Beaufort West, Transport hub in Western Cape, South Africa
The settlement stands as the largest town in the Great Karoo region, positioned along the N1 highway connecting Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Founded in 1818 and named after Henry Somerset, the town became South Africa's first municipality in 1837, marking a milestone in local governance.
The Christian Barnard Museum honors the achievements of the town's native son who performed the first successful human heart transplant in medical history.
The town contains numerous accommodation options, from guesthouses to self-catering units, making it a convenient stopover point for travelers crossing the Karoo.
In 1849, the town witnessed one of the largest recorded mammal migrations when vast herds of springbok passed through the surrounding Karoo landscape.
Location: Beaufort West Local Municipality
Inception: 1818
Elevation above the sea: 650 m
Shares border with: Loxton
GPS coordinates: -32.35000,22.58333
Latest update: May 27, 2025 09:52
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