Places to Stay in Colesberg, Northern Cape, South Africa

Geography

This unique Karoo town is situated about halfway between Cape Town and Johannesburg on the N1, and is always a popular stopover for travellers en route. Colesberg is about 620km from Johannesburg and roughly 790km from Cape Town.

History

Colesberg can trace its origins to a London Missionary Society station founded in 1814 near Cole's Kop. This was closed four years later, due to the complaints of the white stock farmers that the mission was attracting too many San and Khoe people. This was perceived as a threat to the farmers' safety! Petitioning started four years later for a new town, and once the land had been sold, a Dutch Reformed Church was built on the site. The new village was named after Sir Lowry Cole, the Cape Governor of the time. But tough times returned during the years of the South African (Anglo-Boer) War, when a number of battles were fought in the area. Although it has a legacy as a rough frontier town, Colesberg has peacefully settled into what is today a prime centre of merino sheep farming and horse breeding.

Arts and Culture

The town has a number of provincial heritage sites, and is notable for its rare combination of architectural styles, ranging from typical Karoo to Cape Dutch, Victorian and Georgian. Some of these buildings include the stone Reformed and Dutch Reformed Churches, as well as the Anglican Christ Church built in 1845. Visitors can find interesting exhibits at the Kemper Museum, housed in the old Colesberg Bank, which contains the Karoo Nomad Photo Exhibition and an exhibit on the South African (Anglo-Boer) War. Also at the museum is evidence of the first diamond discovered in South Africa. The diamond was brought to Colesberg for assessment, and the magistrate scratched the letters DP onto a windowpane. The actual pane can be seen at the museum.

Science

At the Doornkloof Nature Reserve, lying on the banks of the Vanderkloof Dam at the confluence of the Orange and Seekoei rivers, visitors can enjoy spotting brown hyena, grey duiker, bat-eared fox, aardvark and aardwolf. Geologically interesting is Cole's Kop, standing at 1,706m and probably the most conspicuous landmark along the N1. It often served as a marker for early travellers who were venturing into the unknown hinterland.

Entertainment

Visitors can relax at the Vanderkloof Dam, and enjoy good birdwatching opportunities. A drive to the Gariep Dam, South Africa's largest reservoir, will prove to be interesting. Simply unwinding at one of the hotel pubs in town is yet another relaxing option.

Did You Know

One of the last horse mills still in working order can be seen in Bell Street.