Barberton 1

The picturesque and quaint town of Barberton is situated in the De Kaap valley basin of Mpumalanga province (Eastern Transvaal). Barberton is one of the seven flagship regions for tourism in the country. It is free of malaria and is encircled by the beautiful Makhonjwa Mountains, which is on the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The town has a rich and interesting history. First, gold was discovered in 1883 by “French Bob” Auguste Roberts, which resulted in others prospecting in the mountains and valleys of the area. Then, in 1884 Fred and Barry Barber and their cousin Graham Barber discovered a gold reef in the area that literally sparkled with the gold deposits. This resulted in a gold rush so large that before long, a variety of shacks, stores, and canteens could be seen in the area.

The town,  named after the Barbers, grew with astonishing speed, with two stock exchanges trading around the clock and stores, Canteens, liquor stores, and Music Halls, all enjoying rich profits.  In 1898 a richer gold vein was discovered on the Witwatersrand, which ended the Barberton Gold Rush. Today gold is still mined in the area of Barberton and lays claim to some of the richest gold and silver deposits in the world.

It is not only mining that Barberton is known for.  In 1884 the Barberton daisy was discovered by Robert Jameson, after whom it was named “Gerbera Jamesonii.” The well-known classic “Jock of the Bushveld” was written by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, who, for some time, was a resident of Barberton, and today a bronze statue of “Jock of the Bushveld” stands in front of the Barberton Town Hall. A frieze of “Jock of the Bushveld can be viewed in the lounge of the Impala hotel.

Activities in Barberton and surrounding areas are interesting and varied.  Visitors can participate in 4×4 adventure trails into the surrounding mountains; visit the Kruger National Park, which is not far away; and have easy access to Swaziland and Mozambique and many other activities like mountain biking, horse riding, quad bike trails, and microlight flying.

Tourists can pay a visit to the Mountainland Ghost Town of Eureka City or experience Gold Panning. In the town of Barberton, there are museums, old buildings, and many other sites of interest. Accommodation is plentiful to serve all tastes and pockets.