The town of Kokstad is built on the outer slopes of the Drakensberg and is 1302 m above sea level. Mount Currie rises to a height of 2224 m behind the town which is a centre for cheese and dairy products. The dairy industry in KZN provides a significant portion of the total agricultural dairy production of the province. Kokstad is currently the fastest growing town in KwaZulu-Natal.
Kokstad is named after the Griqua Chief, Adam Kok III, who settled there in 1863. Kok led some 2000 Griquas over the Drakensberg to the land they'd been granted between Transkei and Natal. This was South Africa's other ‘Great Trek’ (‘big move’). When they finally established a permanent settlement in 1871, it was named Kokstad. In 1874 the area was annexed by Britain and Adam Kok was relieved of his duties as chief. He died the next year; he and his wife are buried in a mausoleum on the main street of Kokstad.
The town is known as the capital of East Griqualand, was proclaimed a municipality in 1892. The East Griqualand Museum documents the history of the Griqua people.
Mount Currie Nature Reserve is a beautiful little reserve and the only protected area in East Griqualand. The reserve is filled with history...