Laingsburg, Karoo | A small Karoo village, Laingsburg lies at the confluence of two rivers in one of the driest parts of the country

Cape Town, Western Cape

Deutsch: Kapstadt Sehenswürdigkeiten

Western Cape Accommodation Ť

Karoo Accommodation Ť

western cape garden route eastern cape kwazulu natal mpumalanga gauteng limpopo north west free state northern cape | namibia | botswana

LAINGSBURG - KAROO

You are here:

Western Cape ť Destinations ť Little Karoo ť Laingsburg

Laingsburg, Central Karoo:
A small, modern Karoo village, Laingsburg lies at the confluence of two rivers in one of the driest parts of the country, 280 km from Cape Town just off the N1 highway that travels through the Great Karoo. Despite its aridness, Laingsburg is well known for the freak flood that devastated the town in late January 1989. In a matter of hours the entire town was under water with only the roofs of houses visible. The traumatic event was due to an abnormal rainfall in the catchments of both the Buffels and Baviaans Rivers that come together in the town, claiming 104 lives and leaving only 21 buildings standing.

Today high water marks line lamp posts and the Dutch Reformed Church, one of the few remaining buildings, to serve as a reminder, and the local library has a collection of photographs and press cuttings covering the disaster.

Laingsburg, initially called Buffelsrivier (Buffalo River), is considered something of a geological wonderland. Running alongside its main road are layers of fossilised mudstone and a yellow bank of volcanic ash purportedly blown across from South America 250 million years ago. There is also a distinguishing white quartz band that runs between Matjiesfontein and Laingsburg and on into the Eastern Cape, indicating continental drift - a similar layer is found in South America.

There is now a geological walk on the farm Geelbeksbrug 12 km north of Laingsburg to cater for the growing interest in the geology of the area. Known as the Blockhouse Route, because of its proximity to the Anglo-Boer War Blockhouse, the route takes in a number of fascinating rock formations.

The area also caters extensively for outdoor enthusiasts. There are a number of hiking trails, including the 24 km Klipkraal route along the crest of the Swartberg and the 16 km Verlorenhoek trail as well as a hike designed specially for bird fanatics at Kraankop farm.

Then there’s the annual 80 km Karoo Marathon, which passes through some of the most beautiful parts of the area and is regarded as a rather gruelling ultra marathon. There are several easy mountain bike trails and a two-day guided horse trail.

Overnight at Laingsburg Accommodation | Laingsburg Hotels

Also see Karoo accommodation or find Karoo Hotels.

Anysberg Nature Reserve

Anysberg Nature Reserve: The Anysberg Nature Reserve is only 75 km from Laingsburg en route to Ladismith, established in 1988 to conserve the local veld type. The reserve is now 62 500 ha and includes a number of buck, the endangered Cape mountain zebra, black-backed jackal and caracal as well as over 180 bird species.

Ť Western Cape Nature Reserves | South Africa Game Reserves ť

Select Area ť Cape Town Attractions • Cape Town and Peninsula • Cape West Coast
Cape Overberg • Cape Whale Coast • Swartland • Cape Helderberg • Klein Karoo
Cape Agulhas • Breede River Valley • Olifants River Valley • Cape Winelands • Cape Flats
Garden Route • Cape Town Beaches • Cape Town Shopping • The V&A Waterfront
Cape Nature Reserves • Cape Point • Kirstenbosch • Robben Island • Table Mountain
Atlantic Seaboard • Constantia Valley • Blaauwberg • Cape Wine Routes • Route 62
Northern Suburbs • Southern Suburbs • Cape Town City Bowl • False Bay Coast

General Information / Western Cape
Information for Tourists and Visitors
ť Tourist Attractions and Destinations
Cape Town Hotels
Cape Town Accommodation
Western Cape Search by Map
Cape Town Search by Map
Cape Town Guest Houses
Cape Town Bed and Breakfast
Cape Town Self Catering
- Cape Town Holiday Houses
- Cape Town Apartments
- Cottages and Chalets
Game Reserves and Lodges
Accommodation by Special Category
Cape Town Health Resorts and Spas
Search by TGCSA Star Grading
Special Accommodation Offers
Conference Venues and Services
Cape Town Weddings
Honeymoon Venues and Destinations
Package Tours, Day Trips and Guides
Transport and Travel Arrangements
Golf Courses, Tours and Lodges
Backpackers Tours and Lodges
Cape Town Maps
Venues by Alphabetised List
Cape Town Annual Events
Urlaub in Kapstadt

ť Photographs Š South Africa Tourism Ť

ť Karoo Hotels
ť Karoo Guest Houses
ť Karoo Bed & Breakfast
ť Karoo Self Catering

South Africa Accommodation & Travel Network of Web Sites brought to you by and Š SA-Venues.com and Suedafrika-Reise.net

Laingsburg, Karoo | Small Karoo village, Laingsburg lies at the confluence of two rivers in one of the driest parts of the country

South Africa Accommodation • South Africa Travel • South Africa Hotels • Südafrika Reise • Südafrika • Travel Resources
Karoo Accommodation • South Africa 2010 • Advertise • Contact • Sitemap • Credits • Copyright • Disclaimer