Barberton is located in the De Kaap Valley at the base of the Makhonjwa Mountains and is an ideal location for adventure sports. Barberton’s history is intriguing - it was once a notorious gold rush town that glittered with gold in its hay day. Famous for the Sheba Mine, Barberton Greenstone Belt, Barberton daisy (Gerbera jamesoni) and Jock of the Bushveld. An annual Diggers Festival is held in September.

ATTRACTIONS

BARBERTON GREENSTONE BELT
The Barberton Green Stone Belt is one of the most famous greenstone belts in the world. Greenstones are ancient sedimentary and volcanic rocks that have been heated and deformed over the ages. Chlorite minerals within the rocks are responsible for their green hue. The belts often contain ore deposits of gold, silver, copper, zinc and lead. The Barberton Greenstone Belt was formed from sediment that flowed down from the ocean floor and settled in the cracks in rocks below during the Archean era (roughly 3.8 billion to 2.5 billion years ago). The Barberton Greenstone Belt is estimated to be 3.5 billion years old. A bacterial microfossil, Archaeospheroides barbertonis estimated to be 3.2 billion years old was discovered in the belt.

SHEBA MINE
In 1885 Edwin Bray and fourteen partners started the Sheba Reef Gold Mining Company. The Sheba Mine is one of the oldest and richest mines in the world. It has been in production for over a century.

SONGIMVELO NATURE RESERVE
The Songimvelo Nature Reserve is the Mpumalanga Parks Board’s largest reserve and is located in the Barberton Mountainlands.Belhaven House Museum

Stopforth House

Fernlea House

Block House

Jock of the Bushveld Statue

The Garden of Rememberance and Regimantal Badges Hiking Routes
Fortuna Mine Tunnel route. 2km. Torch necessary. Picnic facilities.
Rose's Creek walking route 1.5 km. Picnic facilities.