The Murraysburg district incorporates

Murraysburg - the Crafters' Mecca     and     Three Sisters

read on for details on what to see and do and where to stay

Murraysburg

History & interesting Tales

Accommodation

Murraysburg, across the plains, under the Sneeuberg Mountains, offers  tranquillity for environmentalists and eco-watchers

A typical old-world Great Karoo town, tiny Murraysburg was laid out in the lee of hills set in picturesque surroundings. It lies in a scenic mix of mountains and plains. Murraysburg appeals to outdoor enthusiasts and environmentalists. Once an active and flourishing farming town, the isolation and tranquillity of Murraysburg now intrigues tourists and draws the more adventurous from the busy highway to explore. City-dwellers, accustomed to compact living, are endlessly amazed by rambling old houses and enormous vegetable gardens watered from creaking windmills. The town’s wide, dusty streets and attractive Karoo cottages offer visitors many photographic opportunities.

Today the village is home to so many crafters that Country Life magazine dubbed Murraysburg the "Crafters Mecca of the Karoo." (Country Life Dec 2000)

The following crafters make, display and sell  their wares in Murraysburg:

Accommodation in Town

Self Contained private cottage - three double rooms Maximum 6 - Dinner on request. Owner: Elma Immelman

Farm Holiday opportunities

A variety of farms offer hunting / holidays and outdoor activities on a regular basis or by special arrangement

Spacious, elegantly furnished, farm house, filled with inherited antiques,  alongside R63 route to Graaff Reinet.  En-suite, comfortably furnished rooms  Braai facilities, horse riding;  one-day hike (overnight hut); Short walks and rambles. Self-catering Lodge on Vastrap.  Hunting on request. 

Hosts: Carel and Leslie van Heerden

Accommodation in original farmhouse.  Shepherd’s cottage for hikers, also mountain cave those seeking an unusual stayover. Mountain biking, bird watching;  game viewing, walks, hikes (two routes) 20 km hike moves into mountainous countryside with several natural pools for swimming and tree-lined kloofs for picnics - 5 km walk covers typical Karoo veld. There is a  Bossie Trail for plant enthusiasts. Stone kraals and picturesque veld scenes delight photographers and artists. Painting \ art weekends by special arrangement for small groups. Hunting on request. 

Hosts: Percy and Sarie Reynolds (organisers of The Sneeuberg Crawl Cycle Race.)

Small,  comfortably furnished cottage under a giant mulberry tree,  next to a river, features  wooden sundeck under a weeping willow tree. Gas and paraffin stoves and lamps provide rustic atmosphere.  Bird watching,  walks. tennis, cycling, swimming, Hunting on request.

Hosts: John and Judy Butterworth

Overnight in historic farmhouse or stay in beautiful,  picturesque log cabins in a shady dell, next to a natural fountain which  forms natural swimming pools  Basberg 4x4 Route passes interesting rock formations and offers excellent views across the Karoo.   The route is 24 km long and l600 metres above sea level.   It takes about four hours to complete and is a test of both driver and vehicle. There are many steep inclines and slopes to negotiate The route can be driven throughout the year, but summer, particularly late summer, is the best time. There are superb lookouts and picnic spots next to fountains. The overnight hut has hot and cold water and a flushing toilet - sleeps six    There is also a big  camping site shaded by huge trees.  Other activities include: abseiling, hikes, short walks,  rambles, table tennis, game drives, bird watching, rock art. Hunting on request.

Hosts: Flippie and Adri

Climb Toorberg, the magic mountain of Murraysburg, and from the top on a clear day see 18 districts in the Karoo and Eastern Cape. There is a Quenna shrine on this mountain.  Hunt partridges, watch birds or simply enjoy walks in the veld. Hunting on request.

Hosts:  Antonie and Theresa Troskie                                                          

Accommodation in fully-furnished old farmhouse. There are caves to explore, a large dam and canoe as well as a "kapkar" with horses or donkey carts for rides.  There are shady and secluded picnic spots in a large 5km poplar wood, walks, table tennis. Hunting on request.

Hosts:  Jannie and Alida Pienaar            

Specialise in trophy hunting  for international visitors and overseas market \ local tourists out of hunting season.

Hosts: Phil and Della van der Merwe

Accommodation in a comfortable fully-equipped farmhouse. Cleaning services and linen provided.  Meals provided on request. Horse riding lessons available, mountain biking,10 km hike / short walks / rambles, canoeing, swimming, fishing

Host: Peet de Klerk                                                                                                         

Accommodation in a guest house with three bathrooms  - large groups are welcome as there are sleeping facilities for 22 people.    This is the ideal stop over for families, research, adult education or veld study groups  Visit the magic fountain -  a perennial fountain which bubbles out of the ground and runs over rocks even in the severest drought.  The earliest indigenous dwellers considered it to be magic and its waters to be a powerful remedy against any ill. Other activities include: walks, rambles, birdwatching  

Host: Dorees Pienaar

Other farms in Murraysburg offering periodic activities

contact details

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Murraysburg's Tales and History 

EARLY SETTLERS

Even the earlier settlers in this part of the Karoo found it an isolated area. The first would-be settlers arrived in the mid-1700s. But these pioneers posed a great threat to the Bushmen’s way of life and they retaliated by making life so difficult for the newcomers that most left within a short time. Towards the end of the 18^th century, an effort was once again made to begin farming in this area, but it took until the mid-1800s before men were able to settle here. In 1835, the first descriptive farm names began to dot the map. Allemansfontein was granted to H S van der Merwe, Bokfontein to S W Vorster, Brakvallei to W A Van Heerden, Driehoeksfontein to P J Malherbe, Elandsfontein to I P van Heerden, Gabrielsbaken to J A Roos, Hartrebeesfontein to B J Van der Merwe, Houtkloof to C J Lubbe, Loskop to A B Burger, Mordantklassenskraal to P J Minaar, Phisatkraal to J C Swarts, Swavelkranz to S W Pienaar, Matjieskloof to A J Burger and Taaiboschfontein to the widow P Engelbrecht. Within just over a year Aaronskloof, De Kom, Alexanderkraal, Kruis, Poortjie, Misthoek, Stellenboschvlei, Voetpad, Waaihoek and Eenzaamhied were granted to farmers. Within 20 years, the latter was chosen as the ideal spot for a town. 

NAME HONOURS MAN OF GOD

The town was named after Andrew Murray, a Scottish minister of the Dutch Reformed Church and a man revered by the people of the Karoo. Writers of the time praised Andrew Murray for “playing a vital role in the establishment of moral and religious advancement in a howling wilderness.” He is said to have “laboured diligently and faithfully in his high vocation for 33 years to keep his flock on the paths of righteousness.” His son, also Andrew, became one of the church’s most prominent figures and his books enjoyed international fame. Barend J Burger, fondly known as “Oom Bêrend,” considered the father of the town, laboured almost as mightily in its interests as the Reverend Murray. Many attribute the ‘burg’ part of the town’s name to him. His “exertions” were said to have “given impetus to the progressive march of improvement and the establishment of life in the area” when Eenzaamheid was acquired by the church for £3 500. 

AMID PROGRESS CHURCH CLOCK BITES THE DUST

Once the church had finalised the purchase of Eenzaamheid, erven were marked out. It was then proclaimed that these would be sold by public auction. Interest was enormous. The town was situated in a water-rich, fertile and prosperous area. The day of the auction saw over 500 people vying for the properties. Within six hours, all the plots were sold for a total of £10 265. The church elders decided to use the income to build a church and parsonage. Other property owners started building almost immediately and, as one newspaper reported: “Judging from the number of masons and other tradesmen in the place the village will soon have a pleasant appearance.” Within a year the village was thriving. Thirty houses had been built, shops opened and the church consecrated. But the latter needed a clock tower. The churchwardens wrote to C van Grossick in Graaff Reinet informing him that as “a talented watchmaker” he was “the fortunate recipient to perform the stupendous undertaking of installing the clock.” Grossick rode into town with great aplomb, but a few metres from his destination a wheel on his carriage collapsed. Both Grossick and clock were flung into the dust. Onlookers stifled their mirth. It is said that the clock never worked properly. 

THE EARLY DWELLERS

The Bushmen hunter-gatherers were the first dwellers of this area. These lords of the plains have left a legacy of rock art that intrigues modern archaeologists. Good examples are found on several farms, but may now only be visited by appointment, since vandals have damaged many sites. One of these is a site near town simply known as Murraysburg Cave. The earliest report on its intriguing rock art was published in the Graaff Reinet Herald on December 8, 1860. It stated: “There are some curious Bushman paintings in red and black showing men and animals of various kinds, such as gnu or wildebeest. It may thus be inferred that at one time these animals grazed on the mountain slopes of the Sneeuwbergen.” 

UPRIGHT IN HIS GRAVE – ARTHRITIS AND ALL

Early in 1998, heavy rains washed away part of a riverbank on the farm Leeufontein and exposed the skeleton of a tiny man buried in a sitting position. Investigations by archaeologist David Morris of the McGregor Museum in Kimberley, revealed he was an early hunter-gatherer who probably once lived with a group at a nearby natural fountain. While researching this spot, David found a small cave with rock engravings and intriguing finger paintings on its walls. His investigations were taken a step further by a physical anthropologist Professor Alan Morris and a team of students from the Anatomy and Cell Biology Department at the University of Cape Town. During a practical field trip they excavated the skeleton, which was virtually complete. It was taken to the university for further in-depth analysis and carbon dating. “Our initial inspection showed that this was the skeleton of a very old man, riddled with arthritis,” said Professor Morris. “We hope to discover more about his lifestyle through further studies.” 

MAGIC FOUNTAIN NEVER FAILS

In this semi-desert region a perennial fountain on the farm Toorfontein bubbles out of the ground and runs over the rocks even in the severest drought. For this reason the early dwellers of the area considered it to be magic and it became known as the “toorfontein.” In time the farm developed around it and took the same name. To this day the magic fountain still delivers its cool, fresh waters, even on the hottest summer days, just like magic. Guests holidaying on the farm never fail to visit it. 

A BOER COMMANDO HAVEN

Murraysburg played a strange role as a Boer haven for the first six months of 190l during the guerrilla war phase of the Anglo-Boer War in the Cape Colony. “It all began when a Boer commando under Commandant Pieter Kritzinger defeated Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Grenfell’s column at Waterfall on the road to Skietkuil on

January 16,” says researcher Taffy Shearing. “Afterward, Captain Gideon Scheepers (as he then was) executed two black post office linesmen at Sekretariskraal. The Colonial Defence Force was then raised across the Colony in order to drive off the Boers and protect the towns.” However, each town was only garrisoned by troops from elsewhere if about 20 locals would volunteer to join the local town guard. Murraysburgers refused. “The magistrate, W van Rheede van Oudsthoorn, who should have taken the lead, was said to have been a coward. There were only 1 500 whites in town and district, which appeared fairly neutral as only 48 men actually became Cape Rebels. Without a garrison the Boer commandoes, principally those under Scheepers, had open access to the village and commandeered stores about 15 and 20 times between January and July, 1901. Scheepers controlled the town and refused to let schoolboys return to school in the Cape that year. At first Boers only looted the shops and were polite to the local people. Then their behaviour deteriorated. On June 14, Standard Bank manager Frank Lilford was beaten up and forced to hand over £120 in bank funds. By the end of June the shops were ransacked and empty.”

MURRAYSBURG IN FLAMES

Commandant Gideon Scheepers returned to Murraysburg from the Camdeboo on June 27. He told Van Oudtshoorn to inform the military unless they garrisoned Murraysburg within eight days he would burn down all public offices. The military had plans to surround Scheepers in the Camdeboo, so they ignored him. Only General Sir John French was keen to send in troops. On July 6, Scheepers and Lieutenant J Luyt rode into Murraysburg. By that afternoon the public office, post office, the chief constable’s office, Herbert Sharwood’s shop and Rose-Innes’s house were burning. “It is quite incomprehensible why Scheepers burned buildings in the one village where martial law was weak and from where he could obtain provisions,” says Taffy Shearing. She has researched and written a book on Gideon Scheepers as part of her Cape Commando Series. 

BOERS BURN A HANDSOME HOME

The Boers then threatened to burn down Vleiplaas, a beautiful farmhouse built in 1822. It belonged to Albertus Herholdt, Secretary for Agriculture in the Schreiner Government. The house, the pride of the district, had been built by the wealthy Burgher family. It has stinkwood beams and yellowwood ceilings. Herholdt had received warnings of the threat, but hoped the house would be saved. Rebels told him they had pleaded with Scheepers to leave it, and “he appeared to be listening.” Then, on July 8, Luyt and 25 men arrived, tore down the veranda and set the building alight. Murraysburgers stood on the koppies and watched the house burn from a distance. The villagers then scattered. Within a fortnight the village was deserted. Shops and houses stood empty. Only a few pensioners remained in the care of the local doctor. Dead horses lay rotting in the streets and a month later the stench was unbearable. In September 1901, Hendrik Veenstra, a Hollander was executed at Colesberg for high treason, marauding and arson, which involved the burning of Vleiplaas. A few months later, when Scheepers was tried at Graaff Reinet, the burning of Vleiplaas was one of the charges he acknowledged without admitting guilt. Others included the burning of Rose-Innes’s house, as well as Sharwood’s house and store.

BRAVE AND BELOVED DOCTOR BURIED AT SEA

During the Anglo-Boer War Murraysburg had a German doctor, an exceptional man, who treated Boer and Brit alike during 1901 and 1902. Details on Dr Heydenreich are vague and much research is currently being done to discover his first name or initial and in which house he lived. This brave doctor stayed on after the village was deserted to care for the elderly and those with nowhere to go. After the war, the townspeople acknowledged his actions at a dinner and paid his passage back to Germany for a holiday. He had an accident boarding the ship for the return voyage. It seems he slipped going up the gangplank and a metal splinter penetrated one of his arms. The wound turned septic and he died. The good doctor was buried at sea.

WARM WELCOME AWAITS THE TRAVELER

Murraysburg is ideally situated to cater for the needs of tourists using the R63 route to Port Elizabeth and the Eastern Cape, via Graaff Reinet. The town and farms in its district attract local tourists seeking to explore the Karoo as well as international eco-tourists and game hunters. Accommodation includes a small, traditional country hotel, guesthouses and a variety of farms where tourists can relax and enjoy the Great Karoo while doing their own catering, as well as venues that provide meals. The range ensures a venue to suit virtually every taste and pocket.

Click here for details

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The Three Sisters

A popular fuel and refreshment stop along the main N1 arterial highway which  takes its name from three clearly visible and almost identical dolerite-topped koppies.

There are two guest farms here and the Shell Ultra City complex

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Tel: 053 622 0022  Fax: 053 622 0023

Cell: 082 5715 942.          PO Box 1066, Beaufort West, 6970  

This working sheep farm is situated in the majestic Great Karoo, at the north-eastern end of the Nuweveld mountain range. The Hamman family has owned the farm since the 1830's, the existing farmhouse was built in 1881 and the guesthouse was established in 1990. The well-known Three Sisters mountains is on our property, and the surrounding area borrows the name from our farm.

We offer overnight accommodation in spacious, en-suite double and family rooms. Each has a private entrance onto a shaded  'stoep', ceiling fans, fitted heating and coffee\tea makings.   

Parking and walking are safe.   

Well behaved, leashed pets are allowed by prior arrangement - R20.00 per dog\horse. 

Supper: our famous Karoo-lamb Braai or Potjie in summer, or a delicious home-cooked meal in winter, and an English breakfast are available.  Braai facilities are available by arrangement.  Meals must be booked in advance.

The Three Sisters Guest Farm is well sign-posted and easy to find: near the N1\N12 junction, 1km off the N1-road, 100km south of Richmond and 76km north of Beaufort West.  We are approximately 8 hours from Johannesburg, 4 hours from Kimberley and 5 hours from Cape Town.

Enjoy our permanent art exhibition by Michelle Hamman, many of  the artworks are for sale.  

Self catering or bed and breakfast accommodation - Dinner and other meals at the farm stall

Hosts: Marietha and Callie Herholdt

Slightly Further North

Tel:  049 851 9213     Cell:  082 571 3663      Fax:  049 851 9099

e-mail:  karoo@telkomsa.net

First class overnight facilities on a safe Karoo farm, 500m from the N1, half way between Gauteng and Cape Town. 

The Karoo Guest House is renowned for warm, traditional hospitality and delicious farm style meals. Relax after a long journey in the tranquillity of a breath-taking garden or in the sunny lounge with a crackling fireplace. Meticulously maintained rooms and bathrooms await your arrival.

A delicious Karoo dinner can be served on request and our spacious dining room has an uninterrupted view of the garden. We serve a traditional farm breakfast.

Our tea garden serves delicious homemade farm produce with coffee, tea or rooibos tea.

Owner:  Mr Jan Claassen