I am sure many you have wondered why a town in the greater Karoo is called Middelburg? This Karoo town is surrounded by beautiful mountains, and is an ideal base from where to explore the Karoo, which is halfway between Johannesburg and Cape Town, as well as half way between Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth. The R56 route serves as a gateway between the Western Cape & Kwazulu Natal Provinces, and is also the shortest route between these provinces, plus it has all the roads from Colesberg, Steynsburg, Cradock, Graaff-Reinet and Richmond all leading into the Main Street of Middelburg, thus the name of Middelburg, Eastern Cape.

The area is recognized for its herbal plant life that grows naturally in the fields. The story of prehistoric animals is told by fossils and Middelburg is one of the few, and best places, in the world where fossil life has been discovered. San Rock Art in caves from the first known human inhabitants, the San Bushmen can also be found in the area. One of the best Stone Age collections in South Africa is to be found in the Middelburg Museum.

Another reason why Middelburg attracts tourists, is the interesting history of this town which was established in 1852 as a church town on the banks of the Little Brak River on the farm Driefontein. Historic places and Monuments tell the story of living back in time and can be visited by prior arrangement for some of them. Middelburg is also an Eco Adventure Mecca with Hiking trails, Horse riding, Quad bikes, 4x4 Routes, White water tubing and Rafting, Clay pigeon shooting, Archery, Abseiling and Bird and Game viewing.

Accommodation, Guest Houses, B&B’s, Caravan and Camping facilities plus Self-catering Units, plus excellent local cuisine can be enjoyed at the local Restaurants and Coffee Shops.

Middelburg also has a Cultural History Museum which contains fascinating memorabilia and relevant information from the Anglo Boer War, and also conserves information of the war hero Bob Southey, DFC who flew the first Harvard to South Africa, and aviation artist Tiro Vorster, plus links to Olive Schreiner can be seen in the Museum, for she was married in Middelburg.