Prince Albert in the heart of the Karoo lies on the foot of the 27 km long Swartberg pass in the Western Cape - a popular destination for fairs and festivals every year.

In April, Prince Albert will once again attract visitors from far and wide for the Annual Prince Albert Town and Olive Festival.

Discover the secrets of the Karoo in April, when the ‘Prince Alberters’ open their town to visitors to experience their town and culture first hand.

Not only will you be able to sample the town’s olives and wine, but also enjoy Karoo cuisine, including Karoo-grown lamb and Ostrich, organically grown fresh produce and award wining cheese. If you want to grow some hairs on your chest, try the potent locally produced Witblitz.

Discover the world of bicycles, with the exhibition of bicycles older than most of us. This is a great opportunity because this exhibition is only open to the public once a year.

Other activities include a historic walk through the town, a Karoo-style street parade, a Ghost walk late at night with the local storyteller, a strong man competition, an olive spitting competition, go-kart races, botanical walks, food stalls and entertainment for the kids (if spitting olives isn’t really their thing…).

Prince Albert is a small gem, with beautifully preserved Cape Dutch, Karoo and Victorian buildings – 13 of which are now National Monuments.

The Prince Albert Town and Olive Festival

Date: 25 – 27 April 2008
Venue: Prince Albert, Swartberg

Directions to Prince Albert

Prince Albert lies in the Central Karoo, 400km north of Cape Town and 170km south of Beaufort West on the N1 highway.

Follow the N1 away from Cape Town for about 314km. Turn right into the R328 and continue for 42 km. Enter Prince Albert Road and follow for approximately 3 km.

Molo says: “For all the information on the best festivals in 2008, subscribe to our free monthly Editor’s Picks Newsletter and stay informed."

For more information on directions to popular destinations in and around Cape Town, read our Directions Overview article.

Download our Google Earth Map of Cape Town to find locations of event venues, hotels, bed & breakfasts, restaurants and popular destinations in and around Cape Town.