De Aar Information

De Aar rises from the seemingly endless Karoo plains as a town shaped more by railway tracks than by the traditional church-centred pattern of many South African settlements. Its strategic position has given it a distinctive character, combining railway heritage, wide-open landscapes and the hardy spirit of the Northern Cape interior.

The name De Aar comes from the Dutch words meaning “the artery” or “the vein”, referring to underground watercourses beneath the otherwise dry landscape. The farm of the same name was already established in the 19th century, but De Aar’s transformation began when railway engineers identified the site as an ideal junction in 1881. The railway reached the area in the 1880s, linking Cape Town and Kimberley, and the junction subsequently became one of the most important railway hubs in the country. The Friedlander brothers, Isaac and Wulf, played a major role in developing the town, purchasing the farm and laying out the settlement in the early 20th century.

Railway enthusiasts will find plenty to appreciate, with De Aar’s extensive network of tracks and its historic role as a crossroads for routes leading towards Cape Town, the Eastern Cape and the interior. The town also has strong associations with the Anglo-Boer War, when its railway junction became an important military supply and troop-deployment centre. The Garden of Remembrance commemorates British soldiers who died during the conflict.

Beyond its history, De Aar offers a taste of the Karoo’s remarkable natural environment. Nearby farms contain ancient Khoisan rock engravings, while the surrounding plains provide excellent opportunities for photography and birdwatching. During the warmer months, thousands of lesser kestrels are known to gather around the town at sunset, creating an impressive spectacle as they settle into the trees for the night.

In the Hantam Karoo & Upper Karoo Region, De Aar makes an interesting base for exploring the stark beauty of the central Karoo, where railway heritage, livestock farming and vast skies come together in a distinctly South African landscape.