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Harrismith Information Guide

Harrismith is a small, charming country town, founded in 1849, but discovered by tourists only recently. Visitors remark on its cleanliness, and the friendliness of its inhabitants. Harrismith is the ideal destination to break a long trip, hold a conference or escape from the stresses of city living and recharge batteries in tranquil surroundings and excellent facilities. Indulge in open air hobbies like birding, biking, 4x4, hiking, climbing, golfing, history, water sport and lots more. The town is well known for its factory shops, gardens (both domestic and wild flower gardens), golf course (the oldest in South Africa) and links with the South African War, with close by battle sites, blockhouses and a military cemetery.

The town named in his honour is now an important crossroads in South Africa’s land trade routes. Harrismith is conveniently situated midway between Gauteng and KwaZulu- Natal, making it an ideal stopover. Excellent facilities provide the perfect mixture of tranquility and beauty to efficiently recharge your batteries. With game farms and water sport at the nearby Sterkfontein Dam, the leisure options in this picturesque town are endless. Harrismith is a gateway to the Drakensberg Mountains, and whether you choose to stroll through it’s foothills, or enjoy a drive along the various spectacular mountain routes, you will find the magnificent scenery unforgettable.
Harrismith is the centre of one of the five wool producing districts in Southern Africa. It was established in 1849 and was named after the glamorous and hard riding British Governor, Sir Harry Smith. Unfortunately, the first location for Harrismith proved to be deficient in water and the town was moved to the present site, in January 1850. During the diamond rush at Kimberly, the town became a busy staging post on the Natal transport route and hotels, stores and public buildings sprang up. In 1892 the railway from Natal to Harrismith opened but due to politics, did not go any further for several years.
A major base during the Anglo Boer War, Harrismith has progressed since then to a delightful, spacious town, with several handsome churches and public buildings. The Platberg is the location for the annual Berg Marathon, one of the most prestigious cross-country running events in Southern Africa. The race began when a Boer War Major referred to the Platberg mountain as “That little hill of yours”. One of the locals took exception and challenged him to reach the top in under an hour. Major Belcher accepted and won easily and donated a floating trophy to the first person to reach the top in a race every year. It now covers several peaks in the area. Harrismith is among the best places in the eastern state to stock up on provision for outdoor adventures, including steaks; the town is the capital of the country's top red-meat producing region.