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S1 - Ep 262 - Hopetown - Where the First Diamond was Discovered in South Africa!
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Күн бұрынThe road from Petrusville to Hopetown was a good road with very few potholes. We were fortunate to come across Oranjerivier Station and we just had to have a look around. We read about a blockhouse, but we just couldn’t find it. Then it was onwards to Hopetown! This is the town where the first diamond was discovered in South Africa and I must say we were very impressed with this beautiful town. For the most part it was neat and clean. The school was very impressive, not to mention the pretty houses and church buildings. A local resident told us about the Old Wagon Bridge which crossed the Orange River and there was no way could leave the area and not cross this bridge. We found it and that is exactly what we did, twice! All in all it was a fantastic visit to Hopetown. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #southafricavlog #travelongravel #northerncape #hopetown #petrusville
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@SuddenStorm982 Жыл бұрын
Impressive town. What an amazing bridge 🏆. Thanks for sharing 👍
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
That bridge! 😍🌁 So glad you enjoyed it too! It really is a great town, it was a joy to visit. 👌🏻🚗
@benlubbe7875 Жыл бұрын
Another great episode !! Thank you for taking us with
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
We appreciate you coming along, I'm glad you enjoyed! 🤩🚗
@michaellukas1333 Жыл бұрын
Good morning 🙏, wonderful so beautiful, hope to see you also at the KKnk 2023 in Oudtshoorn 🇿🇦 would like a Kknk addition,thank you for the lovely work you are doing may God bless you with many many episodes ☕🇿🇦👍👍
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
Thank you, happy to hear you enjoyed Hopetown! 😁🚗 We won't be visiting KKNK this year, our travel weeks for 2023 have been confirmed and the dates of the KKNK fall outside of these. It's also just too crazy busy to film there. If you go, I'm sure you'll have loads of fun! 🎭
@LornaDeLange Жыл бұрын
The old wagon bridge brought tears to my eyes😢
@elrico8806 Жыл бұрын
Hello hope you well, its amazing to see that they keeping the showground in such a good shape compared to others i saw, that train station looks functional but i dont know all building is destroy,this town is bigger that what i expected, i never had a chance to visit this lovely town, even though its so close from my town.😁....thank you for this another amazing video...looking forward to the rest..That church blow my mind out the water😇
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
I loved the showgrounds too, especially seeing them preparing them for the upcoming show! The station has such a cool name, I just wish the buildings were still intact! The town was a surptrise to us from beginning to end and the church was absolutely gorgeous! 💒 Hopefully you get an opportunity to visit when you're in the area again, it'll be worth your while! 🚗🤩
@ebaab9913 Жыл бұрын
Very nostalgic to see Oranjariverstasie, as we used to pass through there when going on the Capetown to Johannesburg line, and return. We used to see the Orange river as we crossed the railway bridge, a huge iron girder construction if my memory serves me right. I remember it as being many channels and so wide. Probably what looks like now it is in flood. Really enjoy your joy at these old towns, that Hopetown church was spectacular. One of the things missing, that we saw a lot of in the 1950s, were the forts on the river bridges to protect them from the Boers. Certainly when I traveled the line in the 1990s I can not remember seeing any.
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
I can only imagine what that building at the Oranjerivier Station must've looked like in its heyday! We missed the Orange in flood by a mere ten days, I'm sure that's a sight to behold! 😳 We read up about a blockhouse near the station, but were unable to find it. We love blockhouses, we find them very intriguing. 🚗🏢
@annawitter5161 Жыл бұрын
Oranjerivier station must have been quite impressive in its day. So interesting to see inside the signal box. I can just imagine the trains thundering through here. The red bishops are so beautiful, worth coming all that way just to see them. And a really pretty little town. Especially the church. I can understand why they keep it locked up, imagine the cost of repairing those lovely windows after vandals get in there. OLd buildings and ancient trees...I do love exploring little dorpies with you guys. The old wagon bridge was the highlight.
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
The old wagon bridge was most certainly a highlight. I've never seen old signals like that in an abandoned station, so that was quite cool too! Those church windows were the deepest blue, so gorgeous! 💒 These small towns just keep on delivering and we're having the time of our lives being tourists in our own country for the first time. Thanks for joining us, it's always fun! 🤩🚗
@lynetteclements369 11 ай бұрын
So interesting, especially as I recently discovered 3 generations of my Irish ancestors are buried there. We lived in Kimberley 1976-1986 where my husband was the horticulturist on the Railways/Transnet. As we viewed the video he told me what a beautiful garden existed in those days, & that the platform was lawned. Now I want to visit this fascinating town & find their graves. I was sorry you didn’t film the small church which was most likely a Church of England building (& probably where I would find the family graves). Thanks for your fab video, I will be looking at the others in your series. 😀
@mariusroos Жыл бұрын
Amazing video. As soldier on weekend pass i slept on the lawn in front of the Post Office for the night as i could not get a lift to Kimberley. I had better luck the next morning. Nice footage. Thank you so much
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
So Hopetown provided you with a camping spot for the evening! I remember those hitchhiking days well myself, it's actually difficult sometimes to think we did that and so often! 👨🏻✈️ I'm glad you eventually got a ride to the Diamond City the next morning! At least you could enjoy Hopetown from a more comfortable position with us today. 😁🚗
@Torridon22 Жыл бұрын
Love all the visits to the rail stations!
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
I'm glad to hear that. We just love visiting them! 🚗🚉
@mk-xq1tt Жыл бұрын
Hopetown was a surprise to me - I didn`t see any litter only some potholes. That Orange River bridge should be a national monument for sure! Today we know why (just watch the flood news) it was built so high and long. Those bridge builders of yesteryear knew their job for sure. Lovely video.
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
I agree with you, Hopetown was a pleasant surprise to us too! The roads are most definitely in urgent need of repair and maintenance though! We only realised it properly while we were editing our footage. 🚗🛣️ That bridge was fantastic and we're so glad we had the opportunity to see it. Built to last, that's for sure! Thank you for driving across it with us! 😍🌁
@deonnimb9505 Жыл бұрын
Sonja is just such a supportive co-pilot
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
I second that! And she has been for almost 30 years! 🥰🚗
@hannesvanniekerk9675 Жыл бұрын
So many memories rekindle. You two are amazing and I love your jovial conversations. Thanks again.
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
We're glad you came along to visit Hopetown, it was great! Travelling without jovial conversations is just not worthwhile! 😁🚗
@deonzar Жыл бұрын
Thank you for showing us Hopetown and surrounds. I have just always driven through Hopetown on my way to Kimberly or Douglas and Griekwastad. And people sometimes confuse Hopetown with Hoopstad in the Free State...the home of Ben, Babsie and family ....lol
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
Hopetown is a cool place and we're glad we got to see it. Hopefully we get to visit Hoopstad in the future. There's a whole lot of hoping going on! 😁🚗 I remember Ben, Babsie and Family well, that was an integral part of every Sunday's Rapport for Sonia's folks!
@anniehyams2848 Жыл бұрын
The first diamond that was found in South Africa was in 1867 and they found diamonds in yellow earth and look for The Diamond Museum in Cape Town you will find it So interesting and that is where all the history of f diamonds I think the Block House got burned I and others could not find it to this day years ago when we travelling to and from Cape Town and Cape St Francis Hope Town it s an old Farming Town where schools did school outside there were cows sheep and chickens some farms had horses and Thank You So Much for Sharing Your Beautiful Video of Old and New Hope Town @ Dustbugs Travel 👍👍❤️❤️
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing your knowledge about the area and its history. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Hopetown! 💎🚗 It would've been great to find the blockhouse, but if you could also not locate it, it most probably was destroyed like you say. We appreciate you coming along today! 😁🌳
@anniehyams2848 Жыл бұрын
Hi Everyone @ Dustbugs Travel Thank You So Much for the Beautiful Red Heart and Thank You So Much for Enjoying my messages and Comments@ Dustbugs Travel 👍👍❤️❤️
@anniehyams2848 Жыл бұрын
@@DustBugsTravel Thank You So Much for Your Beautiful message and Yes it was lots of beautiful things to see in the Beautiful Hoperown Thank You So Much Too @ Dustbugs Travel 👍👍❤️❤️
@anniehyams2848 Жыл бұрын
Hi Everyone@ KZfaq Thank You So Much for the Beautiful Congratulations Message and Comment and Thank You So Much for the Beautiful Red Heart and Thank You So Much for the Beautiful Thumbs Up and Thank You So Much for Enjoying my messages and Comments @ Dustbugs Travel 👍👍❤️❤️ and @ KZfaq 👍👍❤️❤️
@anniehyams2848 Жыл бұрын
Hi Everyone @ Dustbugs Travel Thank You So Much for the Beautiful Red Heart and Thank You So Much for Enjoying my messages and Comments @ Dustbugs Travel 👍👍❤️❤️
@frederikbrits9559 Жыл бұрын
Oranjerivierstasie....is where Lt-genl Lord Methuen offloaded his 6000 troops in November 1899. First encounter with the Free State Boers under the command of generals Wessels and Martiens Prinsloo was a week later at Orange River Bridge. A distant family member of mine, Andries is farming in the district, another friend Wiese was a prison warden. The school, "skou" and the old age home is still going strong
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
Thank you for that very interesting info about the Anglo-Boer War! Incredible to know that in the vicinity where I walked, 6000 troops also did! That blows my mind! 🤯The town is certainly going strong. I'm not sure we saw the retirement village, but the school and show grounds were super impressive! 😁🚗 With your associations in the area, I'm sure you've visited before too.
@BrendonSchaferCT Жыл бұрын
Only thing I know about Hopetown, is that it is the last town before Kimberley. I hitchhiked up and down that road (R29 ??) during army days. Never went into Hopetown. Thanks for showing us.
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
Hopetown is a beautiful town and so unexpected, we were so glad we got to visit! The only R29 I know runs from Gauteng to Mpumalanga, but the N12 of today could've been the R29 in your hitchhiking days! 🤷🏼♂️🛣️ I'm glad we picked you up today for a drive through Hopetown! 🚗😁
@BrendonSchaferCT Жыл бұрын
@@DustBugsTravel I know the name changed of that road. I just can't remember the R-number.
@ingeborgvanderveer789 Жыл бұрын
“This town is organised”. Mooie conclusie, hoopvol voor Hopeville 😉. En jullie kunnen gedachten lezen want op 9.40 komt rechts een monument in beeld en ik dacht, wat zou dat zijn? Prompt rond 25.30 laat je het van dichtbij zien! Werkelijk prachtig is de tocht over de brug van de Oranjerivier. In de tijd van degelijk Nederlands onderwijs leerde mijn oma nog de heroïsche geschiedenis (vond men toen in ieder geval) over de Boeren in Oranje Vrijstaat en ook in het Transvaal van ‘oom Paul’. Op 99-jarige leeftijd zong zij nog, in foutloos Afrikaans nota bene, het lied Sarie Marais.
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
We were certainly very surprised by Hopetown! That obelisk on the right as we drove into town, was just too intriguing to not go back to find out what it was! 🏛️ The drive over that incredible bridge was a fitting end to our visit to Hopetown and surrounding area, we just loved it! 😍 I can almost hear your grandmother singing Sarie Marais! 🚗🎶
@charlietreston4035 Жыл бұрын
Hi guys old station and stone houses plus school sad to see it's decline. No thanks for correction center .the town high street looks busy love the old shops with covered walkways love horse on entrance roof old tyres put to good use. Nice big property's. Churches architecture is different with floor to ceiling windows love the old school motto believe and conquer. Plenty of facilities hospital etc love the cricket players could end up as protias Reed family memorial intriguing. Great to see pigeon club. Drone footage amazing. Crazy single lane Bridge with stunning views thanks for a great video cheerio till the next one
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
As always, you've summarised our video just perfectly! 🚗😁 Hopetown was a fantastic place to visit. I particularly enjoyed the showgrounds and how they were preparing it for the show, which I'm sure was a great success. I'm glad you enjoyed the drone footage, it showcases the great condition of the school and its expansive sports facilities. The bridge was of course the crowning glory to our visit, what a spectacular piece of 19th century engineering! 😍🌁
@tardis9326 Жыл бұрын
Oh my memories of Orange River Station 😪 Mid winter on the Station. Local workmen huddles around a fire in an oil drum. Freezing temperatures and bitterly cold wind blowing. Waiting for 25nc locomotives to be serviced and take on water before thundering off up the track on their way again. Beautiful memories and interesting to see the old place again, albeit a sad sad sight. My memories can never be broken, even if the Station has been. Kindest regards to you both from the UK Tim
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
What beautiful memories you have of the Oranjerivier Station! 🚂 We thought the station had such a cool name and location and we just had to go and check it out! We were rather saddened by the state of the station building too. At least you could go back in time and relive the good times again when the building and station were still alive and well! Thank you for watching all the way from the UK! 😊🚗
@tardis9326 Жыл бұрын
@DustBugs Travel you are the ones that I should be thanking - for making such amazing viewing. Although you missed it you were very close to Witput. An extremely interesting place nearby with the witput Hotel which is steeped in history through the railway and steam enthusiasts over decades and decades. Although the steam has long gone, the Witput Hotel is still there. Once owned I believe by a chap called Solomon. Now in New hands but very much still there, next to the mainline, and functioning as a Hotel
@1812nico Жыл бұрын
Hi you two! This was a really interesting trip. Thank you for missing the turtle and saving its life at the start! Nice to see such an old town still neat and obviously still alive, and peaceful. It is a good thing that those diamond discoverers moved on to Kimberley and didn't dig their Big Hole swallowing up Hopetown! The tree lined streets are really special -- your drone view (with the usual beautiful music background!) shows the town for the green gem (diamond?) it is in the middle of the arid flatlands. The visit at the Old Wagon Bridge heritage site was also special. The Orange River is really wide. Some of us in fact call it the 'Groot Rivier'. Thank you for the ride, and Keep safe!
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
We were so relieved that the tortoise made it across before the huge truck arrived! 🐢😍 A green gem is just the perfect way to describe Hopetown because that's exactly what it is! 🌳💚 I'm always happy to hear you enjoy the drone footage, it really showed how green and neat Hopetown is. That bridge! It was absolutely spectacular and, although we were already pushed for time, we had to go and find it! And are we glad we did! 🚗🌁
@flodillon991 Жыл бұрын
The railway station was good the see espically the inner workings under the floor. Those Red Bishops are geogeous you only see them at certain times of the year really worth seeing. I see they are preparing for their show busy painting thats grest. Just loved all those majestic trees especially from the air they are awesome. Wow that old gravel one way wagon bridge across the Orange river how awesome is that. Thank you for this lovely episode.
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
I also found those switches in the station fascinating! I knew you'd love those Red Bishops, they're just too beautiful! We thoroughly enjoyed taking a drive through the showgrounds as they were prepping for the show, which was about two weeks away at the time. 🐂🐑🐎 We just have no words for that bridge, other than that it was absolutely fantastic to see it and drive over it! Thanks for coming along with us! 🚗😍
@theunskoch7406 Жыл бұрын
There is Hope in Hope Town!
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
Very well said and I fully agree! It really was a lovely town to visit! 🌳🚗
@mrstukutela5126 Жыл бұрын
This just heart breaking to see. It's a far cry from the station that we stopped at on Christmas Day in 1971
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
I was hoping to find a functional station with an intact building, but it was sadly not the case. 😥🚉
@VanessaBentley Жыл бұрын
I enjoyed your visit of this little town. I certainly felt a bit more "hope" with this one, especially after the last two towns. Lovely view of the town with the drone footage, it really looks like a lovely neat little town.
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
Indeed, I agree with you! Hopetown was a surprise from beginning to end and we never expected to find such an organised town. It was green, the people were super friendly and the buildings and properties were in good shape for the most part. I'm glad we could give you some hope in Hopetown! 😁🚗
@munesumangava9751 Жыл бұрын
The old bridge simply Wow!!!!
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
That was one of the highlights of our trip to Hopetown! 🚙🌁 There is this wonderful 'old' atmopshere at the bridge, I could spend hours there. 🥰
@icohen1627 11 ай бұрын
I came from this town. So watching this video is very nostalgic
@sharonrein4249 Жыл бұрын
Loved the music in this vlog. Thank you.
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
I'm happy to hear that, thank you! 🚗🎶
@nerinemartin5901 3 ай бұрын
Hi there.. u r taking me way back to the times when we used to travel by TransKaroo stopping here at Oranje rivier station crossing the river ...going home fo Christmas to the Karooin the early 90 s ...so sad to see the destruction😢😢😢
@TM-hs3hg Жыл бұрын
Good to see you in the town I reside.. 👍
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
Thank you! We met some very friendly folks in Hopetown, perhaps we drove past you too! It was a pleasure to visit your hometown, which was an unexpected green oasis! 🚗🌳
@roelienschutte8547 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for describing our town so beautifully. I love your enthusiasm!
@claravanrooyen4131 Жыл бұрын
50 years ago all the stations was in use and it was easier to look after the railroad.(Instandhouding) .There was also Police for all the stations for any crime that was committed .The stations are closed , now there are crime, stealing , all over. They could now save the roads , for transport by train
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
It must've been wonderful seeing functional stations and maintained station buildings throughout our country at one time. The buildings are all so beautiful and it's really sad that so many of them have gone to ruin. 😥🚉 The roads in this part of the Northern Cape can certainly do with lots of repairs and maintenance, some are in shocking condition! 🚗🛣️
@philyew3617 Жыл бұрын
This was an amazing trip, Thank you for sharing your beautiful country with us all. I've just got back to the UK after just short of a month, mostly the Western Cape, also, up as far as Clan William this time. As always I had a fantastic trip. Now I've watched this video I must start to plan my next visit, with Hopetown high on the list of places I must see.
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
I'm so, so happy to hear you had a great time in South Africa! 🚙🇿🇦 And even happier that you're already thinking about your next trip, that's awesome! Hopetown was certainly full of surprises. If you do happen to visit, do make time to spend at that old wagon bridge. It was late in the day already and we still had a long drive to our accommodation in Douglas, but I think time spent at that bridge will be well worth it. Not only for the sights, but just imagining wagons actually crossing there so many years ago. Thank you for hopping right back on and joining us, we appreciate that! 😁👌🏻
@rudisutherland246 Жыл бұрын
Just watched your video. Wish I met you when you were here. I would have showed you around!
@jsrabie5513 4 ай бұрын
😭😭😭
@munesumangava9751 Жыл бұрын
Beautiful little town!
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
We were super surprised at the pretty town Hopetown turned out to be! 🤩🚙
@feebes1 Жыл бұрын
Amanda Coetzer the former top 20 ladies tennis champ came from Hopetown
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
Yes! I think she was one of our best international players. Thank you for the info. 🎾🚗
@munesumangava9751 Жыл бұрын
And that beautiful church is staying put in my album😁
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
I'm glad to hear that, they do take good care of those grounds too! 🚙💒
@volksieza Жыл бұрын
As always, great vlog. Just wish the music didn't drown your banter out, those chirps and comments are the best!! But I guess some chats need to be private 😉
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
Thank you, glad you enjoyed our visit to Hopetown! 😁🚗 The music over our voices really has nothing to do with private conversations, I'll just cut those out altogether. For some reason, we were extra super chirpy that day and didn't keep quiet for a single second, so I thought to salvage the footage, I'll add a few tunes! I like switching things up in our videos every now and again! 🎶 Glad to hear you enjoy our banter though!
@mzoxolomdiza2649 Жыл бұрын
Thats where a steam train used to refill water between Kimberly and De aar
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
Interesting! Thank you for that info! 🚂🚗
@munesumangava9751 Жыл бұрын
Excitement 💃💃💃💃 Visited Hopetown Jan of 2018. All I remember is the 40 degrees heat yhooooo while I’m freezing here in the UK🤣🤣
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
Yup, the area can get extemely hot! 🥵 Fortunately we lucked out a little and it was quite moderate when we were there! 😁🚙
@graemeneale9311 Жыл бұрын
I visited that station exactly 4 years ago and the structure still had its roofing in place. There is a Boer War Blockhouse nearby, my fear is that it too will be stripped if this has not happened already.
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
I was actually shocked to read that the building looked much better four short years ago than it does now. Very sad to see these station buildings being vandalised like that! We looked for the blockhouse, but was unable to find it. We love blockhouses and would've loved to see it! Another viewer said they couldn't find it either, so I'm not sure that it still stands even. 🤷🏼♂️🏢
@graemeneale9311 Жыл бұрын
@@DustBugsTravel it will be very difficult to dismantle the Blockhouse itself as it is a substantial stone structure, the corrugated roofing and wooden eoif trusses can be used however.
@blackeyesusan2595 9 ай бұрын
My daughters name Hope. Very beautiful town looks like Texas.
@vkaitakirwa Жыл бұрын
Hopetown is alive and well. Lives up to its name.
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
It does indeed! I'm so glad you enjoyed our visit to this lovely town! 🌳🚗 I know you're always encouraged when we visit a town still in good shape.
@christaelindsay Жыл бұрын
Not so long ago in use ...... Only 30 years!
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
I assume you're referring to the Oranjerivier Station. I so wish I could get a glimpse into that time period. Thank you for the info! 👌🏻🚆
@mrstukutela5126 Жыл бұрын
It was named Oranjerivier. I still remember the little garden around the posts of the station nameboard. It was covered in orange and yellow French marigolds
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
The signs at the turnoff still say Oranjerivier Station. I would've loved to see the nameboards too! 🚙🚉
@lynetteclements369 11 ай бұрын
My husband was the Ral mmmilway ( Transnet) horticulturist based in Kimberley 1976-1986. We viewed the video & he told me what a beautiful garden once flourished there.
@tonyrichards9794 Жыл бұрын
So you guys only tour small towns?
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
For the most part, yes. They just suit our style of filming and exploring better. We have videos of some bigger places on our channel, but the majority is of our visits to the lesser-known towns and places in our country. 🚗🇿🇦
@kosievandenberg2145 Жыл бұрын
There are no conversation. So sad. Would have loved to hear the commentary.
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
In some we talk more than in others, no two episodes are the same. We hope you at least got to enjoy what we saw in Hopetown, a very pretty and green town. 🌳🚗
@munesumangava9751 Жыл бұрын
The station has been completely stripped 😢 What a waste!!!
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
I just had to go and check it out because of the name, but I was sad to see the decline of the station! 😥🚉
@user-qb7md2hl5k 4 ай бұрын
No hope town
@anthonybrucestone7322 Жыл бұрын
and the ANC let it go to wreck and ruin
@DustBugsTravel Жыл бұрын
We actually thought Hopetown was a lovely, green town! The roads could certainly do with some much-needed maintenance, but other than that it looks quite good still. 🚗🛣️
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