In July the aloes are in flower, orange torches on the slopes along the N2. Albertinia, founded in 1900 on the farm Grootfontein and named after its first minister Johannes Rudolph Albertyn, calls itself the aloe capital of South Africa: two businesses here process the sap of the Cape aloe, Aloe ferox, into ointments, juices and cosmetics. The landmark is the Dutch Reformed church, the picture everyone takes, and the second export is thatching reed for the roofs of the Cape.
- west of Mossel Bay, about 40 minutes
- 50 km
- founded
- 1900
- two processing businesses
- Aloe ferox
- game drives at the Garden Route Game Lodge
- Lions
Behind the town lies the Garden Route Game Lodge, the reserve with lions on the road towards Cape Town: lion, white rhino, giraffe, elephant, buffalo and cheetah, malaria free, with game drives in an open Land Rover at sunrise and sunset. Day visitors are welcome, and the prices for day packages are on the lodge’s website. The Baz Bus stops here too, on the run between Swellendam and Mossel Bay.
- Time needed
- half a day, a full one with a game drive
- Cost
- town free, game drives at lodge rates
- When
- all year, aloes flowering in winter
- From Mossel Bay
- 50 km, 40 minutes
Our tipBook the sunset drive and set off in the afternoon: about forty minutes to Albertinia, then into the open vehicle as the animals come out of the shade. You drive back to Mossel Bay in the dark, so allow time for that.
Albertinia: frequently asked questions
How far is Albertinia from Mossel Bay?
Around 50 kilometres west on the N2, about 40 minutes. Albertinia sits on the road to Cape Town and, with the Garden Route Game Lodge, is a stop for day visitors who want to see lions.
Can you visit the Garden Route Game Lodge as a day guest?
Yes, with day packages and game drives in an open Land Rover. The prices are on the lodge’s website, and you should reserve before driving over from Mossel Bay. The reserve near Albertinia is malaria free and holds lion, rhino, giraffe, elephant, buffalo and cheetah.
Why is Albertinia called the aloe capital?
Because the Cape aloe grows all around the town and two businesses process its sap into ointments and juices. In winter the aloes flower orange along the N2 between Mossel Bay and Albertinia.