10 things to do in Beaufort West in the Karoo

​By Roxanne Reid
Too many people blow past Beaufort West on the N1 highway in a big hurry to get to Johannesburg or Cape Town. But we’ve long known the glories of this Karoo town in South Africa, thanks to our love for the Karoo National Park just 5km to the south. Next time, don't rush but make a stop and discover these 10 things to do in Beaufort West.

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1. Visit the Karoo National Park for your nature fix

My all-time favourite of the things to do in Beaufort West is to visit the Karoo National Park about 5km south of town. There’s so much to do here that you could easily stay for three or four days and not get to them all. Drive the spectacular Klipspringer Pass or one of the 4x4 trails, go on a game drive to see mammals like lion, mountain zebra, klipspringer, kudu and eland, look out for some of its 200 bird species, or walk the fascinating Fossil Trail to discover the Karoo’s ancient history. Find out more in my post 17 things to do in the Karoo National Park.

2. Drop in at the Tourism Info centre
Make your first stop in the town itself at the info centre at 59 Donkin Street (the main road that cuts through Beaufort West and spits you out again on the N1). The guys there are friendly and helpful and can point you in the direction of what to do in Beaufort West in your areas of interest. They have some pamphlets on attractions and places to stay in and around Beaufort West (as well as other parts of the Western Cape), and can give you a map of the heritage walk to see some of Beaufort West’s oldest and most important buildings (see point 5).

3. Take a journey into the past
There are three Beaufort West museums side by side on Donkin Street. They’re open on weekdays from 8:30 till 16:45. Start at the Old Town Hall where you’ll pay a small fee (R25 per person in October 2019) and get your ticket for all three. In 1837, Beaufort West became the first municipality in South Africa with its own Town Hall and this was it; note the attractive tower. 

Old Town Hall museum on the left, with the DR mission church to the right

​In a side room, browse old photos of Beaufort West, including one of a flood in Donkin Street in 1941 – very different from today where lack of water as a result of drought is an ongoing problem in the town. In the main hall there’s a collection of medical instruments, like the heart-lung machine that heart surgeon Chris Barnard – the first surgeon in the world to perform a heart transplant – brought back from the US and used in his transplant experiments in the late 1950s. You can also see an old anaesthesia machine and some aortal and mitral valves that he designed. There’s a vast collection of awards and gifts Barnard received from all over the world. Another side room has some information about his family that I found interesting. For instance, his father Adam was born in Knysna and had been a woodcutter till he turned to preaching and ended up in Beaufort West. Barnard Senior died in 1958, a month before Chris’s first transplant so never knew about his son’s success.

Your next stop is the Dutch Reformed Mission Church next door, where Chris Barnard’s father was the preacher. It was built in 1871 and today you can see displays with photos and information about Beaufort West’s forced removals of the 1960s. There’s also first-hand insight into the way of life of the coloured people back in those days, from weddings and funerals to Easter celebrations. Also, did you know that the first coloured hotel in South Africa opened in Beaufort West in 1958? Although today that would thankfully be unnecessary, back then it was thought to be quite a wonder.

DR mission church's parsonage, where heart surgeon Chris Barnard grew up

Your last stop is the Dutch Reformed Mission Pastorie (parsonage) next door to the church. This is where Chris Barnard was born and grew up. It’s still furnished like a private house, showing how the kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, sitting room and office might have looked back when he knew it. At the back is a collection of some carts and a horse-drawn hearse.
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4. Taste Karoo lamb
To be honest, this isn’t a town where you come to visit classy restaurants, although there are one or two places to eat, as well as the fast food stalwarts Wimpy and Spur. I can say, though, that if your Beaufort West accommodation offers meals, this is a great opportunity to try to the inimitable Karoo lamb. True Karoo lamb will be certified with the Karoo Meat of Origin seal of approval, which shows that it comes from animals that have grazed on veld with at least two of the six fragrant indigenous plants that give a unique flavour to the meat. These are: Ankerkaroo (Pentzia incana), Silverkaroo (Plinthus karrooicus), Skaapbossie (Pentzia spinescens), Kapokbossie (Eriocephalus ericoides), Rivierganna (Salsola glabrescens), and Perdebos (Pteronia glauca / Rosenia humilis). Sadly, ongoing drought in the area is making it harder and harder to get true Karoo lamb because the sheep have limited access to these plants.

5. Take a heritage walk 

The Sophy Gray Anglican church dates back to 1852

​Get a brochure and map from the Tourism Info centre (see point 2 above) and set off on a self-guided walking tour that includes some 20 notable buildings in Beaufort West. It starts at the museum complex (see point 3) and takes you to eight national heritage sites, four churches – like the Anglican Christ Church designed by Sophy Gray and built in 1852 – and some other old buildings. Although you can enjoy them from the outside, in general you can’t go inside because they’re privately owned. 

Pritchard House has an attractive corner tower

Clyde House was built in the second half of the 19th century

​The walk takes in the old jail (now police HQ), Pritchard House (1906) on the corner of Church and Donkin streets with its elaborate corner tower, and the double storey Georgian style Clyde House with its broekie lace decoration. 

Now the Matoppo Inn, this building was originally built for Beaufort West's first magistrate

In Bird Street you can see an early 19th century house built for the first magistrate, now the Matoppo Inn. Further down Bird Street is the Ellis Bicycle Shop, built in 1899 and still housing the same business. The building is almost unchanged today. 

111 Bird Street, one of the oldest buildings in town, may have once had a gable over the front door

We also stopped at 111 Bird Street, a house built in 1825 and one of the oldest buildings in Beaufort West. It’s now owned by the charming Mr Barendse who clocked us looking and invited us to see inside and some of the furniture that he’s restoring. How's that for small-town friendliness?
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6. Go on an olive tour

Visit Olive Grove Farm about 20km out of Beaufort West on the N12 to buy olives and olive oil grown and processed on the farm. During olive season, which is March to July, you can also take a tour to see olive picking and processing as well as do a tasting. Note that you need to book this ahead of time.

7. Star gazing
Wherever you find yourself at night in Beaufort West, don’t forget to gaze up and appreciate the night sky full of stars, constellations and planets. The dry Karoo air is your best friend when it comes to star gazing. Remember that the ideal places for star gazing are areas away from the light pollution of town, for instance on a farm or in the Karoo National Park (see point 1).

8. Visit the Spinwiel antique shop 

Pop in at the Spinwiel antique shop at 52 Donkin Street (diagonally opposite the Tourism Info centre). It’s still worth seeing for its collection of old furniture, glassware and porcelain, although sadly the Rousseaus who own it sold off their massive museum collection in 2018. There used to be a private village museum behind the shop, including small houses, petrol pumps, and street lamps, and a whole shop with hundreds of old tins. The small houses are still there but are somewhat forlorn now without the vast array of collectibles to breathe life into them.

9. Go hiking and mountain biking
If you need hiking and mountain biking to make your stay complete, look for farm stays around Beaufort West. For instance Olive Grove Farm (see point 7) offers some short walks and horse riding on the farm, but you need to book the horses in advance. Two other farms that offer walks and mountain biking for their guests include Lemoenfontein and The Vale Karoo Farm. If you’re staying at the Karoo National Park (see point 1), you can do a single track mountain bike route there.
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10. Stay over for a night or two 

Given all there is to do in the area, it makes sense to stay longer than just one night as you rush between Cape Town and Johannesburg on the N1. Rather slow down and explore. Although the Karoo National Park is my favourite Beaufort West accommodation because of its natural surroundings and wonderful mountain views (and there’s a campsite for those on a tight budget), there’s lots of choice in the area, from budget stays to luxury stays, B&B, self catering and fully catered guesthouses. With nearly 50 Beaufort West accommodation options to choose from, try booking.com to find the perfect fit to suit your lifestyle and budget.

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