Adventure and Sport.

Mountain biking and cycling are popular in and around the town and there are several competitive events held here annually (check the Events Calendar).

 

Paragliding from Lone Tree Hill above the town is increasingly popular, most of the pilots being week-enders from Gauteng, just four hours away.

 

 

 

 

The National Paragliding Championship is held here periodically and its a glorious sight to see dozens of chutes, like so many multicoloured up-side-down smiles, circling gracefully above the mountains.

 

 

The topography of the region is extremely rugged and exploration of our local roads-less-travelled is ideally done with a 4x4. An example is to visit the ruins of the once famous Eureka City on a nearby hilltop. Self drive exploration is popular, though several organised tours are available, as are quad-bike safaris. With some planning the careful driver can get to some spectacular spots, even with a sedan (ask for route advice at the Information Centre). The scenery is superb, hiking and birding a delight. The area has the second highest number of endemic plants after the Cape fynbos, making it a joy for the well informed nature lover.

 

 

 

There are organised tours to sections of the old mines in the area. African Pioneer Mining’s Tiger Trap Mine is also accessible to wheelchairs. Gold-panning can be experienced, which gives a taste of the hand-to-mouth existence of the pioneer gold-hunters.

 

The “oldest gold” jewellery workshop, the Umjindi Jewellery Project, is worth a visit. This venture trains underprivileged students the art of jewellery design and manufacture and offers its award winning jewellery for sale.

 

Geology, one of the major draw-cards of the area, is not well catered for visitors but the active Barberton Mountainland Geological Society have pamphlets on the local geological heritage, the Bulembu Road Geotrail, the Fortuna Tunnel Trail, and Geology of the Kaapsehoop Trail. For more information contact the Barberton Mountainlands Geological Society (see Geology).

 

The De Kaap Valley, one of the largest “enclosed” valleys in South Africa, had a history of lethal horse sickness in the old days. Veterinary science has long had this problem licked and several establishments offer horse-riding to visitors. Micro-light flights are also available, flights over the valley providing spectacular views of our rugged and beautiful surroundings.

 

For the school holidays there is a centre that specialises in holidays for children. For sports enthusiasts there are tennis and squash courts, an active bowls club and the golf course is very popular. Archery is a new addition to our sporting menu – and what about gold-panning? It is now a championship sport, so why not try your hand? For the gung-types Barberton has brilliant birding, glorious walks and scenery to soothe the soul.

Come and rediscover yourself.