# Van Wyksdorp

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Place in Western Cape, South Africa

Van Wyksdorp Van Wyksdorp Show map of Western Cape Van Wyksdorp Show map of South Africa Coordinates: 33°44′57″S 21°27′40″E / 33.74917°S 21.46111°E / -33.74917; 21.46111 Country South Africa Province Western Cape District Garden Route Municipality Kannaland Area [1] • Total 21.25 km2 (8.20 sq mi) Population (2011)[1] • Total 833 • Density 39.2/km2 (102/sq mi) Racial makeup (2011) [1] • Black African 1.9% • Coloured 84.9% • Indian/Asian 0.2% • White 13.0% First languages (2011) [1] • Afrikaans 90.0% • English 4.9% • Xhosa 2.0% • Other 3.0% Time zone UTC+2 (SAST) PO box 6690 Area code 028 Website vanwyksdorptourism.com

**Van Wyksdorp** is a small rural village in the [Klein Karoo](/source/Karoo) of the [Western Cape](/source/Western_Cape) in [South Africa](/source/South_Africa). The nearest towns are [Ladismith](/source/Ladismith) 45km (33km gravel), [Calitzdorp](/source/Calitzdorp) 55km (52km gravel mountain pass), and [Riversdale](/source/Riversdale%2C_South_Africa) 67km (45km gravel).

Van Wyksdorp has recently been host to the Jobs for Carbon project, where the indigenous [Spekboom portulacaria afra](/source/Portulacaria_afra) has been replanted on 800ha to aid restoration of the degraded [veld](/source/Veld), within the [Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve](/source/Gouritz_Cluster_Biosphere_Reserve).

## History

The town was founded in 1897, on the farm Buffelsfontein - a parish of the Dutch Reformed Church.[2] At a church meeting held on 27 January 1904, the name Van Wyksdorp was proposed and accepted due to the over 200 residents, with the surname [Van Wyk](/source/Van_Wyk), living in the town and on surrounding farms.

The village of Van Wyksdorp currently has a population of around 800 people. A few of them are still direct descendants of Van Wyk. Over the years, the people living in the village have mostly relied on farming – including [fruit](/source/Fruit), [sheep](/source/Sheep), [cattle](/source/Cattle), and [ostriches](/source/Ostrich). They have benefited from a steady water supply throughout the year, provided by a mountain spring called "The Eye".

During the ostrich boom, Van Wyksdorp was once a centre of education in the Little Karoo. The school, built in 1912, had more than 200 learners at its peak, many of whom came from nearby towns. However, as railway connections to [Ladismith](/source/Ladismith) and [Riversdale](/source/Riversdale%2C_South_Africa) improved, those towns grew while Van Wyksdorp slowly became smaller and quieter, reaching its current size.[3]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-census2011_1-3) ["Main Place Vanwyksdorp"](http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/174006). *Census 2011*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-dsapn_2-0)** ["Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)"](https://archive.org/details/DictionaryOfSouthernAfricanPlaceNames). Human Science Research Council. p. 453.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Van Wyksdorp Tourism | Home"](https://vanwyksdorptourism.com/). *Van Wyksdorp Tourism*. Retrieved 4 April 2025.

v t e Municipalities and communities of Garden Route District Municipality, Western Cape District seat: George Bitou Harkerville Keurboomstrand Kranshoek Kurland Estate Nature's Valley Plettenberg Bay Wittedrif Garden Route District within South Africa George Avontuur Bergplaas De Vlugt George Haarlem Herold Herolds Bay Hoekwil Pacaltsdorp Touwsranten Twee Rivieren Uniondale Victoria Bay Wilderness Woodville Hessequa Albertinia Gouritsmond Groot-Jongensfontein Heidelberg Port Beaufort Puntjie Riversdale Slangrivier Stilbaai Vermaaklikheid Witsand Kannaland Amaliënstein Calitzdorp Ladismith Vanwyksdorp Zoar Knysna Bracken Hill Brenton-on-Sea Buffelsbaai Farleigh Gouna Karatara Knysna Rheenendal Sedgefield Mossel Bay Boggomsbaai Brandwag Danabaai Friemersheim Glentana Great Brak River Hartenbos Herbertsdale Jonkersberg Little Brak River Mossel Bay Ruiterbos Vleesbaai Oudtshoorn De Hoop De Rust Dysselsdorp Matjiesrivier Oudtshoorn Schoemanshoek Volmoed

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