Somerset East
Somerset East | |
|---|---|
| KwaNojoli | |
From top: Somerset East at the foot of the Bosberg Mountains, left: Town Hall, right: Gill College, left: War Memorial, right: Somerset-East Reformed Church (NGK) | |
Somerset East Somerset East Somerset East | |
| Coordinates: 32°43′S 25°35′E / 32.717°S 25.583°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| District | Sarah Baartman |
| Municipality | Blue Crane Route |
| Established | 1825 |
| Government | |
| • Councillors | Archer Heynse (DA) Lorraine Smith-Johnson (DA) Ayanda Dyantyi (ANC) |
| Area | |
• Total | 72.8 km2 (28.1 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 750 m (2,460 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 18,825 |
| • Density | 259/km2 (670/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 48% |
| • Coloured | 32% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.4% |
| • White | 20% |
| • Other | 0.5% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Xhosa | 51.8% |
| • Afrikaans | 42.9% |
| • English | 3.7% |
| • Other | 1.6% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 5850 |
| PO box | 5850 |
Somerset East, officially KwaNojoli since 2023, is a small historic town in the Blue Crane Route Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was founded by Lord Charles Somerset in 1825.
Somerset East, at the foot of the Bosberg Mountains (Xhosa: Intaba kaNojoli), is known for its natural environment and for its provincial heritage sites and buildings. The forested, mountainous backdrop frames the town, with a number of hiking trails in the wooded Bosberg Nature Reserve. The area is a bird-watching destination, with other outdoor activities including trout fishing (rainbow and brown trout), malaria-free safari and hunting trips. There is also a 9-hole golf course.
Notable buildings in the town include the Old Wesleyan Chapel, which houses the Somerset East Museum, and the Officers' Mess, which houses the largest permanent exhibition of paintings by the South African artist Walter Battiss.
Annual events include the Biltong Festival, the Bruintjieshoogte Marathon, the Bruintjieshoogte Cycle Fest, the Walter Battiss Art Festival, as well as the Somerset East Agricultural show.