Take a Tour of Barberton

About Take a Tour of Barberton

Take a short day trip to Barberton for a cultural, natural and historical injection. This Mpumalanga town was founded in the Gold Rush, and still bears the marks of this incredibly exciting time in South Africa's rich history. Touring the town will reveal many little treasures and gems of your own; including museums, memorial buildings, statues and monuments.

There are four mines in Barberton that are still in use, and are impressively old (all over 100 years of age). These mines are called Agnes, Fairview, New Consort, and Sheba; and are fascinating to see and experience.

A tour of Barberton should definitely include an excursion on one of the many trails of the valleys and hills around it. These are home to some of the oldest sedimentary rock formations. In fact, these mountains are believed to be some 3.5 billion years old, making them some of the oldest on the planet. Seeing this and being in the presence of such history is awe-inspiring.

The Barberton Museum tells the fascinating tales of the prehistoric, ancient and modern history of this part of Mpumalanga. Displays and exhibitions are enthralling for the whole family.

From the Barberton Museum, take a stroll down Heritage Walk and visit the Barberton Steam Locomotive. This train ran the track between Barberton and Kaapmuiden from 1899 to 1971, when it was finally brought here for a well-deserved rest.

A tour of Barberton should also include a trip to Eureka City, a famous ghost town that is just seven kilometres outside the town. You'll need to get a permit to enter its eerie borders, which you can obtain in the town of Barberton itself.

Today, the wildness of the area continues to pervade the place with incredible beauty and surprises visitors with its unspoilt heady mix of indigenous riverine and mountain forest, savannah, bushveld and sharp, crystal streams.