The Story of Daniel’s Kraal
The earliest route through the mountains from Ladismith to Oudtshoorn, and ultimately from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth via Grahamstown, was through a kloof, discovered by Gerrit Pretorius in about 1807.
It was given the name Welgevonden (well discovered). It was nothing but the roughest of tracks following the bed of a stream through the mountains. On exiting the kloof from Ladismith, the road continued to where Waterkloof and Taaisrivier joined and this was where the original homestead of Daniel’s Kraal was still to be built. Here was a good valley to set up camp, outspan and rest up the horses and oxen, repair wagon wheels and gather one’s energy to continue a further 480 km or so to Grahamstown. Calitzdorp (founded in 1821 and established in1853) had yet to be built and Oudtshoorn (founded in 1848, and established in 1853) was not even on the map.
By 1810 the Welgevonden Pass was renamed Caledon Kloof 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.
By 1809 the pass was already experiencing heavy traffic. 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 the grounds leased from the government. A rest station was opened nearby for the 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. 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 to Ladismith. 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.
It is believed that the author and poet Cornelis Jacobus Langenhoven, who wrote the words of the Die Stem, our original National Anthem, stayed on the farm. 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 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 this farm.
Over the years many of the original families who settled in Calitzdorp have farmed here. Family names such as Stassen, Strydom, Geyser, Barry, Wapenaar, Saayman, Blignault, Le Grange appear in the Title Deeds.
We are calling on all previous owners of this wonderful farm, to contact us with stories and possible old photographs about their lives whilst living here. We hope to compile a informative book on its incredible history.
Peter and Celia Hayward – Custodians of Daniel’s Kraal, November 2024
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