Delareyville

Delareyville, Central Region

This historical town in the vast North West Province has a rich history that is deeply rooted in South African culture. It was founded in 1913, after the tragedies of the Anglo-Boer War, and was named after General Koos De la Rey. Today, it continues to be an important hub for farming and for the production of salt.

The little town of Delareyville and the surrounding farms are occupied by fewer than 2 000 permanent residents. The area is an integral part of South African agriculture. Here, sorghum, groundnuts, maize and sunflowers are the main crops. The farming of cattle and sheep is also common here. The community's farming methods are progressive, keeping Delareyville amongst those in the forefront of the South African agriculture industry. The salt pans, with their iconic pink colouration, are a hotspot for flamingos. These elegant pink birds gather in their hordes to feed on the salty little snacks in the pan's waters.

Delareyville boasts a number of tourist attractions in and around the town centre. These include:

• The Dutch Reformed Church – this is a national monument, perched on the main street.
• A round of golf at the Delareyville Golf Club.
• Facilities for playing tennis, bowls, and netball.
• Barberspan Nature Reserve – just 15 kilometres from the town, this is a stunning spot to enjoy excellent bird-watching and fishing, as well as boating.
• The Henk Joubert Game Reserve – home to a number of antelope species (including kudu and springbok), as well as ostrich and zebra.
• The Rooiwal Monument – this is dedicated to some of the burghers who died during the Anglo-Boer War.
• Gestoptefontein – an old house with plenty of historical import.
• An Olympic-sized swimming pool for visitors that want to keep active (and cool).

Delareyville is less than 100 kilometres south-west of Lichtenburg, and just over 80 kilometres north-east of Vryburg. It takes about 3.5 hours by car from Johannesburg and its international airport to this agricultural hub.