On the R62 in the Little Karoo you will find the small farming town of Uniondale. The area is semi-arid, but the valley in which the town is situated is beautiful and green and is a pleasant surprise after the dryness of the rest of the Little Karoo. Probably most famous for its ghost, the town and surrounds none the less have many interesting things to see and do. But I know you're all dying to know more about that ghost now, so here follows a quick retelling of the tragic tale.
Driving through Uniondale on their way to Riversdal on Easter weekend of 1968 was a young, newly engaged couple. The girl was fast asleep on the back seat of the car, unaware of the horrific weather and bad roads her young man was trying to navigate to have them safely reach their destination. Unfortunately for them nature triumphed and the poor young man lost control of the car and sadly, his fianc was killed. To this day she walks along the road over Easter weekend trying to hitch a lift and find a way back to her beloved. She is often picked up, only to disappear again without a trace. Her fianc remarried after a year and it is said that she is looking for him, wanting to reclaim him as her own. The young man himself died in a road accident in 1984 which supposedly put the ghost to rest. According to recent sightings though, one couldn't be too sure. A little too creepy for my liking!
Moving on to matters more "solid", the town sports seven buildings which have been declared Historical national Monuments. Interestingly the town has the largest watermill in the Southern Hemisphere, built in 1852 and restored in 1977. Not really the kind of town you would associate with "large" things, this watermill is quite a surprise. There are a total of five Boer War Forts to be seen in the surrounding veld and being proud of their Jewish history, the town also has a synagogue.
Surrounding the town you will find one of the most rich areas in flora in South Africa. There are a unique combination of Subtropical, Western Cape, Grasveld and Karoo Flora. It is estimated that 2352 species can be found in the Uniondale area. Seventy species of medicinal plants can be found here.
Outdoor enthusiasts will love it here. Go for a hike, just some mild walking or cycling. You can even try your hand at birding, trout fishing, hunting and horse riding. If those activities aren't for you, then why not see if you can find the hitchhiking girl on Easter weekend. Locals would love to indulge you with their stories and could probably provide a few tips as to how to catch a glimpse of this elusive lady.
Driving through Uniondale on their way to Riversdal on Easter weekend of 1968 was a young, newly engaged couple. The girl was fast asleep on the back seat of the car, unaware of the horrific weather and bad roads her young man was trying to navigate to have them safely reach their destination. Unfortunately for them nature triumphed and the poor young man lost control of the car and sadly, his fianc was killed. To this day she walks along the road over Easter weekend trying to hitch a lift and find a way back to her beloved. She is often picked up, only to disappear again without a trace. Her fianc remarried after a year and it is said that she is looking for him, wanting to reclaim him as her own. The young man himself died in a road accident in 1984 which supposedly put the ghost to rest. According to recent sightings though, one couldn't be too sure. A little too creepy for my liking!
Moving on to matters more "solid", the town sports seven buildings which have been declared Historical national Monuments. Interestingly the town has the largest watermill in the Southern Hemisphere, built in 1852 and restored in 1977. Not really the kind of town you would associate with "large" things, this watermill is quite a surprise. There are a total of five Boer War Forts to be seen in the surrounding veld and being proud of their Jewish history, the town also has a synagogue.
Surrounding the town you will find one of the most rich areas in flora in South Africa. There are a unique combination of Subtropical, Western Cape, Grasveld and Karoo Flora. It is estimated that 2352 species can be found in the Uniondale area. Seventy species of medicinal plants can be found here.
Outdoor enthusiasts will love it here. Go for a hike, just some mild walking or cycling. You can even try your hand at birding, trout fishing, hunting and horse riding. If those activities aren't for you, then why not see if you can find the hitchhiking girl on Easter weekend. Locals would love to indulge you with their stories and could probably provide a few tips as to how to catch a glimpse of this elusive lady.
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If a holiday with a difference is for you, why not reserve some Uniondale accommodation and come and partake in some of the fabulous Uniondale activities on offer. You might find more that you bargained for concerning the supernatural!
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