About Warrenton

Warrenton, Diamond Fields

Warrenton is principally an agricultural town, almost halfway between Kimberley in the south and Vryburg to the north. Just north east of Warrenton is the little town of Christiana and then Bloemhof Dam.

In June 2013 newspapers published stories of the 'disaster drought' around Warrenton in the Northern Cape. Not even two years previously Warrenton and the surrounding towns were the site of heavy summer rainfalls - bad enough to cause severe damage to crops.

This part of the Northern Cape is harsh. Given to extreme temperatures it might be but Warrenton lies on the south bank of the Vaal River and just downstream of the Vaalharts Dam. Farming is thus its major commerce. The N12 passes through Warrenton, and the N18 – the national road to Mafikeng and Botswana – begins here. As such Warrenton is an important town.

It's history lies in diamonds with their discovery in the area in 1888. Warrenton played a pivotal role in the area's economy until the mines closed in 1926. Now it serves as a major commercial centre for the surrounding farms and as an important railway interchange on the Cape-Zimbabwe / Cape-Gauteng lines.

When in town visit the Old Sluice and waterwheel, look out for the character-rich, historical buildings in town, the beautiful old steam locomotive outside the FNB, and unusual succulents – like the Albinica (Lithops lesliei).