https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bmU8ABBwGrc
Gong Gong Waterfall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TBey9jl9Nw&ab_channel=Mattanu01
Mattanu Private Game Reserve
https://tourism.francesbaard.gov.za/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AQMtRbr3avQp2mMD-zqlxqIefM5GEq1vRoRZWbV9ZZ45sGtM7lHvK1UPsJI3Zq_U4DuE7SItgygOqXHcCd4-u7R5lFfh4yALEgXNbQB2GyQ9mw.mp4
Vaal Inn Resort
Points of interest
Explore the top attractions our region has to offer! From natural wonders and historical landmarks to cultural hotspots, our points of interest showcase the best experiences for visitors seeking adventure, heritage, and unforgettable memories
Canteen Kopje
Canteen Kopje in Barkly West is the site of South Africa’s first alluvial diamond diggings (1869). The area also revealed significant archaeological finds, including the ancient Canteen Kopje Skull discovered in 1929. Today, the site features informative displays and historical accounts of its rich past.
Parish Church of St Mar
The Anglican Church in Barkly West, built in February 1871, is the first of its kind in the area. This quaint thatched church features stained-glass windows and houses valuable artefacts, including a stone from Westminster Abbey and a silver communion set from 1848.
Mattanu Private Game Reserve
Mattanu Private Game Reserve, located 17km from Barkly West in a malaria-free province, offers luxury tented stays under camelthorn trees. It is unique in South Africa for showcasing wildlife breeding programs, while visitors can enjoy game drives, quad biking, safaris, fly-fishing, and relaxing spa treatments.
Inase Moshoeu Library
Discover the rich history of Barkly West at our library where you find the tribute exhibit to the first diamond found at Canteen Koppie during the diamond rush in the 1860”s. Due to disputes digger declared their own republic and called it “Klipdrift Republic, today known as Barkly West.
Pebble Hawkers
Local community members sell stones collected from nearby mountains and fields, as well as glass bottles filled with colorful sand from the area, showcasing artistic patterns for visitors traveling between Kimberley and Barkly West.
Fly-Fishing
The Barkly West area, along the Lower Vaal River, is a popular destination for fly-fishing, attracting anglers seeking large and smallmouth yellowfish in a peaceful setting.
The Furgersons House
The first family to settle in Gong- Gong ad start the small town
Camel Thorn Tree
It has been considered as the “tree of life”by the San Tribe of thr Kalahari due to its importance in sustaining animal life in the arid region. Wildly distributed in the arid provinces of South Africa including the Northern Cape. Picture Captured in Dikgatlong – Gong- Gong
Must-See Attractions
Discover the top attractions our region has to offer. From breathtaking natural landscapes and historical landmarks to cultural treasures, there’s something for every visitor to explore and enjoy.
The Vaal River, the largest tributary of South Africa’s Orange River, originates near Mpumalanga, Johannesburg, and Ermelo, flowing west to join the Orange River near Kimberley. At Barkly West Bridge, visitors can enjoy scenic views and fly-fishing.
Vaal River
Gong-Gong is a small community along the Vaal River between Barkly West and Delportshoop. Named from the San language, it features a scenic riverbank and the hidden Gong-Gong Waterfall, known for its rumbling waters and natural beauty
Gong-Gong Waterfalls
Located 8km from Barkly West along the Vaal River, the sleek black rocks were formed 250 million years ago and later used by the San people as canvases for their engravings around 1,500 years ago.