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Land of the Great Open Sky

Cradock boasts fine architecture and a number of important monuments and museums. The area was considered strategically important by the early 19th Century settlers and this is reflected in the town's many well preserved buildings.

Olive Schreiner, international renowned for especially her seminal work, The Story of an African Farm, lived with her siblings in Cradock from 1868 to 1870 in the house shown here. Today it is a satellite museum of the National English Literary Museum.

In 1921 Olive, her baby and a pet dog, were have all interred in a stone sarcophagus on the top of Buffelskop, one of the highest peaks around Cradock. Above is a photo of the three coffins seen with her husband Samuel Cron Cronwright, who was later also interred in the sarcophagus.

Visiting the grave makes for an exhillerating outing for hiking fans - arrangements to be made at the Shreiner House. Own transport with a 4x4 vehicle is a must. - More details on the attraction pages.

The Cradock Four, Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkhonto and Sicelo Mhlawuli, were Struggle leaders brutally murdered by the security police in June 1985. Their heroism is commemorated in the Cradock Four Memorial in the Municipal Park, as also in the Garden of Remembrance on the hill overlooking Lingelihle and in the special exhibition hall at the Great Fish River Museum named in their honour.

The wide fertile plain and mountains surrounding Cradock offer many attractions for nature lovers. Nearby Lake Arthur is a popular water sports venue, the Great Fish River is home to the country's biggest annual canoe marathon and provides exciting paddling and tubing during most of the year.

The Mountain Zebra National Park is a favourite for game viewing, birding and scenic drives.