Barberton South Africa
The quaint town of Barberton is situated in the east of the Mpumalanga Province in South Africa and is within close proximity of the colourful mountainous Kingdom of Swaziland, the world famous Kruger National Park and neighbouring Mozambique.
Born out of the 1880’s gold rush and situated within an area known as the ‘Holy Grail of Geology’, Barberton is one of the most fascinating towns in South Africa and a classic country holiday destination .
History
Named after the early prospectors who first discovered a rich vein of gold in the area - Graham Barber and his two cousins - Barberton grew with astonishing speed following one of the biggest gold rushes in the world.
Rowdy gin palaces, canteens and bars soon sprung up in an area that attracted the flotsam and jetsam of the planet, including the reigning beauties of the day who made small fortunes auctioning themselves off each evening to the highest bidder!
Barberton was, for a brief period in history, South Africa’s equivalent of the Wild West and the Klondike of the Americas!
Although the Barberton boom was effectively all over by 1888, the Sheba Gold Mine remains one of the oldest and richest working gold mines in the world. All indications are it will still be in production for at least another 100 years!
Prehistory
Apart from its wealth of minerals, Barberton shot to prominence with the discovery of bacterial micro fossils reputed to be the first life forms on earth, dating back 3.2 billion years.
The mountains which embrace the little unimposing town are, in fact, the oldest in the world and provide evidence of the conditions of life on the surface of an early earth!
Nature Lover’s Paradise
The area around Barberton is a fine blend of thick indigenous forests, bushveld, savannah and crystal clear streams, creating the ideal environment for an abundance of wildlife.
With the Kruger National Park only an hour away and at least six game reserves within close proximity of the town, Barberton is a popular safari destination.
The malaria-free Nkomazi Game Reserve is a sought-after Big Five safari alternative ideal for a family holiday. It offers 5-star accommodation in luxurious tents and recently re-introduced cheetah as well as the first pride of lions to grace the Komati River Valley in virtually 200 years!
How to Book a Holiday in Barberton
A convenient way of sourcing comfortable Barberton accommodation as well as day tours of the Kruger National Park, Mozambique and Swaziland is online at e-southafrica.com. A live availability check, secure booking platform and detailed information on each featured property, together with recent photographs, enable a swift and sure holiday booking process.
Visit the site now to book a holiday in Barberton and other fine malaria-free safari destinations in South Africa!
