Zoar and Amalienstein

• Province: Western Cape
• District: Garden Route/ Klein Karoo
• Coordinates: 33°29′S 21°26′E
• Area: 49.10 km2
• Municipality: Kannaland

Zoar and Amalienstein are located close together in the Northern Overberg region of the Western Cape. The villages sit along the R62 route, with Calitzdorp to the north and Laingsburg to the east. Both settlements are historically mission villages surrounded by farmland and vineyards. Their location makes them convenient stops for travellers exploring the Little Karoo and nearby towns, while serving as centres for local agricultural communities.

History of Zoar and Amaliensfontein

Origin of the names

These names are usually referred to in conjunction and seldom separately.  The towns are both on the Missionary Route that includes Mamre, Genadendal, Wuppertal, and Elim
Zoar and Amalienstein began as  Mission stations and were founded in 1817 on the farm Elandsfontein by a group of about 200 Germans seeking refuge from religious persecution in their home country. The Berlin Mission Society bought the farm to establish the mission stations. The Mission received substantial funding from  Baroness Amalie von Stein, and they served the indigenous population, who were mostly from the Attequa tribe and ex-slaves who had been forced off open land mainly by the ‘Caledon Code’ of 1809. The church was completed in 1853 and named Amalienstein for its benefactor.

Zoar was named after the town on the Red Sea. The name first meant “insignificance” but according to the story in Genesis “, when Lot fled thither”, the meaning became “Haven Zoar is situated at the foot of the Seweweeks poort. During the 1700s, the pass was used by brandy smugglers who wanted to avoid paying taxes. Some say the pass is so named because it took seven weeks to cross the mountains, but the poort was in fact named after Reverend Zerwick.

Today, Zoar and Amalienstein are quiet and rural, but there is a move toward promoting tourism. Various cultivars of apples and pears were imported from Germany, and the Reverend A. Schmidt won a gold medal for dried fruit at the World Exhibition at Crystal Palace in 1851. Farms and gardens in the area are irrigated from a perennial stream in the Seweweeks Poort in the Klein Swaartberg

The postal code for Zoar and Amalienstein is 6655

WEATHER IN ZOAR AND AMALIENSFONTEIN TODAY

Browse businesses and places to visit in Zoar and Amaliensfontein

Things to see and do in Zoar and Amalienstein

•  Kanna Biodiversity Route,
• Donkey cart rides offer tourists the opportunity to experience traditional old Karoo farm life.’ Zoar Donkey Taxi’,073 085 5129
• United Reformed Church
• ‘Land and Sand environmental excursion. (Allicatt Tours) 079 222 4473
• Route 62 passes through these two villages
• Seweweekspoort
• The Swartberg UNESCO World Heritage Site

Resources

Practical information for the Western Cape, Regulations, permits and helpful tips. See the Colourdots coastal and nature use guide

Useful Numbers in Zoar and Amaliensfontein

Residents and visitors can find important local contact numbers below, including police, medical services, utilities, and community facilities

• Emergency Services

• Police: 028 551 8100/ 8106
• Fire: 028 551 1023
• Ambulance: 10177

• Medical

• Closest hospital;Alan Blythe-Ladismith-028 551 1342
• Clinic; Zoar – 028 561 1305 Amalienstein- 028 561 1369

• Municipal & Utilities

• Water:028 551 8000
• Electricity: Ladismith 028 551 1293

• Transport & Roads

• Traffic department: Ladismth -028 551 8000

• Community & Safety

• NSRI 087 094 9774
• SPCA: 072 277 1056 / 023 1110058 Barrydale

• Local Contacts and Community Resources

• Post office; Agency 028 561 1349
• Library:028 561 1841
• Schools in Zoar and Amalienstein
• Lb Primary School, Zoar- 0285611382