Graskop

Graskop is a small town in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. It was set up in the 1880s as a gold mining camp but it now serves as a tourist destination and the timber industry. The name is Afrikaans for grassy hillock. “God’s Window”, a scenic view from the escarpment of the Lowveld below, is located outside the town.

Graskop
Shops along the main street of Graskop
Graskop Show map of Mpumalanga Graskop Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 24°55′54″S 30°50′30″E
Country	South Africa
Province	Mpumalanga
District	Ehlanzeni
Municipality	Thaba Chweu
Area [1]
• Total	35.01 km^2 (13.52 sq mi)
Elevation	1,436 m (4,711 ft)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	3,996
• Density	110/km^2 (300/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	61.2%
• Coloured	13.0%
• Indian/Asian	0.9%
• White	22.9%
• Other	2.0%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Afrikaans	29.4%
• Northern Sotho	22.0%
• Sotho	14.8%
• English	10.9%
• Other	22.8%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	1270
PO box	1270
Area code	013

Graskop is 14 km south-east of Pilgrim's Rest and 28 km north of Sabie. It was laid out between 1880 and 1890 on a farm belonging to Abel Erasmus, Native Commissioner of the Transvaal Republic. Named after a grassy hillock (Afrikaans gras, ‘grass’, kop, ‘hillock’). Originally it was a mining camp. It is the best place to view the "Edge of the Lowveld", with a sudden drop of 700 metres.[2]

• 
  Potholes at Bourke's Luck near Graskop.
• 
  The Berlin Falls near Graskop.
• 
  "The Pinnacle" near Graskop.
• 
  "God's Window" near Graskop.

References

1. "Main Place Graskop". Census 2011.
2. "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 187.

External links

• Graskop travel guide from Wikivoyage