Walkerbouts Inn

Walkerbouts Inn is located in the village of Rhodes on the southernmost tip of the Drakensberg Mountain range.  The entire village was proclaimed a national monument in 1997 to conserve its charm and character.

Walkerbouts has six en-suite bedrooms, a dining room, lounge (with satellite television), and a licensed pub complete with pizza ovens.  Laundry can be done by arrangement, and email, fax and internet facilities are available for guests.  Pets are welcome by prior arrangement.

Walkabouts is also the headquarters of the Wild Trout Association (see the entry on this route) – so it is here that bookings can be made for trout fishing in the area.  More than 200km of running water, with trout and yellowfish, is within an hour’s drive of Rhodes.  Other activities in and around Rhodes include hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, skiing and birding.  Rock art and alpine flowers and 4x4 routes are also on the ‘must do/see’ list.

Locally grown pickles products (onions, garlic, chillies, jalapenos, beetroot) as well as herbs and smoked meats are sold at Walkerbouts.  A ‘bothouse’ (a hot-house built from empty bottles), complete with a hydroponic system, is used for producing seedlings and growing vegetables.

Walkabouts offers a wholesome package of a rural South African experience with service and hospitality that has resulted in guests returning year after year, or indeed bringing their friends and family for a unique holiday.

More Rhodes information:

Rhodes was officially established in 1891 on the farm Tintern.  Legend has it that the town was first known as Rossville, then changed to Rhodes in honour of Cecil John Rhodes in the days when he was perceived to be a politically correct figure.  In fact, this legend is incorrect, and the confusion arose because the local Dutch Reformed Church community was refered to as the ‘Rossville ward’. 

Another legend is that CJ Rhodes provided the town with an ox-wagon load of pine trees that were then planted in the village.  Subsequent investigation has proven that this was not the case as the particular species rarely achieves and age of more than 70 years and many are currently dying out.

In addition to it proximity to the highest pass, Rhodes also boasts being close to the highest powerline in South Africa and the highest pub.  The powerline ascends the Naudesnek Pass valley and supplies electricity to the Civil Aviation radar site on Scobellskop – 2731.1m high.  The highest pub is at Tiffendel Ski resport on the slopes of Ben McDhui.

Rhodes and its adjoining township of Zakhele have a permanent population of only around 600