# Beaufort West Municipality, Central Karoo District > Source: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/central-karoo/beaufort-west/ Local municipality · Central Karoo District # Beaufort West Beaufort West is a local municipality of South Africa in Central Karoo District, Western Cape Province. It had an estimated **52,954 people** in 2020 on 21,917 km² (about 2.4 per km²). 16 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 176 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 52,954people (2020) - 21,917km² - 176mapped services - 993 mtypical elevation ## How many people live in Beaufort West? Beaufort West had an estimated **52,954 people** in 2020 — 68.3% of Central Karoo District, 150th of 190 local municipalities. There are 1,023 women for every 1,000 men (above the Central Karoo District figure of 1,008). Spread over 21,917 km², that is about **2.4 people per km²**, 175th of 190 local municipalities. 30.4% of people are children under 15 and 6.9% are 65 or older; the median age is about 29 years (it is 30 across Central Karoo District). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 60 children and older people. 0–4 ****5,112** 5–9 ****5,458** 10–14 ****5,526** 15–19 ****4,064** 20–24 ****3,381** 25–29 ****3,568** 30–34 ****4,181** 35–39 ****4,145** 40–44 ****3,762** 45–49 ****3,015** 50–54 ****2,740** 55–59 ****2,352** 60–64 ****1,986** 65–69 ****1,529** 70–74 ****1,069** 75–79 ****641** 80+ ****425** Source: [Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-zaf). ## Where is Beaufort West? Beaufort West lies in [Central Karoo District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/central-karoo/), [Western Cape Province](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/), [South Africa](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/). It borders 5 other local municipalities: [Dr Beyers Naude](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/cacadu/dr-beyers-naude/), [Karoo Hoogland](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/nothern-cape/namakwa/karoo-hoogland/), [Laingsburg](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/central-karoo/laingsburg/), [Prince Albert](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/central-karoo/prince-albert/) and [Ubuntu](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/nothern-cape/pixley-ka-seme/ubuntu/). By area it is the 7th largest of 213 local municipalities in South Africa. It covers 56.4% of [Central Karoo District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/central-karoo/). The centre of Beaufort West is about 909 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. The centre point is at 32.3074° S, 22.6089° E. Local names: WC053 . Source: [South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-zaf). ## Things to see in and around Beaufort West OpenStreetMap lists 12 named sights in Beaufort West: 3 viewpoints; 3 attractions; 2 nature reserves; 1 waterfall; 1 ruins; 1 museum; 1 castle or fort. - Beaufort West Museum · museum - Beaufort West Blockhouse · castle or fort - Rooivalle · waterfall - Karoo National Park · nature reserve - Steenbokkie · nature reserve - Rooivalle Viewpoint · viewpoint - Viewpoint Klippspringer Pass · viewpoint - Waterhole Viewpoint · viewpoint - Bird Hide · attraction - Lookout Point · attraction - Spookbos · attraction - Farm · ruins Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright). Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed. ## Know before you go: Beaufort West - Time zoneUTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg - CurrencyRand (ZAR) - Country calling code+27 - LanguagesZulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana - Plug typesType C, D · 230 V - Driving sideLeft - Postcode format4 digits (####) ### Nearest airports - George Airport (GRJ) · George190 km ### Nearest railway station Acacia (Beaufort West), about 5.1 km from the centre. ### Daylight Days are longest in Dec (about 14.2 hours, sunrise around 05:17) and shortest in Jun (about 10.0 hours, sunrise around 07:28, sunset around 17:30). Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/). 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. ## Villages and localities in Beaufort West Open gazetteers list **16 villages, towns and localities** in Beaufort West. The largest with a recorded population: Beaufort West (44,737), Murraysburg (6,073), Nelspoort (2,035) and Merweville (1,907). Settlements here lie between about 713 m and 1,185 m above sea level (median 993 m). - Beaufort West - Die Laning - Essopville - Hillside - Hooivlakte - Hospital Hill - Merweville - Murraysburg - Nelspoort - New Town - Newlands - Nieuveld Park - Noordeinde - Restvale - Rustdene - Sidesaviwa Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright). ## Landscape and landmarks of Beaufort West Named natural and historic features inside Beaufort West, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 18 rivers and streams; 5 reservoirs and tanks; 2 dams. - Banksa - Beaufort West Dam - Buffalo - Bulskop se Loop - Die Hoekleegte - Draaghoenderkloof - Droërivier - Gamkadam - Hansrivier - Klipplaatfontein se Rivier - Leeuw - Modderpoort se Dam - Paalhuisrivier - Papdam - Platdorings - Roodepoort - Slime Dam - Soutrivier - Springfontein - Stolsrivierdam - Tierhoek - Tweefontein - Vinderagersfontein - Walkers Dam …and 1 more. ### Hills and mountains 235 hills; 135 mountains; 21 mountain passes; 5 valleys. - Meelberg · 2,187 m - Kafferskop · 2,172 m - Toorberg · 2,108 m - Middelberg · 2,002 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 - 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 - Perdeberg · 1,809 m - Suurkop · 1,799 m …and 372 more. ### Forests and nature 1 nature reserve. - Karoo National Park ### History 6 ruins. - Bloupunt - Breëleegte - Buffelsrivier - Hamelkuil - The Meadows - Tweeling ### Getting around 9 railway stations; 4 airfields. - Acacia - Droërivier - Hopewell - Karoo Gateway - Klipbank - Kromrivier - Letjiesbos - Luttig - Modderpoort - Murraysburg - Nelspoort - Renosterkop - Riem Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/). Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate. ## Weather in Beaufort West and the best time to visit Using the climate of Central Karoo District, the warmest month is Jan (average 24 °C) and the coolest is Jul (10 °C), after allowing for this place being about 153 m higher than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). 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 **August to May**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 24 33 Feb 24 38 Mar 21 35 Apr 17 31 May 14 20 Jun 10 12 Jul 10 14 Aug 11 20 Sep 14 15 Oct 17 24 Nov 20 27 Dec 22 30 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Beaufort West Need Nearest mapped Distance Hospital Beaufort West Hospital · Beaufort West 5.0 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.35276&mlon=22.60763#map=17/-32.35276/22.60763) Bank ABSA · Beaufort West 5.2 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.34860&mlon=22.58229#map=17/-32.34860/22.58229) ATM Beaufort West Branch · Beaufort West 5.5 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.35204&mlon=22.58269#map=17/-32.35204/22.58269) Petrol pump Caltex Marren Motors · Beaufort West 4.6 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.34222&mlon=22.58205#map=17/-32.34222/22.58205) Hotel Nagenoeg Guest House · Beaufort West 2.7 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.31432&mlon=22.63619#map=17/-32.31432/22.63619) Mall Beaufort Square · Beaufort West 5.5 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.35216&mlon=22.58286#map=17/-32.35216/22.58286) School Vela Creche · Beaufort West 5.0 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.34651&mlon=22.58331#map=17/-32.34651/22.58331) Police station SAPS Beaufort West · Beaufort West 5.2 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.34958&mlon=22.58404#map=17/-32.34958/22.58404) Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km. ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Beaufort West Places mapped inside Beaufort West in open map data, by type. - Hospitals5 - Banks11 - ATMs6 - Petrol pumps20 - Hotels62 - Shopping malls4 - Schools33 - Pharmacies3 - Restaurants29 - Police stations3 Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown. ## Other local municipalities in Central Karoo District - Laingsburg - Prince Albert ## Quick answers - Where is Beaufort West?In Central Karoo District, Western Cape Province, South Africa - What is the population of Beaufort West?52,954 (2020 estimate) - What is the median age in Beaufort West?About 29 years (2020 estimate) - What is the population density of Beaufort West?About 2.4 people per km² - What borders Beaufort West?Dr Beyers Naude, Karoo Hoogland, Laingsburg, Prince Albert and Ubuntu - What is there to see in Beaufort West?Beaufort West Blockhouse, Beaufort West Museum, Bird Hide, Farm - What time zone is Beaufort West in?UTC+2 - What currency is used in Beaufort West?Rand (ZAR) - What language is spoken in Beaufort West?Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally) - How many villages are in Beaufort West?16 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap) - What is the elevation of Beaufort West?Settlements lie between 713 m and 1,185 m - How many reservoirs and tanks are in Beaufort West?5 named in GeoNames - What is the highest point in Beaufort West?Meelberg (2,187 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Beaufort West?August to May - Where is the nearest hospital to Beaufort West?Beaufort West Hospital, about 5.0 km from the centre - Where is the nearest bank to Beaufort West?ABSA, about 5.2 km from the centre - Where is the nearest ATM to Beaufort West?Beaufort West Branch, about 5.5 km from the centre - Where is the nearest petrol pump to Beaufort West?Caltex Marren Motors, about 4.6 km from the centre - How many hospitals are in Beaufort West?5 mapped - How many banks are in Beaufort West?11 mapped - How many ATMs are in Beaufort West?6 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Beaufort West?20 mapped - What is the P-code of Beaufort West?ZA1053 (OCHA common operational dataset)