Colesberg, Upper Karoo
Immerse yourself in the utter tranquillity of the Karoo when you stay overnight in Colesberg, where the pace is slower and the magic of the South African experience can be savoured.
This quiet Karoo town which serves a thriving horse and sheep stud district, has retained a few interesting reminders of the past. When visiting Colesberg, make a point of visiting the old horse-driven mill pub, the quaint Cape Karoo cottages in Bell Street and the Kemper Museum, which includes a section on the Anglo-Boer War.
The Karoo is famous for its wide open spaces and healthy climate. Colesberg has a rich history closely linked with to the legendary characters of South Africa's diamond industry. John O'Reiley, who purchased the first diamond found in South Africa from its owner, Schalk van Niekerk, and took it to Colesberg for testing. It was used to scratch "DP", the initials of Draper and Plewman, a store which still exists, on the shop's window. Once the stone passed this test. it was sent to Dr Guybourne Atherstone, a well-known geologist. He confirmed it was a diamond and so started The Diamond Rush.
Colesberg lies in typical Karoo veld and is surrounded by koppies (little hills). The most famous is Coleskop, which can be seen from a distance of over 40km. Early travellers called it "Towerberg" ("Magic Mountain"). Exploring these koppies in the area is an archaeological delight. These reveal stone-age artefacts and other interesting fragments of the past. Those who enjoy the Great Outdoors of the Great Karoo will also enjoy studying the fauna and flora of the veld around the town. Other Attractions in Colesberg include The Karoo Ostrich Farm, Doornkloof Nature Reserve.
Colesberg has several national monuments, one of which is the Colesberg-Kemper Museum. A fine example of 19th century Karoo architecture, it originally was the Colesberg Bank and later the Standard Bank. It now houses fascinating relics of the town's rich tapestry of history.
This museum started in 1924 when G L Kemper donated his collection of artefacts to the municipality. It has grown into a valuable local cultural history museum. Among its exhibits is a collection of fossils dating back to the first reptiles which inhabited this area and a permanent photographic display, compiled by UNISA, on the Karoo Nomads - (the donkey ‘karretjie' people).
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Hotels & other accommodation options
Ebenezer Guesthouse
Ebenezer Guesthouse offers accommodation in Colesburg and is the perfect stopover half-way between Johannesburg and Cape Town. Located 700m from ...
Spes Bona Guesthouse
Located in the Upper Karoo town of Colesberg, Spes Bona has been in operation and welcoming guests for the last 15 years. Spes Bona Guesthouse ha...
La Vida Guest House
La Vida Guest House offers comfortable guest accommodation in Colesberg. The guest house is an ideal spot for an overnight stopover for business ...
19 On D'Urban Row
Located in Colesberg, a popular stopover town for those travelling between the major cities of Joburg and Cape Town, this holiday home offers a p...
Chargo Boutique Lodge
Chargo Game Reserve and Lodge is a property with high hospitality standards that will leave you with a mesmerising experience, our home cooked me...
Traveller's Joy
Traveller's Joy offers comfortable accommodation in Colesberg. From here you are within walking distance of a number of restaurants and cafes. Al...
Tzamenkomst River Lodge
Tzamenkomst River Lodge is a highly desirable premium hospitality destination that offers restful accommodation in spectacular surroundings. The ...
Big Sky Ranch
Big Sky Ranch Guesthouse in Kokstad is located on a thoroughbred racehorse stud farm in Colesberg. The guesthouse offers bed and breakfast accomm...
Honeylocust
Honeylocust offersmodern, luxury accommodation in the historic town of Colesberg in the Upper-Karoo. Perfectly situated just off the N1 highway, ...
Crane Cottage Guesthouse
Situated in the Upper Karoo town of Colesberg, Crane Cottage offers both self catering and bed and breakfast accommodation. Offering large en-sui...
Wolwefontein Lodge
Wolwefontein Lodge is a spacious, four bedroom guesthouse on the farm Wolwefontein, situated 30km outside Colesberg on the N9 between Colesberg a...
Die Kleipot Guesthouse
Located in Colesberg, Die Kleipot is a friendly guesthouse ideally situated between Johannesburg and Cape Town on the N1 highway. The guesthouse ...
De Vuur Guesthouse
Situated in Colesberg, De Vuur Guesthouse offers room only accommodation. The guesthouse has three rustic-styled rooms, each of which is equipped...
Colesview Guest House
Situated in the town of Colesberg, an oasis in the Karoo, Colesview Guest House is conveniently located in the upper part of town, just one kilom...
Horse and Mill Guesthouse
The Horse and Mill is a perfect stop-over between Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg and Durban. It is situated in the centre of Colesberg, ...
The Barracks
The comfortable and spacious double rooms all have private access, have their own bathrooms (each with a bath and separate shower) and private pa...
The Lighthouse Guesthouse
The Lighthouse 'Regional Finalist in the 2012 AA Quality Assured Accommodation Awards' offers you, luxury, reasonably priced overnight accommodat...
Kuilfontein Stables and Paddocks
The delightful old stable block has been converted into comfortable accommodation, decorated in French Provencal style. Charm, history and conven...
Things to do in the area
Explore the Doornkloof Reserve
On the south-eastern banks of the Vanderkloof Dam, the 9 388 hectare Doornkloof Nature Reserve is home to kudu, eland, brown hyena, mountain Reed...
Colesberg-Kemper Museum
The charm-filled Colesberg-Kemper Museum celebrates this small town in the Northern Cape Province by effectively combining its historical import ...
Horse & Mill Pub & Restaurant
The Horse and Mill English style Pub and Restaurant is a beautifully restored Coach House with a real Horse Mill inside. It was built in 1840. Th...
Bordeaux Coffee Shop & Restaurant
Bordeaux Coffee Shop & Restaurant in Colesberg offers an authentic Karoo lifestyle and gastronomic experience. The Restaurant occupies the spacio...
Sea Cow River Restaurant
Set amongst the haunting beauty of the Karoo, the folk over at Sea Cow River Restaurant at New Holme Karoo Guestfarm certainly know how to dazzle...
Walking Tour of Colesberg
Do a walking tour of Colesberg and learn about the history of this delightful Karoo town. Many of Colesberg’s original buildings are fine example...
Die Kleipot Restaurant
With home grown veggies and fresh local produce, Die Kleipot has a winning combination for and exciting and varied menu. There are often specials...
Transkaroo Hiking Trail
Start: farm near the village of Noupoort, 40 km from Colesberg Finish: back at the farm; the hike is circularDuration: 3 days, 42 kmFitness: mode...
Noteworthy attractions
Karoo Gariep Conservancy
Karoo is a “quenna” word meaning “dry and hard”. Gariep is also a “quenna” word meaning “big water”or river. The Karoo Gariep Concervancy is foun...
Tankwa Karoo National Park
The 80 000 hectare Tankwa Karoo National Park, proclaimed in 1986 and still in a development stage, is at present in a veld recovery phase and it...
Gariep Dam Nature Reserve
The Free State's largest nature reserve is a combination of the 36 487 ha Gariep Dam on the Orange River and an 11 237 ha game sanctuary on its n...
Akkerendam Nature Reserve
Akkerdam Nature Reserve lies just outside the little town of Calvinia, which is found at the foot of the Hantam Mountain (mountain of the red bul...
Rolfontein Nature Reserve
Situated in the upper Karoo where an infinite sky and horizon seem to go on without end, the Rolfontein Nature Reserve is found roughly 16 kilome...
Doornkloof Nature Reserve
Lying peacefully in the mountainous upper Karoo of the Northern Cape, just outside the little town of Colesberg, Doornkloof Nature Reserve is pos...
Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve
Just 10 kilometres outside of the little town of Nieuwoudtville, between the towns of Van Rhynsdorp and Calvinia, lies the Oorlogskloof (war gorg...
Hantam National Botanical Garden
Established in 2007, the Hantam National Botanical Garden lies on the Bokkeveld Plateau just outside the town of Nieuwoudtville. It is regarded a...
Molteno Pass
Said to be South Africa's first mountain pass, Molteno Pass links Beaufort West to Loxton, in effect joining the oldest town in the area to the N...
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