Mossel Bay to Steytlerville

The flight back from Mossel Bay over the mountains to Oudtshoorn and then along the valley to Steytlerville was largely uneventful.. except for the ticking off I got from the George ATC for an alleged infringement of his airspace.

The airfield at Steytlerville was unserviceable and a kindly farmer and fellow aviator allowed us to land on his bush-strip at Rooikrans, about 25kms from the little town in the middle of nowhere. It is sort of equidistant in a triangle inland of Plettenberg bay and Jefferies Bay.. the Baviaans nature area. Both the hotel sent out transport for us, and the local farmer was also quite willing to transport us too and even pulled out his million $ Beechcroft Bonannza aeroplane to let us park in his hangar for the night.

What attracted us to the spot was a delightful olde worlde hotel.. the Karroo Theatrical Hotel in Steytlerville whose claim to fame is careful restoration by the present owners Mark and Jacques and a Saturday concert and drag show which was highly entertaining. The town was otherwise very much a one-horse dorpie, or one-kerk dorpie in the middle of nowhere. I really take my hat off to the hotel owners for the exceptional multi-tasking. 2 guys and 2 maids running the 14-bedroom hotel having to do the cooking, cleaning, plumbing, maintenance, restoration, decor and show !! Excellent stop-over.

The Karroo Theatrical Hotel

Walking to town from the hotel

Piano Concert and Drag Show supper theatre