Orkney, Southern Region
Orkney is a small town in the North West Province just outside Klerksdorp. It was established around, and known primarily for, its gold mining opportunities, and lies on the banks of the Vaal River. Although a relatively quiet (albeit growing) town, Orkney is convenient for its location, just about 180 kilometres from the bustling urban hub of Johannesburg and its international airport.
The town was proclaimed in 1940 on the Witkoppen farm. It was here that mining pioneer, Simon Fraser, had first started mining for gold in the 1880’s. He was originally from the Orkney Islands off the northern coast of Scotland, and named the town that developed after these. The town itself was laid out by another farmer, Maconachie, who used the names of British Isles’ authors for the names of the streets.
This was the site and namesake of a popular South African Afrikaans sitcom during the 1980’s and 1990’s, Orkney Snork Nie, which roughly to translates to “Orkney Never Sleeps”.
Local attractions in Orkney include the Bird Sanctuary (perched right on the banks of the Vaal River), the Likkewaan hiking trails, Orkney Vaal Resort (this resort is a perfect picnic venue, popular with anglers and water sports enthusiasts), the Vaal Reef Gold Mine and the Ground Nut Factory.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
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Huys Ten Bosch
Huys Ten Bosch offers comfortable accommodation in Potchefstroom for both business and leisure guests. Choose betwen three sleeper and four sleep...
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Acorn Lodge Guesthouse
Acorn Lodge offers the best value for your money. The guest house is located in Potchefstroom close to the University (NWU) and the shopping mall...
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Villa Gracia
Villa Gracia offers bed & breakfast accommodation in Klerksdorp in a beautiful environment and close to a Nature Reserve. All rooms have air cond...
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A Tapestry Garden Guest House
A Tapestry Garden Guest House is situated in Potchefstroom, 46 km from Klerksdorp. The guest house has a year round outdoor pool and barbecue and...
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Tristan's Place Guest House
Tristan's Place offers comfortable overnight or long-term guest accommodation in Klerksdorp, suitable for all business and leisure travellers. Le...
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Why Not Guest Chalets
Why Not Guest Chalets offer great accommodation in Bloemhof and is situated within the vicinity of many great fishing destinations and birding op...
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Eagles @ Peacock House
Eagles is a self catering home located at the Peacock House guest house in Stilfontein in the North West Province. The home is privately situated...
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Adato Guest House
This charming home, provides a friendly warm atmosphere. The comfortable, stylish accommodation in Potchefstroom ideal for business and leisure ...
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Feather Hill Boutique Hotel
Feather Hill Boutique Hotel is a piece of heaven offering accommodation in Potchefstroom in the heart of the North West Province. Only one and a ...
Noteworthy attractions
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Barberspan Bird Sanctuary
Regarded as one of the largest waterfowl sanctuaries in Southern Africa, Barberspan Bird Sanctuary is a huge 2000 hectare body of water that is R...
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Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve
Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve lies on the North West province side of the Bloemhof Dam, on the dam’s northern shores. Regarded as one of the larges...
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Boskop Dam Nature Reserve
The Boskop Dam Nature Reserve is 3000 hectares of rolling grasslands that offer visitors sightings of black wildebeest, springbok, red hartebeest...
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SA Lombard Nature Reserve
One of the earliest wildlife conservation research centres in the country, the SA Lombard Nature Reserve is the park credited with saving the bla...
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Wolwespruit Nature Reserve
The Wolwespruit Nature Reserve lies on the Vaal River and is one of the least known of the parks in the North West province, possibly because of ...
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Orkney Golf Club
Orkney Golf Course is a tree-linked parkland course with undulating greens. It has thirty-one bunkers and five water features as well as the Vaal...
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Potchefstroom Golf Club
Set in beautiful surroundings, with hundreds of willow trees lining the banks of the Mooi River which winds through the property, Potchefstroom G...
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Klerksdorp Museum
Located in Margarieta Prinsloo & Lombaard Street, the Klerksdorp museum also offers Peach Mampoer & Soet Blits liqueurs. A former prison this bea...
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Faan Meintjies Nature Reserve
For bird enthusiasts the Faan Meintjies Nature Reserve often forms part of a bird spotting tour and is regarded as a place for ‘serious’ birding....
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