By Roxanne Reid
Travelling from Sutherland to Carnarvon in the Karoo, we drove into Williston simply because it was a point on the map we’d never been to before. We discovered it’s not the most promising destination overall, but well worth it just to visit the Williston Mall.
Travelling from Sutherland to Carnarvon in the Karoo, we drove into Williston simply because it was a point on the map we’d never been to before. We discovered it’s not the most promising destination overall, but well worth it just to visit the Williston Mall.
Weird and wacky are two words that instantly spring to mind. And of course ‘mall’ is a misnomer here in a dusty town where one of the major attractions is a tombstone route. Its other name is ‘Die Ark B&B en Vlieënde Piering’ (flying saucer) shop, which is equally bizarre.
Williston Mall: note the blackboard sign declaring 'Pudding of the day: Brandy and Coke'
The Junkyard Theatre, Williston Mall
More signs per square metre than anywhere else in the Karoo?
It’s the oddest collection of junk, rusted bikes, radiator grilles, tin ad signs from the old days, hubcaps, buckets, hats/bras/corsets hanging from the ceiling, the tiny Junkyard Theatre with its narrow concrete stage, a children’s village, a succulent nursery – an unusual hotchpotch that’s more than vaguely peculiar but definitely fun. I especially enjoyed a bust of a dour-looking Afrikaner forefather with a ladies’ bonnet perched at a rakish angle on his head and tied under his nose.
Someone at the Williston Mall has a quirky sense of humour
Your junk is Williston Mall's art installation
Even a visit to the loo (that red door) is an adventure
We enjoyed a good lime milkshake and peppermint tart before going back out into the heat to see what else Williston had to offer.
Quirky furniture and décor - just out of frame to the right are bonnets and bras hanging from the reed ceiling
It wasn’t much. Williston is a dusty little dump, the stone NG Kerk about the only other sight of any interest in town. It was built in 1912 when all the building materials had to be transported by donkey cart from Matjiesfontein via Sutherland. Its first organist earned the princely sum of £2.00 a month and school boys had to operate the bellows by foot during services.
Williston's pretty stone church
But the Karoo isn’t always about the obvious tourist attractions. I’ll bet if you stayed over in Williston, you’d find some out-of-the-ordinary Karoo characters to talk to.
That’s the real Karoo, the thing that makes it so special.
[Update September 2019: It’s been brought to my attention that day visitors now need to book ahead. A message on their Facebook page says: ‘The Williston Mall is open to booked overnight guests only. Tourists and day visitors are welcome, but must book 24 hours in advance on 072 0187288 or 053 3913659. Entrance R20 per adult, R10 for kids.']
Like the article? Pin this image!
That’s the real Karoo, the thing that makes it so special.
[Update September 2019: It’s been brought to my attention that day visitors now need to book ahead. A message on their Facebook page says: ‘The Williston Mall is open to booked overnight guests only. Tourists and day visitors are welcome, but must book 24 hours in advance on 072 0187288 or 053 3913659. Entrance R20 per adult, R10 for kids.']
Like the article? Pin this image!
More about the Karoo
Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
