Putsonderwater Abandoned Railway Ghost Town South Africa
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- An abandoned railway village called Putsonderwater on the railway line between De Aar and Upington, in the dry Northern Cape province of South Africa. It's not that hard to reach, along a reasonably good gravel road between Marydale and Kenhardt. It's well worth the detour, and such a special experience exploring these fast disappearing villages, that were once thriving communities, now reverting back to nature.
There are a couple of versions of how the name Putsonderwater, which means "well without water" in the Afrikaans language came about. The one I like, is a man by the name of Dawid Ockhuis dug a well back in the late 1800's, and struck liquid gold in an arid land, when his well proved to have a good supply of water.
In those days, the trek boers would come past and ask for water. Not being a man who liked to share his supply, he would reply "die put is sonder water", meaning "the well is without water". There are other stories, but this one is the best for me.
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I’m Chris, an overlanding, adventure & road trip fanatic and video creator with a passion for nature & an outdoor life. My motto is "live your adventure". After many years in the digital marketing space, I opted out of corporate life and embraced an overland road tripping and adventure lifestyle instead.
I'm currently embarked on a 2 year long mission, Project #60460, to visit 60 of the most unique places in southern and east Africa to mark my 60th year on this, the only planet that we have. I'll be sharing the adventure with videos, community updates and stories. And along the way I will be highlighting the plight of 3 of Africa's big cats: the Lion, Leopard & Cheetah.
Join me on this epic overland road trip and help save these incredible predators by supporting me on Patreon: / kangelalife
Kangela: "to look with curious eyes"
Available for collaborations: hello@kangela.com
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Nice shooting, crystal clear footage, clean air , big sky country.
Thanks Patrick, big sky country indeed.
Thank you for making and sharing this. From a South African currently living and working in China. Never heard of this place till I saw your video. Can't wait to watch others you made!
Thanks for your comment Wayne, it's always a pleasure to hear from people who have enjoyed my videos, and if they have learnt something new, that's even better!
Just want to point out, that freight diesels still go by frequently, also you can tell because the rails are shiny rather than having surface rust
I’m aware, I did mention it in the video 👍
Wonderful video. Thank you! Can you imagine the peace and tranquility that prevails. The ideal retirement town if you crave the peace that silence holds. I would exchange my tiny retirement home in Stilbaai for a rustic old building in Putsonderwater in a heartbeat .....
It certainly has peace and tranquility alright.
My hart huil oor Suid Afrika
Ek hoor jou Marie.
Solank as julle agter die katolieke "jesusgod" wegkruip, sal die ware GOD(EL ELYON) en die SEUN Yahushua haMassiach hulle doof hou! Wat intussen op Putsonderwater gebeur is irrelefant!
Thanks for sharing🎉
I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
I know the feeling...a small village on the Avontuur route....😢so sad
Thank you for this video!
I love exploring little towns in SA. This one made me sad. If walls could talk, I always say... Love the history. Places like these make me wish for a time machine. Its a really well kept 'town' , thanks to Mr Swart, I suppose. I hope he is happy there and living a good life.
Thanks for your words Noelle. I hear you, waking around you can almost “feel” the lives that were lived. Blakkie has a good life there, the owners of the land accept his presence and he in return keeps things tidy and acts as an unofficial tour guide and historian.
Hey Chris, just discovered your channel this week. I have subscribed and enjoying every moment. The highlight for me is your brief history you share. Keep on rocking
Thank you Andile.
i keep seeing videos of old towns in Italy selling abandoned homes for a euro (starting bid) and i wouldn't mind the same being done for our small towns such as this. I understand the lack of employment may be the issue for some but it seems like the place to start a hippie compound
You could sign me up 😅
Thanks heaps for videos of our beautiful country!!
It's a pleasure Wayne, I'm glad you enjoy my videos.
Just shows you the magic that is the south african countryside
Absolutely true.
Enjoyed that very much. More videos please - especially of the Karoo and north-western parts of the country. Sad and nostalgic
Thanks Rory, I absolutely have more videos planned for that area, there is so much still to discover.
@@Kangela pp
My oupa was 'n stasie meester daar jaare trug.
Awesome, thanks for sharing.
Het ook nie gedink nie dit is n eintlike plek nie daai oom moet passop dat hulle hom nou nie gaan beroof nie of die metaal van die treinspore gaan steel nie 🤫🤐
Solank as julle agter die katolieke "jesusgod" wegkruip, sal die ware GOD(EL ELYON) en die SEUN Yahushua haMassiach hulle doof hou! Wat intussen op Putsonderwater gebeur is irrelefant!
How and where do they get their water from and probably no power.?
It's actually on a private farm and there is a wind pump which provides water. I'm not sure about electricity, I don't think there is any.
Blackie fixed the borehole and windpump for his own use ...he also uses some solar, otherwise it's gas cooking and shower..
Blackie is a genius, with hardly nothing that he can't do..
Thanks for the upload, brilliant footage, is there a contact number for the "mayor" please? Would be greatly appreciated
Thanks Moosa, I don't have a contact number, I don't think that he even has a phone.
@@Kangela pity we planning on go through the town later this year and connecting with him, thanks for responding
@@moosa9850 Awesome, he's an interesting character, enjoy your visit, it's so worth it.
Ek ken daardie plek so goed my swaer en sister het daar grwoon.Hy was n bus dryer die bus het van daar Kenhardt toe gegaan van daar na die plase.Mnr Olivier was die stasieneestetr toe.ek verlang so na die naweke daar.Ouna was die posmeesteres.wonderlike tye gewees.onthou nog al die nense wat daar gestAsioneer was.ek het vandaar met die train Johannesburg toe gery.frances Gentle my swaer was pietBredenkamp
Dankie Frances, dis wonderlik om stories te hoor van mense wat werklik daar gewoon het.
Orania free✅🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦
Ons bly lag and grapples maak van klien dorpies " putsonderwater"...nooit geweet daar is so plekkie....mooi video 👌🏼
Dankie Bhupesh.
This a south african legend. Drove pass it once in the late 1990. Thanks for another great video.
Thanks Gerhard, I'm glad you enjoyed it, next up is a trip to the far north of the Kgalagadi at Union's End.
Do a video on Rietbron next time
I don't know of it, but will for sure find out, thanks for the idea.
If only I had the money, I would buy this place and restore it as a piece of history
I guess, but then it wouldn’t be abandoned any more, so my video would be redundant 😂
@@Kangela That would be sad. I have just discovered your vids and am so enjoying! Thank you.
@@annawitter5161 Thanks Anna, I'm glad you are enjoying the videos.
Love exploring these inhospitable and deserted towns from a bygone era. Thanks for the video.
There's really something special about places like this, and thanks for taking the time to comment.
Putsonderwater en gatsondersand😂😂😂
Jurre just make sure you take enough water when you get near to pitsonderwater
That's the truth, it's such a dry area most of the time.
No neighborhood watch in Putsonderwater, not worth the risk, I think that I will choose to live some place else!
I don’t think it’s needed, it’s miles away from anywhere. It’s actually on private land, the farm owner lives a couple of kilometres away.
@@Kangela yes I spoke with the young Lady a few months ago, I was interested in buying the town.
I grew up in that area. Don't remember anything happening there in early 2000s or the 90s for that matter.
Thanks for sharing Rene, I suspect that the downward spiral started some time before the last person left.
Hartseer oor iets wat gewerk het en nou is daar niks kan net dink hoe voel die wat daar gebly het en gelukkig was. 😢😢
I level in South Africa 🇿🇦
Ten minste weet ek dat daar wel so 'n plek in die Noord Kaap is🎉
Fantastic!!! Travel past that sign in the eighties, when the railroad still existed. The beautiful little towns with the very well kept stations were legendary. Unfortunately many doesn't exist anymore.
Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for contributing.
❤
Couldn't it be 'Puts onder water'?
I beleive there are a couple of versions, so ja, that is one of them I think.
Great video Mnr
Thank you.
Did know about the town, not really knowing where is was precisely, in the Kalahari or Northern Cape ...
On a road trip, May this year, i did purely by accident, ended up in Putsonderwater..
Not knowing that there was anybody living, I spotted a person in the door of the old General Dealer Building...
As I walked up to him, we immediately recognised each other...
Blackie Swart, "the Major of Putsonderwater!!!"
We used to work for the same firm 45 years ago, and haven't seen each other for 40 years...
What a surprise that was...
Thanks for the tea, Blackie...
It was good. 🙏🏻
Will I see you again, one day...?
That's an incredible story Alwyn, what a coincidence, thanks for sharing.