Swartberg

Swartberg is a tiny village in the East Griqualand Region in the extreme south west of KwaZulu-Natal between the towns of Kokstad and Underberg. It mainly serves the local farming community and is a gathering place for sport and recreation. The local stock auctions also take place here. Because it lies in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains the major attractions in the area are related to the mountainous environment.

Local farmers built the Thule Rustlers Route in 1997 to enable them to track stock thieves. The pass rises some 2500m and is today used as a challenging 4X4 trail. The views over Griqualand from the top of the pass are quite spectacular. The route is about 13km from the Lesotho border and should take about an hour and a half to two hours to complete.

The East Griqualand Information Office is just outside the village on the road to Underberg. Visit the office to gain some insight into this remote area. Accommodation in the area is largely on the surrounding farms. The area is often blanketed in snow during winter but in summer the hiking trails through luxuriant grasslands and wild flowers with many rock pools can be particularly rewarding.