Small town at the foot of the southern Drakensberg in the Eastern Cape. Offering something for every outdoor enthusiast - hiking, rafting, mountain biking to skiing in winter.
Nestled between the picturesque mountains of the Southern Drakensberg, between Lady Grey and Elliot in the North Eastern Cape, this small town has a lot to offer the passing tourist or holiday-maker.
Barkly East is named after Sir Henry Barkly, Governor of the Cape Colony from 1870 to 1877 and is a small village located on the banks of the Cacadu River. The village is one of the highest in South Africa, at 1777m above sea level.
All types of accommodation are available in town and the surrounding farms, from camping and self-catering cottages to en-suite fully-catered guest houses.
Activities * Hiking
* Visit Tiffindell Ski Resort (just under 80Km from Barkly East) where you can experience skiing or snowboarding on real snow between May and August.
* Enjoy swimming in natural pools and discovering waterfalls in the many streams and rivers in the area
* Horse riding
* Bird watching - birding in this area of the Southern Drakensberg is superb with over 230 species recorded.
* 4x4 Trails - the area is outstanding for the 4x4 enthusiast and there are suitable trails for all levels of driver.
* Naude’s Nek is the highest pass in South Africa and provides challenging driving and stunning views. Other great trails include Joubert’s Pass (the 3rd highest pass in South Africa) and Lundean’s Nek which takes you through the former Transkei to the Lesotho Telebridge Border post.
* Fishing - the surrounding area has over 200kms of rivers filled with wild trout and Barkly East is a centre for trout fising. Besides trout, yellow fish is abundant in the municipal dam.
* San rock art - there are many unique and interesting Rock Art sites in the region.
* Mountain biking - mountain bike tracks abound in this farming district.
* Barkly East museum - exhibits the cultural history of the town.
* Golf (9 holes)
