| karooinfo.com |
HOW TO GET THERE (GPS: 32 21S 22 35E) Situated on the N1 National Road about 450km from Cape Town HISTORY The first inhabitants of the area were mostly outlaws. Even the Cape Government banished people there. Then, in 1818 a town was established on the farm Hooyvlakte at the request of Lord Charles Somerset, then governor at the Cape. His aim was to establish and maintain law and order in the hinterland. By 1837 it was the first South African town to get its own Municipality. Relics of the Anglo Boer war include a British Block House and graves of British and Boer soldiers. One of the towns famous sons was heart transplant pioneer, Dr Chris Barnard. ORIGINS OF THE NAME Lord Charles Somerset, governor at the Cape from 1814 to 1826 arranged for the town to be named in honour of his father, the fifth Duke of Beaufort. POPULATION 15,000 PLACES OF INTEREST Christiaan Barnard Museum Karoo National Park WHAT TO DO AND SEE Karoo National Park Farm Holidays Hunting Walking Trails 4x4 routes ACCOMMODATION TOURISM OFFICE Tel: 023 415 1488 Fax: 023 415 1487 NEIGHBOURING TOWNS Laingsburg 198km LeeuGamka 75km Prince Albert Road 114km Prince Albert 159km Richmond 183km Murraysburg 122km Aberdeen 155km Oudtshoorn 179km 
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