Barkley East

Barkley East is situated in the Eastern Cape just south of L

Barkley East is situated in the Eastern Cape just south of Lesotho on the Wild Coast.

Barkly East is one of the coldest places in South Africa. It is a popular stopover for skiers during winter when the southernmost spurs of the Drakensberg are covered with snow. In summer wild river trout fishing in the Langkloofspruit and other crystal clear streams is a very popular activity. This district is also known as the best in the country for partridge hunting. The area is renowned for it’s many unique caves, some big enough to shelter large numbers of sheep – and in one case even a bus. Snow from March to September. The town was named after Sir Henry Barkly, governor of the Cape Colony at the time (1874).

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Elliot 64 km, Lady Grey 74 km, Aliwal North 128 km, Queenstown 242 km

Altitude: 1850 m above sea level

Banks

Absa, Fnb, Standard (ATM)

Mountains

Southern Drakenberg, Witteberg

Rivers

Bell, Kraai

HISTORICAL VIEW

Anglo-Boer War Sites

Anglo-Boer War Graves – Barkly East Cemetery

Barkly East Museum

Exhibits on early forms of transportation, relics from the First and Second World Wars, memorabilia from the town’s history, furniture, farm implements and household items.

British Graves – Barkly East Cemetery

Dutch Reformed Church

125 years old (1998) Key available from the museum

‘Kitchener’s Horse’ - Barkly East Cemetery

Locomotive

A Class 19D steam locomotive can be seen in the town square

Loch Bridge (1893)

A few kilometers outside town

Old Mill (1895) – White Street

Old Royal Hotel

The meeting place of rebels during the Anglo-Boer War (1899 – 1902).

Reverse Railway Line

One of only two in the world, very close to Loch Bridge. This is regarded as a major engineering accomplishment because of the gradient (1:36). No less than eight reversing stations are required to negotiate the Kwaai River Gorge and the steep mountain sides.

Sauer Bridge

The old Sauer Bridge, situated over the Kraai River on the Lady Grey road, served the towns of Lady Grey and Barkly East for many years. It is one of the stone bridges erected in the time of Minister Paul Sauer, about 1881. the toll house was restored by Van Aardt Van Der Spuy and the Bridge Hotel was situated nearby.

Sarah Swart’s Historical Art Gallery

Situated on the farm Rosehill

San Rock Art

NATURE

Naude’s Nek

Natural Heritage Site

ATTRACTIONS

Arts & Crafts Arts & Crafts Workshop in Rhodes

Watch crafters in action. Situated on the farm Elibank. Hand painted tablecloths, wooden benches, etc

Beneti

Gift Shop, gifts for every occasion.

Cosmos - Gift Shop

Memories Art Gallery

Original paintings, pottery, rugs, candles

Sarah Swart’s Historical Art Gallery

Farm Rosehill (between Barkly East and Elliot)

Sinenjongo Cultural Crafts

Visit a cultural beadwork project. By appointment only

Balloch Garden Cottages

A number of spectacular San rock art sites can be visited

Mountain Shadows

Situated between Barkly East and Elliot

Tours

Rock painting & birding Tours, Rock Painting and Scenic Tours, Garden Tours, Walkerbouts Guided Tours, Nkululeko Township Tours

San Rock Art

Tally Ho Nursery

New England

A country nursery for all your roses, shrubs, trees and a wide variety of hardy plants indigenous and exotic

Tiffindell Ski Resort

South Africa’s only ski resort. Distance from: Bloemfontein 388 km, Cape Town 1146 km, Durban 639 km, East London 477 km, Johannesburg 788 km, Port Elizabeth 640 km

ACTIVITIES

4x4 Trail / Routes

There are a number of trails in the area, including Lundeans Nek, Bastervoetpad, Tiffindell and Naude’s Nek.

Bird Watching Barkly East Dam

Barkly Bird Walk & Waterfall

Greywing Shooting

Gateshead Lodge

Hiking Beenvlei Hiking Trail

Ben Macdhui Hiking Trail

Situated in the vicinity of the picturesque little town of Rhodes, 60 km from Barkly East

Burnbrae Mountain Hideaway

Mountain Shadows Hiking Trail

Situated between Barkly East and Elliot

Horse Riding

Gateshead Lodge

Mountain Biking / Cycling

Barkly East Cycling Club

Trout Fishing

The Langkloofspruit and many streams in the area offer excellent fly fishing. The Langkloofspruit runs through town. The Wild Trout Association offers the finest wild trout fishing water in the country with more than 350 km of running water and more than 180 ha of still water. Rainbow and brown trout, as well as indigenous yellowfish are found. Professional guides and fly fishing packages available.

Accommodation in and around Barkly East