Beaufort West

At the heart of the Great Karoo and cradled by the Swartberg Mountains lies Beaufort West, known as the Place of Pioneers. It boasts a heritage stretching back centuries, adorned with ancient Stone Age sites and Bushmen rock art and famed for its fossil treasures. The town's red railway bridge, watched over by an Anglo-Boer War blockhouse, stands as a testament to its past, crafted from the very stones of the Karoo. Yet, beyond its storied past, Beaufort West beckons with a wealth of activities, from eco-tourism adventures to mountain hikes and rugged 4x4 trails. And in homage to its most illustrious native, Professor Christiaan Barnard, the local museum proudly showcases his groundbreaking achievements.