Pilgrims Rest

Situated on the magnificent Panorama Route in Mpumalanga, Pilgrim’s Rest is one of the most historical towns in South Africa with it’s romantic gold-mining history.

The history dates back to 1873 when Alec Patterson packed up his personal belongings to search for gold in the Pilgrim’s Creek. He and another gold-digger, William Trafford, discovered gold here, sparking South Africa’s first major gold rush. Within a year Pilgrim’s Rest became South Africa’s first large gold-mining town.

The town is said to be called Pilgrim’s Rest, because after many long years of failed attempts at finding gold, gold-digging pilgrims finally had a home and could make a successful living in Pilgrim’s Rest.

Although the town is no longer a gold-mining mecca, it lies preserved in its entirety from its gold-mining days. Visit the historical Royal Hotel, the Digging’s Museum, the Miner’s House and the Reduction Works, all of which have become museums to preserve the town’s history and which have made the town into a popular tourist destination today.

Getting there: from Gauteng, take the N4 going East into Mpumalanga. Turn off at the R539 which joins the R37 going towards Sabie. Just before Sabie, take the R532 and continue through Sabie on this road. At the T-Junction just before Graskop, turn left onto the R533 and follow the road to Pilgrim’s Rest.