Colesberg

Colesberg is surrounded by koppies (hills) and flanked by the towering Cole’s Kop.
When the sun slips to the horizon, painting the sky with brilliant hues, Cole’s Kop’s former name, Toverberg or Magic Mountain, seems more appropriate. It was so-named because it can be seen from a great distance, but for the approaching traveller it never seems to get any closer.
In 1814 Erasmus Smit established a mission station here in the hope of bringing peace to the volatile frontier area of the Cape Colony. A second mission station, Hepzibah, was built a few kilometres away and the two soon attracted 1,700 Khoisan.
This caused unease within the white farming community and they petitioned the Government about concerns for their safety. The Government decided to intervene and in 1818 the mission work was suspended.
In the 1820s a town was established and named after Sir Lowry Cole, then Cape Governor.
The Transvaal Republic’s President, Paul Kruger, born in Cradock (Eastern Cape) in 1825, is believed to have spent his formative years on the Vaalbank farm, falling in what was, by 1830, the frontier town of Colesberg.
Lekker Links
Google Map of Colesberg
Northern Cape Tourism Authority
Holiday in Kimberley & the Northern Cape Northern Cape province
Barkly West, Calvinia, Carnarvon, Colesberg, De Aar, Kimberley, Kuruman, Port Nolloth, Prieska, Springbok, Upington.
Paul Kruger
Augrabies Falls National Park
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Namakwa (Namaqua) National Park
Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
Tankwa Karoo National Park
Mokala National Park
The town of Colesberg is sheltered from the elements by a cluster of small hills and its atmosphere is one of yester-year.
Today, Colesberg is a traveller’s oasis on the main N1 route from Cape Town to Johannesburg, offering many attractive accommodation establishments.
There are a number of attractive examples of Victorian and Karoo architecture throughout the town as well as historical remnants of this former frontier town.
The dominant building in Colesberg is the impressive Dutch Reformed Church in the town centre, built in 1866.
In a sheep-farming area spread over half-a-million hectares, greater Colesberg breeds many of the country’s top Merinos. It is also renowned for producing high-quality racehorses.

Petrus Abrahams

Petrus Abrahams was born in the UK but moved to South Africa at the age of 15. He is a writer and journalist who has written for various publications, including The Guardian, The Independent, and The Times. He is also the author of two children’s books. When he does have a little bit of spare time he enjoys reading, gardening and spending time with his wife and two young children.

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