Vryburg

Vryburg is an agricultural town of 21,000 people (2011) in North West Province. The town today is an industrial and agricultural hub. Its modern architecture blends naturally with its surroundings and the well-preserved old buildings are carefully maintained.

Vryburg town hall

From 1882 to 1885, Vryburg was capital of the Boer Republic of Stellaland.

Vryburg is South Africa's largest beef-producing district, with Bonsmara cattle the most popular. It is sometimes called "the Texas of South Africa". Maize and peanuts are important crops produced in the district. The town hosts South Africa's third largest agricultural show.

The town is halfway between Kimberley (the capital of the Northern Cape Province) and Mahikeng (the capital of the North West Province).

It is on the main railway line from Cape Town to Botswana and Zimbabwe.

• 🌍 Vryburg Airport (VRU ). A private airport with no scheduled service. (updated Apr 2021)

• 🌍 Leon Taljaard Nature Reserve (entrance to reserve on north side of N14 just southeast of town). 08:00-17:00 daily. Little bit underwhelming of a game reserve compared to others, but has populations of springbuck, waterbuck, eland, buffalo, wildabeest, rhino, and ostrich. Terrain is mostly flat veld at around 1195 m. At the entrance, there is a small museum called the Vryburg museum with exhibits pertaining to the area. (updated Aug 2020)
• 🌍 Graveyard Concentration Camp. A pinnacle to commemorate lives who were lost at the British concentration camp for Boers during the Second Boer War. (updated Aug 2020)

• 🌍 Game View Lodge, 32 Sable St, ☏ +27 84 020 2844. This place is interesting because you can watch game on the game reserve from their deck, behind an electric fence. It also has a pool and bar and boma braai (fire pit), along with comfortable rooms. R 845. (updated Aug 2020)