Beaufort West Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
town in the Western Cape, South Africa
About Beaufort West
Beaufort West was the first town to be established in the central Karoo. The town was founded in 1818 as "Beaufort" after Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort, who was the father of Lord Charles Henry Somerset, then governor of the Cape Colony. The town was renamed "Beaufort West" in 1869 to avoid confusion with Port Beaufort in the Western Cape and withFort Beaufortin the Eastern Cape. The town became prosperous with the introduction of Saxon Merino sheep. One of those who first farmed them, John Molteno, was a young Anglo-Italian immigrant who then founded the town's first bank in 1854 and went on to become the first Prime Minister of the Cape. Beaufort West became the first municipality in South Africa on 3 February 1837 and had the country's first town hall. When the railway reached th
Top Attractions in Beaufort West
Explore the best things to see and do in Beaufort West:
- ★Dutch Reformed Church
Beaufort West Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 10 sections including: