Places To Go: Barberton
When visiting our city and staying at our luxury lodge in Mbombela, you are in the perfect location to do a bit of exploring! The places and small towns surrounding the city are filled with exciting things to do and things to see. Barberton is one of those small towns that you simply have to visit while you are enjoying a stay at Mbombela Lodge.
The Lowveld is for many a top tourist destination. Not only is the weather unbelievably welcoming but the atmosphere here is more laid back than you can expect to find in the far bigger cities. This part of the world is ideal for anyone wanting to indulge in some downtime and you’ll find plenty of relaxation here.
Of all the towns you can visit while staying at our Mbombela accommodation, a day spent in Barberton is a must.
A Trip Through Time
Barberton is one of the oldest towns in the Lowveld, in fact, it is older and, at one stage, was even far bigger than Mbombela. But the town is not as old as the land it sits on. The area is well known for having some of the oldest archaeological sites in the world. The Barberton Greenstone Belt, for example, is a fossilized zone which has some of the oldest geology ever discovered.
The town was first established by Fred and Henry Barber in 1884 when gold was discovered here. The town was officially christened Barberton on the 24th of July 1884 by the Gold Commissioner David Wilson. Instead of using a bottle of Champaign, which is traditional during a christening, a bottle of gin was used!
Barberton grew on the backs of prospectors and fortune seekers who were looking to find gold in the mountains. But the era of seeking wealth only lasted for a very short period as soon after this precious metal was discovered in Barberton, prospectors struck gold on the Witwatersrand and only the larger mines around Barberton remained in operation.
All of the early years of the town were driven by gold and soon afterwards farming became the other income generator. The town has seen plenty of history and even had a camp for soldiers during World War 2.
Things To Do In Modern Barberton
Today it is a bustling, ever-growing town, with plenty to do and see. If you are keen to explore the history of the town, you should visit the historical walk. This path will take you past all of the old historical homes, many of which are now museums, and other interesting places.
And then there are the various hiking trails in and around the area. From easy to moderate and difficult hikes, hiking in Barberton can take you up into the mountains. The nature you’ll find here makes the area one of the most beautiful places to explore.
