barry, Wapenaar, Saayman, Blignault, Le Grange appear in the Title Deeds.