Griekwastad is one of the small rural towns in the Green Kalahari that offer travellers a welcome stop along the way. At the same time, specific places and names provide insight into Griqua history. So if you are looking for a holiday apartment in Griekwastad, the first question is whether you would like to combine a rural stop with a cultural and historical focus.

Place name and building history

In 1813, the town was named Griquatown; Reverend John Campbell is associated with the renaming. The building that houses the Mary Moffat Museum dates from around 1826 and was formerly used as a mission church. The two details relate to different parts of the history: the naming of the town and the former use of a specific building. The town's history can therefore be explored both through the development of its name and through the function of a historic building.

The Mary Moffat Museum is also associated with a pulpit used by Moffat, Waterboer and David Livingstone. It is described as a national monument. The pulpit adds an object with its own historical associations to the museum's building history. Alongside the building's former use, the names of the people who used the pulpit are also significant.

Water Street: Institution and events

The first Griqua council chamber is located on Water Street in Griekwastad. The tree from which Andries Waterboer had criminals hanged also stands on the same street. These two points have different historical functions: the council chamber refers to a Griqua institution, while the tree recalls a specific event under Waterboer. The town's history is therefore connected both to an institutional perspective and to the memory of a practice ordered by Waterboer. The shared street name makes Water Street a clear geographical reference point, while the different subjects remain distinct.

Andries Waterboer and the cannons

Andries Waterboer's grave also has its own historical designation: it is flanked by two cannons. Queen Victoria donated the cannons; their names are “old Niklaas” and “old Grietjie”. These details give the grave a history distinct from that of Water Street. There, Waterboer is associated with the tree and the executions; at the grave, the focus is on the donation and the names of the two guns. This allows Waterboer's historical associations to be considered separately: one relates to events involving executions, the other to his grave and the two named cannons.

Is Griekwastad right for your trip?

When choosing a place, you can consider two questions separately: Are you looking for a rural stop during a trip, or do you want to choose a place with Griqua history as the main focus of your stay? Griekwastad combines both aspects in its character: the stop makes it a travel destination, while its historical associations give your stay a specific cultural focus. So when looking for a holiday apartment, the decision starts with whether Griekwastad is right for your trip. The topics mentioned can help you assess whether the town's character matches your own interests.

Discover more destinations: Carnarvon, Hanover Road, Britstown, Noupoort, Douglas, Victoria West, Constantia, De Aar

For the main travel overview: Pixley Ka Seme.