Laingsburg - Karoo - Cape Town Travel Guide - South Africa
Laingsburg is situated 280km from Cape Town in the hot and dry Karoo land. It has its origins in the mid-1700s. Farmers established themselves along the banks of the Buffels River. In 1776 a very bad drought in the Laingsburg area forced farmers to leave their farms. The wild animals also moved away in search of water elsewhere. Ironically, 200 years later the same district would suffer massive floods.
Stephanus Greeff is considered to be the father of Laingsburg. He played a central role in the establishment of the village, and even built a church at his own expense. His home was always open to travellers passing through Laingsburg. In 1862, Greeff initially owned the farm "Zoute Vlakte". This farm had clean drinking water. He acquired Fischkuil in 1879 with the intention of establishing a settlement.
The settlement was called Fischkuil, then renamed Buffels River. With the establishment of the railway, the name was then changed to Nassau so as not to be confused with the Buffalo River in East London. Thereafter it was called Laings Town in honour of John Laing who had decided to move a servitude and thus create the town. Jokes about the pronunciation of the word “town” pronounced as “toon” by the Afrikaans speaking people resulted in the change to burg instead of town. “Toon” means “toe” in Afrikaans.
On January 25, 1981, Laingsburg suffered a massive flood, in which 104 people lost their lives and only 21 houses were left standing. Today you can see the highwater marks which are indicated on lamp posts and in the Dutch Reformed Church, which was one of the few buildings that remained standing. The railway station, post office, DRC Mission, Lutheran Mission Churches, and the Magistrates Court and a few private residences also remained standing, although quite badly damaged. Today, the beautiful stone Dutch Reformed Church in Laingsburg is a national monument.
The local library has an archive of photographs and newspaper articles as well as a videotape of the flood. The Voortrekker monument was washed away, but it was rebuilt once all the blocks were recovered.
The Library Hall also houses the Wolfaardt Collection, which comprises items from the Bushmen, The Great Trek, and the Anglo-Boer War, such as weapons, musical instruments, prehistoric carvings, cupping corns, household items and farm utensils. The collection was put together by J B Wolfaardt, who was secretary to the School Board for 20 years.
Laingsburg’s economy is mainly driven by farming, which comprises mainly meat, wool, mohair, fruit and seed cultivation. Proteas from the Witteberge are also grown for export. Another income-producing aspect for Laingsburg is its geological significance. A single band of white quartz-like stone runs between Matjiesfontein and Laingsburg and on into the Eastern Cape. It is believed that the Bushmen used chips of this hard rock for axe heads. This area is also rich in both marine and terrestrial fossils. There is even evidence of glaciers dating back to the time when the Karoo was a swamp. At the farm, Geelbeksbrug which is located, next to the Anglo-Boer War Blockhouse, a geological walk has been laid out. One can view rock formations.
The Blockhouse, which was declared a National Monument in 1965, was built by the British in 1901 to guard the bridge over the Geelbek River. Three other blockhouses in the vicinity were built to guard the bridges over the Dwyka River at Ketting and Dwyka stations. The two blockhouses at Dwyka station, are referred to as "the twin towers of the Dwyka" by Denys Reitz in his book "On Commando". In the poem "Bridge Guard in the Karoo", Rudyard Kipling refers to the blockhouse at Ketting station.
Activities in and around Laingsburg
Laingsburg offers many trails which are within a short drive from the town. A two-day pony trail, or walks through the fynbos, as well as caving and abseiling are possible within the Anysberg Nature Reserve. The Floriskraal dam, 20-km south of town, has facilities for water sports and angling. The famous 80-km Karoo Marathon normally held in September, passes through beautiful scenery.
Hiking trails and walks
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24-km Klipkraal hiking trail along the Swartberg,
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16-km Verlorenhoek Trail,
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six-hour Buffelsriverspoort and Swartberg Trail
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Besemfontein Trail
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Hike from the Elandsberg and Swartberg and walk into Gamkaskloof, The Hell, from Rietvlei and Paddavlei farms.
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Hike through the scenic Seweweekspoort Birders hike, at Kraankop farm,
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Visit a protea farm in the nearby Witteberg Mountains
Beaufort West - Matjiesfontein - Oudtshoorn - Swartberg Pass - Calitzdorp - Ladismith - Laingsburg - Prince Albert
