Caledon (Western Cape)

Caledon is a town of 13,000 people (2011) next to mineral-rich hot springs in the Overberg region, Western Cape, approximately 100 km east of Cape Town.

Understand

Caledon town hall

The Caledon district is primarily an agricultural region. Most agricultural activities involve grain production with a certain amount of stock farming. The town is locally well known for the Caledon Spa and Casino and for its rolling hills and yellow canola fields in spring.

The place was known in Dutch as Bad agter de Berg (Bath Behind the Mountain). A bath house was built in 1797 and a village called Swartberg sprang up, which was later renamed Caledon in honour of the Irish peer Du Pre Alexander, 2nd Earl of Caledon (1777–1839), the first British governor of the Cape (1806-11).

Climate

The town has a climate of warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Temperatures are modified by its close proximity to the South Atlantic Ocean, just over the Klein River Mountains to the south.

Get in

From Cape Town, follow the N2 east past the turnoffs to Hermanus and Greyton. The N2 passes the northern border of Caledon.

At Caledon the N2 is met by the R316 from Arniston and Bredasdorp, and the R320 from Hermanus.

It is on the Overberg branch railway line, 141 km (88 mi) by rail from Cape Town station.

See

The House,11 Constitution Street

• 1 Caledon Museum, 11 Constitution Street, ☏ +27 28 212 1511. M-F 09:00 - 16:00. A social history museum displaying and collecting about the Victorian period in Caledon and the history of people living in Caledon. (updated Mar 2021)

Do

The main attraction is the hot springs at the Caledon resort.

• Caledon Spa. The famous Caledon hot springs contains a Victorian bathhouse, sauna, steam room, as well as a number of smaller pools from very hot to moderately warm. R165 per day. 

Drink

The hotel at the Caledon Resort (next to the hot springs), features a bar open to the public.