Aberdeen is a small town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This Karoo town was established as a mission station in 1855, on the settler farm Brakkefontein.
Aberdeen in the Karoo was named after Aberdeen in Scotland, the birthplace of Reverend Andrew Murray, who was a Dutch Reformed Church dominee (minister) in the nearby town of Graaff-Reinet.
Aberdeen is home to a diverse collection of people, including some world-famous artists and writers. The people living in this historical town are often described as colourful, talented and good-natured.
Aberdeen currently falls under the jurisdictions of the Camdeboo Local Municipality and the Cacadu District Municipality.
Farming around Aberdeen
Aberdeen is a small town, set in the Camdeboo Mountain Range. But in the Karoo, where settlements are spaced very far apart, Aberdeen plays an important roll to the surrounding farming communities.
South Africa is a leading producer of Angora wool, or mohair. The South African mohair industry was founded 150 years ago, with a gift of 13 animals from the Sultan of Turkey.
Most of the South African mohair is produced in the Karoo. The area in the triangle denoted by the towns of Aberdeen, Graaff-Reinet and Jansenville is the main Angora goat farming area in the Karoo. Historical Graaff-Reinet, just northwest of Aberdeen, is the main centre of the South African mohair industry.
Aberdeen is also merino sheep country, where some of the finest stud farms are found. The merino wool industry was initially founded about 8 km north of Aberdeen.
Aberdeen Climate
Summer temperatures can really soar in Aberdeen, while winter mornings can be literally freezing. Rain isn't terribly plentiful anywhere in the Karoo, but Aberdeen is blessed with an abundance of underground and surface water.
The area around Aberdeen shows some contrast with the dry plains of the Karoo, thanks to the Camdeboo Mountains. The vegetation is somewhat different here, due to the fountain waters and the mountains.
The Camdeboo stinkwood tree, also called white stinkwood, or Celtis africana, is indigenous to the Kamdebo Mountains, just west of Aberdeen.
Interesting sights in Aberdeen
Aberdeen is a rather delightful town, featuring that distinctive Karoo Victorian architecture, which led to the town of Aberdeen being declared a architectural conservation area. Aberdeen's impressive architectural heritage, those in the know tell me, shows Georgian, German, Gothic, Russian and Flemish influences.
Millions of years ago, the dinosaurs also visited Aberdeen. The proof is still visible today, in the form of fossilized dinosaur tracks, in sedimentary rock formations near Aberdeen.
As in many other small towns in South Africa, the small things amuse. The Aberdeen church steeple is reportedly 51.5m high, and visible from afar. The "interesting" thing about the Aberdeen church steeple is that it leans slightly off-centre, by a reported 45.7cm. So, if you'd like to see a leaning tower, there's no need to travel to Italy. Just go and stare in awe at the leaning tower of Aberdeen!
The church also features huge wall hangings, made from locally produced wool and mohair, depicting various biblical scenes.
Farms in the Aberdeen area offer outdoor adventure and accommodation.
On the banks of the Kraai River, the Fonteinbos Nature Reserve is an ideal bird watching spot.
Aberdeen even boasts the Aberdeen Golf Club, in Hope Street, Aberdeen (Tel: (049) 846 0290)!
The Aberdeen Tourism Bureau and Aberdeen Public Library is in Grey Str, or Andries Pretorius St, Aberdeen, 6270, and can be contacted telephonically at (049) 846 0014, or fax number (049) 846 0174.
