Bitterfontein Accommodation

Bitterfontein is a small town in Namaqualand which is the end point of the railway line from Cape Town which lies 320 kilometres South of the town. The town is located on the N7 which runs from Cape Town to Namibia. By road Bitterfontein is 386 kilometres from Cape Town and by rail it is 465 kilometres. Bitterfontein (Bitter Fountain) took its name from the salty and foul-tasting water supplied by the fountain in this town. This is just the opposite of the spring found in Vredenburg which had the locals fighting for ownership.

Being found in Namaqualand it is no surprise that the surrounding area is also well known for its display of wild flowers when they bloom from late July to September. Another attraction is bird-watching. Several species are found in this locality including waders and predators.

There are picnic sites and camping areas at Knersvlakte. The farmers in the area are reputed to produce the most delicious tasting mutton due to the local grazing and climatic conditions.

Even small towns like this one can have some interesting stories and in 1931, Bitterfontein was the scene of a great and widely reported diamond robbery. Diamonds worth £80 000 vanished without trace from a mailbag and have never been recovered by the authorities.