District · Western Cape Province
# Central Karoo District

Central Karoo District is a district or metropolitan municipality of South Africa in Western Cape Province. It had an estimated 77,582 people in 2020 on 38,854 km² (about 2.0 per km²). Its main town is Beaufort West. It is divided into 3 local municipalities. 42 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 293 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 77,582 people (2020)
- 38,854 km²
- 3 local municipalities
- 293 mapped services

## How many people live in Central Karoo District?

Central Karoo District had an estimated 77,582 people in 2020 — 1.1% of Western Cape Province, the least populous of 50 districts. There are 1,008 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Western Cape Province figure of 1,002). Spread over 38,854 km², that is about 2.0 people per km², 48th of 50 districts.

29.4% of people are children under 15 and 7.2% are 65 or older; the median age is about 30 years (it is 31 across Western Cape Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 58 children and older people.
- 0–4 7,189
- 5–9 7,792
- 10–14 7,840
- 15–19 5,870
- 20–24 4,931
- 25–29 5,248
- 30–34 6,236
- 35–39 6,148
- 40–44 5,620
- 45–49 4,606
- 50–54 4,041
- 55–59 3,475
- 60–64 2,984
- 65–69 2,353
- 70–74 1,623
- 75–79 980
- 80+ 646

Source: Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO).

## Where is Central Karoo District?

Central Karoo District lies in Western Cape Province, South Africa. It borders 5 other districts: Cacadu District, Cape Winelands District, Eden District, Namakwa District and Pixley ka Seme District. By area it is the 7th largest of 52 districts in South Africa. It covers 30.0% of Western Cape Province. The centre of Central Karoo District is about 953 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. It is about 385 km from Cape Town, the main town of Western Cape Province. The centre point is at 32.5557° S, 22.2237° E. Local names: DC5.

Source: South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO).

## Things to see in and around Central Karoo District

OpenStreetMap lists 32 named sights in Central Karoo District: 8 attractions; 7 museums; 6 nature reserves; 4 viewpoints; 3 waterfalls; 1 ruins; 1 castle or fort; 1 monument; 1 cave.
- Beaufort West Museum · museum
- Flood Museum · museum
- Fransie Pienaar Museum · museum
- Marie Rawdon Museum · museum
- Railway Museum · museum
- Standard Bank Museum · museum
- Transport Museum · museum
- Beaufort West Blockhouse · castle or fort
- Die Val · waterfall
- Ein Gedi (dry waterfall) · waterfall
- Rooivalle · waterfall
- Anysberg Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Henry Kruger · nature reserve
- Karoo National Park · nature reserve
- Steenbokkie · nature reserve
- Towerkop Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Wolwekraal Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Rooivalle Viewpoint · viewpoint
- Teeberg · viewpoint
- Viewpoint Klippspringer Pass · viewpoint
- Waterhole Viewpoint · viewpoint
- Bird Hide · attraction
- Blockhouse · attraction
- Die Hel · attraction
- Honeymoon House · attraction
- Lookout Point · attraction
- Rock art · attraction
- School Hall · attraction
- Spookbos · attraction
- Farm · ruins

…and 2 more.

Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Central Karoo District
- Time zone UTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg
- Currency Rand (ZAR)
- Country calling code +27
- Languages Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana
- Plug types Type C, D · 230 V
- Driving side Left
- Postcode format 4 digits (####)

### Nearest airports
- George Airport (GRJ) · George 162 km

### Nearest railway station

Letjiesbos (Beaufort West), about 4.5 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.3 hours, sunrise around 05:18) and shortest in Jun (about 10.0 hours, sunrise around 07:30, sunset around 17:31).

Source: GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03; OurAirports (public domain).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Local municipalities of Central Karoo District
| Local municipality | People | per km² | Area km² | Localities | Services |
| Beaufort West | 52,954 | 2.4 | 21,917 | 16 | 176 |
| Prince Albert | 15,135 | 1.9 | 8,153 | 14 | 80 |
| Laingsburg | 9,493 | 1.1 | 8,784 | 12 | 37 |

Source: South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO); Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO).

## Villages and localities in Central Karoo District

Open gazetteers list 42 villages, towns and localities in Central Karoo District. The largest with a recorded population: Beaufort West (44,737), Prince Albert (13,136), Laingsburg (6,789), Murraysburg (6,073), Leeu-Gamka (3,267) and Nelspoort (2,035). Settlements here lie between about 555 m and 1,213 m above sea level (median 840 m).
- Beaufort West
- Bergwater
- Bitterwater
- Bothashoek
- Die Laning
- Essopville
- Gamkapoort
- Geelwal
- Genasfontein
- Goedehoop
- Groot Sleutelfontein
- Hartebeesfontein
- Hillside
- Hooivlakte
- Hospital Hill
- Klaarstroom
- Klein Sleutelfontein
- Kruidfontein
- Laingsburg
- Leeu-Gamka
- Matjiesfontein
- Merweville
- Middelplaas
- Moreson
- Murraysburg
- Nelspoort
- New Town
- Newlands
- Nieuveld Park
- Noordeinde
- Northend
- Ou Tol
- Ouland
- Prince Albert
- Prince Albert Road
- Restvale
- Rustdene
- Seweweekspoort
- Sidesaviwa
- Spitkopsvlakte
- Vleiland
- Vrede

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features; © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

## Landscape and landmarks of Central Karoo District

Named natural and historic features inside Central Karoo District, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

59 rivers and streams; 8 reservoirs and tanks; 2 waterfalls; 2 dams; 1 lake.
- Aap se Kloof
- Aapsrivier
- Anye
- Banksa
- Baviaarskloof
- Beaufort West Dam
- Bloed
- Bloupuntrivier
- Buffalo
- Bulskop se Loop
- Die Hoekleegte
- Die Vlak
- Doorn Kraal
- Doringrivier
- Draaghoenderkloof
- Droërivier
- Dwyka
- Eersteval
- Elandsleegte
- Faanskraalrivier
- Floriskraaldam
- Gamkadam
- Gamkapoortdam
- Groot

…and 48 more.

### Hills and mountains

493 hills; 250 mountains; 46 mountain passes; 21 valleys; 3 peaks.
- Meelberg · 2,187 m
- Kafferskop · 2,172 m
- Toorberg · 2,108 m
- Middelberg · 2,002 m
- Waboomsberg · 1,980 m
- Spitskop · 1,975 m
- Gert Adriaanskop · 1,961 m
- Rooiberg · 1,960 m
- Beesberg · 1,949 m
- Hoëpunt High Site · 1,946 m
- Tafelberg · 1,929 m
- Blouberg · 1,911 m
- Teepunt · 1,908 m
- Soldaatkop · 1,906 m
- Perdekop · 1,905 m
- Hoëpunt · 1,902 m
- Tafelberg · 1,902 m
- Perdeplaat · 1,897 m
- Leeukop · 1,886 m
- Grootberg · 1,878 m
- Spitskop · 1,876 m
- Trapvoetkop · 1,872 m
- Die Duiwel · 1,847 m
- Sneeukop · 1,836 m

…and 789 more.

### Forests and nature

1 nature reserve.
- Karoo National Park

### History

6 ruins.
- Bloupunt
- Breëleegte
- Buffelsrivier
- Hamelkuil
- The Meadows
- Tweeling

### Getting around

27 railway stations; 5 airfields.
- Acacia
- Bantams
- Baviaan
- Beaufort West
- Droërivier
- Dwyka
- Fraserburg Road
- Geelbek
- Gemsbok
- Hopewell
- Karoo Gateway
- Ketting
- Klipbank
- Konstabel
- Koup
- Kromrivier
- Kruidfontein
- Laingsburg
- Letjiesbos
- Luttig
- Matjiesfontein
- Modderpoort
- Murraysburg
- Nelspoort

…and 8 more.

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features.

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Central Karoo District and the best time to visit

In Central Karoo District, the warmest month is Jan (average 25 °C) and the coolest is Jul (11 °C). About 300 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Feb (38 mm) and the driest Jun (12 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are January to December.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 25 | 33 |
| Feb | 25 | 38 |
| Mar | 22 | 35 |
| Apr | 18 | 31 |
| May | 15 | 20 |
| Jun | 11 | 12 |
| Jul | 11 | 14 |
| Aug | 12 | 20 |
| Sep | 15 | 15 |
| Oct | 18 | 24 |
| Nov | 21 | 27 |
| Dec | 23 | 30 |

Source: NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Central Karoo District

Places mapped inside Central Karoo District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.
- Hospitals 9
- Banks 15
- ATMs 7
- Petrol pumps 29
- Hotels 108
- Shopping malls 4
- Schools 51
- Cinemas 1
- Pharmacies 6
- Restaurants 56
- Police stations 7

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers
- Where is Central Karoo District? In Western Cape Province, South Africa
- What is the population of Central Karoo District? 77,582 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Central Karoo District? About 30 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Central Karoo District? About 2.0 people per km²
- What borders Central Karoo District? Cacadu District, Cape Winelands District, Eden District, Namakwa District and Pixley ka Seme District
- What is there to see in Central Karoo District? Anysberg Nature Reserve, Beaufort West Blockhouse, Beaufort West Museum, Bird Hide
- What time zone is Central Karoo District in? UTC+2
- What currency is used in Central Karoo District? Rand (ZAR)
- What language is spoken in Central Karoo District? Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Central Karoo District? 42 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Central Karoo District? Settlements lie between 555 m and 1,213 m
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in Central Karoo District? 8 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in Central Karoo District? Meelberg (2,187 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Central Karoo District? January to December
- How many hospitals are in Central Karoo District? 9 mapped
- How many banks are in Central Karoo District? 15 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Central Karoo District? 7 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Central Karoo District? 29 mapped
- What is the P-code of Central Karoo District? ZA105 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: District
- Area: 38,854.0 km²
- P-code: ZA105
- Province: Western Cape Province
- Main town: Beaufort West

---
Canonical: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/central-karoo/ · Updated 2026-11-03 · Data: national censuses and statistics offices (sources named in each section); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); Overture Maps; GeoNames; NASA POWER.