| Location: South Africa » Northern Cape » Karoo » Williston Situated on the banks of the Sak River, close to a strong flowing natural spring, the town was founded as a Rhenish Mission station in 1845 by the Rev JH Lutz, following a request by the Baster community who tried to make a living west of the Karee Mountains by trekking from fountain to fountain in search of water and grazing for their livestock. The first two missionaries to serve here, Rev JH Lutz and FW Reinecke, at first camped next to the spring with it’s wild almond trees. The settlement thus became known as ‘Amandelboom’ (almond tree). The name of the village was changed to Williston in 1883, after Col Hampden Willis, Colonial Secretary at the time. The first white trekboere arrived in the area from 1860, prompting the Basters to move further north – many of them eventually crossed the Orange River, accompanied by the Rev JCF Heidemann, and settled at the present day Rehoboth in Central Namibia. The first Dutch Reformed church was built in 1878. Today Williston is the principal town in a large wool and karakul farming district. Wheat is also grown under irrigation. The town, with it’s also grown under irrigation. The town, with it’s abundance of trees, closely resembles an oasis, thanks to the work of a local school teacher who started a massive tree planting project in 1930. GENERAL INFORMATION How to get there Brandvlei 127 km, Britstown (N12) 288 km, Calvinia 150 km, Cape Town 540 km, Carnarvon 135 km, De Aar 340 km Frasersburg 93 km, Hanover (N1) 409 km, Kenhardt 275 km, Pretoria 1200 km, Vanwyksvlei 207 km Altitude: 1000 m above sea level Average Rainfall: 150 mm per annum Average Temperatures Summer 23°c – 33°c; Winter 6°c – 16°c Banks: Standard (ATM) Mountains – Karee Rivers – Sak HISTORICAL VIEW Corbelled Houses Several of these dwelling in the area have been declared national monuments. Some are more than 200 years old and are open to the public. An excellent example is on the farm Arbeidersfontein. Dutch Reformed Church One of only 11 sandstone churches remaining in the country and has been declared a National Monument. Museum The museum houses the fossil remains of a mesosaurus, found in the district and estimated to be 240 million years old San Rock Paintings ATTRACTIONS Annual Events Mission Festival – September Tombstone Route Excellent gravestones created by craftsmen, using handmade tools. Homecrafts – Spinning, weaving and pottery Sheep shearing and soap making ACTIVITIES Bird Watching on the farms Dagbreek and Walkraal Hunting – Zakfontein Accommodation in and around Warmbad (Bela Bela) Sondela Nature Reserve accommodation in Warmbad (Bela Bela)
Sondela Nature Reserve in Limpopo is one of South Africa's most popular inland holiday resorts. This private game reserve offers a selection of quality holiday accommodation - from 4-star graded self-catering chalets, a caravan park and ten... More
Directory of accommodation in Warmbad (Bela Bela) | 
