The Leeu Gamka Hotel is in Leeu Gamka, halfway between Cape Town and Colesberg on the N1 highway in South Africa. I stayed here one night while driving from Cape Town to Johannesburg.
The room at Leeu Gamka Hotel cost 600 rand plus 70 rands for two double rums and a can of lemonade to share.
The Leeu Gamka Hotel is ideally located if you are driving from Cape Town to Johannesburg. It is about 3.5 hours northeast of Cape Town and if you spend the day in the wine valleys you can arrive here in the evening for a relaxing stay at this old, wild western frontier town.
Related: Read My Full, One Week South African Road Trip Itinerary Here
History of Leeu Gamka
This is what the Cape Town Historical Society says about Leeu Gamka: “It was one of the few spots with drinkable water north of Cape Town, so Leeu Gamka soon became the choice stop of adventurers, explorers, missionaries, settlers, “trekboere” (migrant farmers) and even outlaws.
They all camped near a grove of indigenous sweet thorn trees where the Leeu and Gamka rivers meet. It was cool and there was grazing. But it was far from idyllic.
Constant watch had to be kept for wild animals and roaming bands of Xam San, also in search of food and water.
So if you stay here, you can feel like one of those Voortrekkers and discovers that first set foot in this wild frontier past called Leeu Gamka!
Finding The Leeu Gamka Hotel
It is easy to find the Leeu Gamka hotel: as you drive past the Shell Ultra City petrol station start looking out for signs toward the railway station. Turn right toward the station and follow the green sign to the Leeu Gamka hotel, which is just opposite the station.
Entering the Hotel
The main entrance is just next to the local shop but the owner will ask you to park your car on the other side, which is in front of the motel rooms.
First Impressions
My first impressions were quite good – I liked the location and the style of the building: it used to be the old railway hotel so it still bears the architectural styles of the early 20th century.
I really loved the various brass fixtures and fittings, especially the window handles and the pipes in the toilet and bathroom. Nico is especially proud of these and polishes them up on a regular basis.
The Lobby Area
The lobby area opens from the central courtyard which is a nice shady garden with some big trees and seating during the day. The lobby at the Leeu Gamka Hotel also functions as a small exhibition room where the owners, Nico and Antsie exhibit their antiques and memorabilia.
Here you will see old dolls, sewing machines and a number historical items that remind the visitor of the good old days gone by.
Checking In
We booked the room on Booking.com about an hour before arrival – I did not feel like driving any more and Leeu Gamka seemed like the best place to stop a short drive away from Beaufort West.
The Public Areas
The public areas, the corridor and bar were all clean and tidy, smelling nice and rustic, giving the whole place a touch of romance in this wild west location! Antsie’s garden was very neat and she had some cacti and other flowers, giving the whole place a nice feeling of being in the desert, far from civilization!
Inside the Room
Our room was very comfortable and large, with a double bed and two singles, ideal for families on a holiday in the Caroo. Nico also has a license to drive people around in a bus, so if you call ahead to arrange he might be able to give you a ride around the place, or give you advice on where to visit around the region.
He told us to check out the graves of three English fighters that died here in the late 19th century and to visit the old bridge and church in town – which we duly did the next morning.
The Bed
I picked the single bed nearer to the window and air conditioner. I wanted to be ready to jump up and take a photo of a potential train rolling past, so I left the curtains open in the morning. I got lucky because I managed to catch glimpse of a triple engine chugging along, of which I got some nice shots before we left.
The bed was comfortable and the pillows were nice and firm, so I had nothing to complain about. In fact I slept like a log all night.
The Rest of the Bedroom
The room had high ceilings and a couple chairs plus a cupboard and two light bulbs, making it bright enough at night.
Wifi in the Room
I was too tired to use the internet, I fell asleep straight after I went to bed.
The Bathroom
The bathroom was clean and tidy and smelled fresh with their own label toiletries such as a conditioner and shampoo plus soap.
There was hot and cold running water and a mirror above the sink – it all looked like Antsie has taken a lot of care to make the place feel homely.
Overall Impressions
I really enjoyed my stay here and I would definitely recommend a stay for others to discover this wild frontier past – a hidden gem in the once roughest but now forgotten corner of South Africa.
Address: Stasiestraat, Leeu Gamka, South Africa
Telephone: 0027 72 581 9152
