King Williams Town is situated along the Banks of the Buffalo River at the foot of the Amathole Mountains in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Named after Britain’s King William IV, it was founded in 1826 and is part of the modern day municipality of Buffalo City.
In 1825 the Rev. John Brownlee established a mission station at Tsatsoe’s Kraal. At that time there was no white community in the area, but in 1835 the Governor of the Cape, Sir Benjamin D’Urban established the village of King Williams Town which would be the capital of the province Queen Adelaide. Then in 1936 the British Colonial Secretary Lord Glenenlg ordered that this province be handed back to the control of the African Tribes in the area, who destroyed the village. The village was re-established in 1847 by the Governor Sir Harry Smith. The Town prospered as a military, administrative and trading centre.
Today, along with Grahamstown, King Williams town is considered to be one of the most interesting towns in the area and is famed for its attractive stone buildings in some cases dating back to the frontier wars.
There are a number of places of cultural interest in King Williams Town and the biggest collection of mammals in Africa can be viewed at the Amathole museum. The celebrated botanical gardens are also well worth a visit.
During the apartheid era in South Africa, a lot of political unrest was felt in King Williams Town. Ginsberg township just outside King Williams town is where Steve Biko, who is considered as one of the major martyrs in the struggle against apartheid, was born and where he is buried.
Accommodation in King Williams Town and surrounding areas is plentiful and amply provided by B&B’s and Lodges.
Activities include water sports at the nearby Rooikrantz and Maden dams, fishing, golf, hiking and some lovely scenic drives.