Harrismith combines colonial charm with authentic South African culture. Handsome sandstone buildings line the streets of the town centre, some built in the British style and others with Boer influences. The Drakensberg Escarpment and Maluti Mountains soar over Harrismith and provide the perfect backdrop for outdoor adventures.
Things to do in Harrismith
Elegant 19th-century buildings line Warden Street, the town’s bustling main thoroughfare. Built in the early 1900s, the Harrismith Town Hall is a protected National Monument. It features a handsome facade built from red-brick and honey-coloured sandstone.
South African War battle sites dot the countryside surrounding Harrismith. Driving around the outskirts of the city, you’ll see battlegrounds where British and Boer soldiers clashed. The military cemetery remembers the soldiers who lost their lives in the war.
Make a splash with water sports on the Sterkfontein Dam. It’s one of the largest dams in South Africa and is a great place to sail, fish and enjoy a waterside picnic. Trails loop around the dam and offer a chance to spot grazing antelope and local birdlife.
Discover dramatic landscapes in Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The park is set in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains and will amaze you with its rugged sandstone cliffs. The 100-metre-tall Brandwag Rock towers over the grasslands and acquires a golden glow at sunset.
Harrismith is a great base to explore Royal Natal National Park, where you can discover some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in South Africa. A five-kilometre-long, 500-metre-high rock wall known as the Amphitheatre towers over the park. Use well-marked hiking trails to explore the park or saddle up and cover more distance on horseback.
Getting around Harrismith
Parts of Harrismith are pedestrian-friendly and easy to get around on foot. The town is in the Free State, a three-hour drive from Johannesburg and four hours from Durban. Rental cars are the best way to visit Harrismith and explore the region at your own pace. O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg is a three-hour drive away.