Barkly East
Encyclopedia
Barkly East is a town in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
, seat of the Ukhahlamba District Municipality
, and 80 miles by rail E.S.E. of Aliwal North
, lying in the mountainous area just south of Lesotho
. The town lies at the southern tip of the Drakensberg
on the Langkloofspruit, a tributary of the Kraai River
which, in turn is a tributary of the Orange River
at an elevation of 5831 feet (1,777.3 m). Barkly East is characterized by rugged mountains and green valleys. Snow falls in winter, and the hamlet of Rhodes
is 60 km or an hour's drive from Barkly East on the R396. Both are within the boundaries of the Senqu Municipality. It has been one of the few areas in South Africa where winter sports are pursued, and in summer fly fishing for trout and indigenous smallmouth yellowfish, trail running, mountain biking, ancient rock-art, tennis and the magnificent scenery draw tourists to the district. A more recent development is the mountainous terrain attracting off-road bikers who revel in traversing the numerous passes in the area. Even more recent is the opening of the winter fly fishing season on Wild Trout Association waters around Barkly East, Lady Grey, Rhodes and Wartrail.
Xhosa
and Sesotho (the language of the Basotho, or Sotho) is spoken by most of the people, while English and Afrikaans are also spoken. The primary economic base of the district is sheep-farming, the pasturage being excellent.
from 1870-1877. In 14 December 1874 the then-Governor, Sir Henry Barkly proclaimed that a town could split from Wodehouse
.
Among the first families that settled in Barkly East were the Nels, Bothas,
Oliviers, Murrays, Smits, Sephtons, Giddys, Isteds, Orpens, Nortons, Greyvensteins, Stapelbergs, Vorters and the Jouberts and the Cloete of Constantia. But it was a Mr HS Nel who was the first person that settled in this area.
The area is well-known for excellent trout fishing. A variety of caves contain rock paintings by the San
that date back hundreds of years, and visitors interested in San art stay at cottages on local farms.
(Cwb, according to the Köppen climate classification
), with mild summers and chilly, dry winters, with occasional snow
falls. It borders on a cold semi-arid climate (BSk). The average annual precipitation is 567 mm (22 in), with most rainfall occurring mainly during summer.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, seat of the Ukhahlamba District Municipality
Ukhahlamba District Municipality
Joe Gqabi is one of the 7 districts of Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The seat of Joe Gqabi is Barkly East. The majority of its 341 337 people speak IsiXhosa . The district code is DC14...
, and 80 miles by rail E.S.E. of Aliwal North
Aliwal North
Aliwal North is a town in central South Africa on the Orange River, Eastern Cape Province. Aliwal North is the seat of the Maletswai Local Municipality which falls within the Ukhahlamba District Municipality....
, lying in the mountainous area just south of Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
. The town lies at the southern tip of the Drakensberg
Drakensberg
The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising to in height. In Zulu, it is referred to as uKhahlamba , and in Sesotho as Maluti...
on the Langkloofspruit, a tributary of the Kraai River
Kraai River
Kraai River is a tributary of the Orange River which flows near Barkly East, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The river originates to the south of Lesotho and flows westward, where it joins the Orange near Aliwal North.- See also :...
which, in turn is a tributary of the Orange River
Orange River
The Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean...
at an elevation of 5831 feet (1,777.3 m). Barkly East is characterized by rugged mountains and green valleys. Snow falls in winter, and the hamlet of Rhodes
Rhodes, Eastern Cape
Rhodes is a hamlet or small village alongside the trout rich Bell River, near Ben Macdhui in the Drakensberg mountains of the north Eastern Cape, South Africa.- History :...
is 60 km or an hour's drive from Barkly East on the R396. Both are within the boundaries of the Senqu Municipality. It has been one of the few areas in South Africa where winter sports are pursued, and in summer fly fishing for trout and indigenous smallmouth yellowfish, trail running, mountain biking, ancient rock-art, tennis and the magnificent scenery draw tourists to the district. A more recent development is the mountainous terrain attracting off-road bikers who revel in traversing the numerous passes in the area. Even more recent is the opening of the winter fly fishing season on Wild Trout Association waters around Barkly East, Lady Grey, Rhodes and Wartrail.
Xhosa
Xhosa language
Xhosa is one of the official languages of South Africa. Xhosa is spoken by approximately 7.9 million people, or about 18% of the South African population. Like most Bantu languages, Xhosa is a tonal language, that is, the same sequence of consonants and vowels can have different meanings when said...
and Sesotho (the language of the Basotho, or Sotho) is spoken by most of the people, while English and Afrikaans are also spoken. The primary economic base of the district is sheep-farming, the pasturage being excellent.
History
Like Barkly West, the town is named after Sir Henry Barkly, governor of the Cape ColonyCape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
from 1870-1877. In 14 December 1874 the then-Governor, Sir Henry Barkly proclaimed that a town could split from Wodehouse
Wodehouse
Wodehouse is an English surname and may refer to:* Sir Armine Wodehouse, 5th Baronet , MP for Norfolk* Armine Wodehouse , MP for Saffron Walden, descendant of the above...
.
Among the first families that settled in Barkly East were the Nels, Bothas,
Oliviers, Murrays, Smits, Sephtons, Giddys, Isteds, Orpens, Nortons, Greyvensteins, Stapelbergs, Vorters and the Jouberts and the Cloete of Constantia. But it was a Mr HS Nel who was the first person that settled in this area.
The area is well-known for excellent trout fishing. A variety of caves contain rock paintings by the San
Bushmen
The indigenous people of Southern Africa, whose territory spans most areas of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, are variously referred to as Bushmen, San, Sho, Barwa, Kung, or Khwe...
that date back hundreds of years, and visitors interested in San art stay at cottages on local farms.
The Cloete-Joubert Hospital
The hospital in Barkly East is a monument for Mr. Piet Joubert by his wife who was a Cloete and daughter of one of the wealthiest cattle farmer in South Africa, CWP Cloete of Glen Almond. The Joubert couple had no children, and after her death she intended to donate her money to a hospital. But Mr. Greyvenstien, who was her lawyer, persuaded her to keep the Cloete money in the area. As such, a small hospital was planned. The total cost of the hospital was £100 000 of which £80 000 came from the Joubert couple. The hospital was opened by the minister Sauer and by Dollie Cloete (the grand-daughter of CWP Cloete by his first wife).Climate
Barkly East has a subtropical highland climateOceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...
(Cwb, according to the Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
), with mild summers and chilly, dry winters, with occasional snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
falls. It borders on a cold semi-arid climate (BSk). The average annual precipitation is 567 mm (22 in), with most rainfall occurring mainly during summer.