Pilgrims Rest South Africa

Joan kept me very busy in one day visiting Sudwala caves, the dinosaur park, Lone Creek and MacMac Falls.

That night we planned to stay at Pilgrim’s Rest, a small town in Mpumalanga declared a National Monument in 1986.

The original architecture remains largely unchanged.

Pyrite in quartz

Pilgrim’s Rest was declared a gold field in 1873 soon after digger Alec “Wheelbarrow” Patterson had found gold deposits in Pilgrim’s Creek.

The valley proved to be rich in gold and by the end of the year, there where about 1500 diggers working in the area.

Towards the end of the 19th century claims were bought up and underground mining started by the Transvaal gold Minings Estates (TGME).

Wonder if anyone got confused?

Mining was active until 1971 when Beta Mine closed down and the village sold to the government as a national museum.

TGME opened again in 1999 and there is active gold mining in the hills around Pilgrim’s Rest.

Recognize anything here?

We got into town too late to explore the shops yet enjoyed the window displays.

And there was a wedding going on so no room at the Inn.

So we camped at Pilgrim’s Rest caravan park.

And enjoyed the sunset.

Then after breakfast…

…we wandered the streets…

…and shops…

…admiring the local wares before heading down the road for more adventures.