15/05/2026
🌧️ WEATHER UPDATE #3 / WEER OPDATERING #3 🌧️
Calitzdorp route report:
As promised, we are sending out May 2026 storm updates from organizers actively involved with the various routes or pilgrims to shed some light about the impact of the storms or pilgrims.
Graham Nicoll gave a detailed account (and a short video) of what happened along the Calitzdorp leg of the Pilgrimage of Hope:
"We had a group of seven start on Tuesday the 5th. Due to the heavy rains that came in on the evening of the 5th, we had to overnight the group at the first overnight stop for two nights.
Luckily, they didn't get a double portion of the-most-delicious-but-serious-heartburn-inducing Pampoen koekies. Selma Nel looked after them very well. They spent day 2 just around the accommodation, warm & happy, while we battened down the hatches for the rains that had already started. On Day 3, we transported them through the river to their Day 3 start point. They then continued to walk, but unfortunately day 6 and 7 was washed out as the Olifants River had flooded. And so we overnighted them at Le Plume Guesthouse, which happened to be Mother's Day as well, and they were quite happy to spend Mother's Day in the luxurious La Plume Guest house. Karin the owner was on her way to an indaba but managed with her awesome team to again pull out all the stops for us. All ladies safely returned the following Monday and quite happy, having thoroughly enjoyed their Calitzdorp Camino experience.
The rains continued. Calitzdorp received 70mm in the four days. Our Calitzdorp dam went from 30% to full in 4 days. We then had a group starting the following Thursday, which was the 7th.
Unfortunately, that was five walkers and we had to cancel the walk, four of them had already arrived in Calitzdorp two one day earlier and two the day before they were to start.
That was a bad one for us because we had to, as they were putting their bags down in the guest house, phone them and cancel the walk. And rightly so, the weather was just so bad that week. The Olifant's River came down in flood. Some of you might have seen a farmer lost quite a few ostriches due to flooding. And we just could not send them out there on their pilgrimage. The rains then subsided and we had a group starting Monday the 11th.
However, Monday brought gale force winds that battered them all the way to Maitesevlei, that's 15 kilometers, and they were feeling it. A lot of trees uprooted in Calitzdorp. We have now been 3 days without power, therefore no hot water, in town, all the way from Oudtshoorn, Calitzdorp, Ladismith. So the guest houses are also battling. The group of eight on Monday, set out on day two in high spirits. I walked them across day 2's mountain up to 592 meters above sea level, and we were watching the rain over the Swartberg mountains. It was almost going parallel with us. We didn't get wet. Occasionally we felt a spray that the wind blew on us, but we had a beautiful Tuesday morning walk.
Unfortunately, when we got down to the bottom end of Smitsrivier, all that rain had dumped on the Swartberg and had filled up the rivers and the drifts leading down Grootfontain Road to Calitzdorp. We waded through two drifts. Water was more than ankle deep, but then got collected, and driven throught rivers to get to Groenfontein guest farm for their second night. 13km walked for the day. Day 3, they started in high spirits and have continued. Also today, Wednesday the 13th, we had a group of nine start off. This group, from the beginning of the week, four of them were very anxious about coming from Mossel Bay to Calitzdorp over the mountain and they wanted to cancel.
The other five, some were here already, some came from Cape Town and some were flying in from Johannesburg. So it was another one of those situations where we almost canceled. They, in the meantime, all decided to meet in Calitzdorp, all nine of them. And this morning set off quite happily for their first evening in Matjiesvlei. So everything looks like it's settling now.
We don't expect any more difficulties for the two groups that are on the road already. There is one or two guest houses with a shortage of electricity and water, so we are just managing and maneuvering, doing what we can. All of our herbergers, as usual, pulled out all stops, jumping in bakkies to come and pick up, to move luggage, to make space for people overnighting in guest houses. We really have a wonderful team of people here in Calitzdorp. The admin team on the ground and the backup from the church just has been phenomenal. So we're very grateful."
