Tarkastad

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Geography and HIstory

Tarkastad is a typical Karoo town on the banks of the Tarka River in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Tarkastad lies North of the dramatic Winterberg Mountains, between Cradock and Queenstown.

Tarkastad is on a plain to the North of the Winterberg mountain range. The name Tarkastad is believed to come from the Khoi-Khoi word Traka (meaning women) or the Celtic word Tarka (meaning otter) and the Afrikaans word Stad (meaning city).

Tarkastad was established in 1862 as a church centre and became a municipality in 1864. Elands River Poort, a mountain pass located in the Karoo, 24 km to the NNW of Tarkastad, where the Battle of Elands River (1901) was fought during the Second Boer War. The grave of Lt. Sheridan, cousin of Winston Churchill, who was killed in the Battle of Elands River can be found on the Modderfontein farm just outside of Tarkastad.

Activities

San rock paintings can be seen in the area. The Tarkastad rock engravings, on a farm called Grootvlei just north of Tarkastad, have received quite a bit of attention and are an example of the San rock paintings that draw people to the area.

If you are interested in Grey wing shooting or trout fishing this is your ideal venue. The property has a lovely sandstone homestead surrounded by a 100ha game fenced camp stocked with a variety of game.

The Winterberg Mountains offer many hiking trails, particularly the Toorberg, a 3-day 45km circular hike that is graded as difficult and there is the Great Winterberg hiking trail.

Other activities in and around the little Karoo town include the Mountain Zebra National Park and the Tsolwana Game Reserve, which lies between Queenstown and Tarkastad with some good game viewing.