Location

In the east-central part of North West province.

This mining centre was the scene of one of country's earliest and most frenetic gold rushes. The boom began in 1885, lasted a bare year and, overnight, changed the little village - the oldest white settlement north of the Vaal: it had been founded in 1837 - into a flourishing diggers' camp of iron shanties, more than 200 stores, 70 drinking dens and a lively stock exchange. The easily accessible gold deposits were soon depleted and most of the fortune-seekers left town, but recovery techniques improved over the years to the point where the big companies could move in to exploit the deeper and more difficult (and very substantial) reserves of gold and platinum. It's now a substantial, bustling place that claims status as the 'City of People' and offers all the visitor amenities - among them several hotels, guest-houses, self-catering establishments and B&Bs.

Klerksdorp is at the centre of a busy mining region that includes Orkney, location for a onetime, hugely popular local TV sit-com, and Stilfontein.

Highlights

Klerksdorp Museum

Displays feature historical, cultural, archaeological and geological exhibits. The handsome sandstone building once served as the local prison.

Tours are available (on request) of the Klerksdorp, Stilfontein and Vaal Reef mines. The latter is South Africa's largest gold workings. Nineteenth-century shafts can be seen on Goudkoppie. The old (1888) stock exchange building still stands.

Some fine examples can be viewed on a hill at Bosworth, 18 kilometres north of Klerksdorp. The origins of these intriguing artefacts are a bit of a mystery, though it's thought they date from about 17,000 years ago.

This fairly large stretch of open plain and sandy ridge, about 10 kilometres from Klerksdorp, is a very well stocked sanctuary. It is also home to white rhino, buffalo, giraffe, eland, sable and a variety of other antelope. The wildlife thrives, and some of the herds have to be culled from time to time, which provides hunters with opportunities for their sport. Bird life comprises around 130 different species. A small rest-camp (self-catering units) has been established, and a game-viewing drive laid out.

Nearest towns

Potchefstroom is on the N12 to the east, beyond which are the western outskirts of Johannesburg. Lichtenburg lies to the north (take the R47).

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KLERKSDORP

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PROVINCES

Western Cape
Gauteng
Eastern Cape
Free State
Kwazulu Natal
Mpumalanga
Northern Cape
Northern
North West