Activities

Nieuwoudtville’s History

The Khoi San inhabited this area for many centuries before the first settlers arrived around 1730.  The local rock art in Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve and on farms around Nieuwoudtville bears witness to an ancient culture that flourished here.  The early settlers established themselves close to the present town Nieuwoudtville at Groenrivier and Willemsrivier, where the first formal church building can still be seen.

When the town of Nieuwoudtville was founded in 1897, on land that was purchased from H.C. Nieuwoudt, after whom the town is named, the fine old buildings were fashioned from sandstone.  Many of these homes still exist today.

The Boer War broke out in 1899 and there is evidence of skirmishes throughout the region.  Local residents have colourful stories to tell of the war, passed down from their forefathers. In more recent times Nieuwoudtville has become a ‘Mecca‘ for botanists and flower lovers from around the world.  Our visitor’s books boast an impressive number of pilgrims from far and wide.

Besides our fauna and flora, Nieuwoudtville has fascinating historical sites with ruins that date back as far as the middle 1800’s.  Besides sheep- and wheat farming, Rooibos tea is indigenous to the Bokkeveld region and plays a major role in agriculture.