Tranquil Town
At Pilgrim’s Rest time stands still. This attractive little town is definitely famous in its own right, and one of Mpumalanga’s top celebrities. The legend of Pilgrim’s Rest started in 1873, when a gold panner named Patterson left the Mac Mac area in search of a place that was less congested, and found a stunning valley where he found gold in the water.
In 1875 Pilgrim’s Rest was declared a public gold mining digging area, and throngs of fortune hunters from all over the world descended on this quiet little area. It was long before a ramshackle town sprung up. The last working mine closed down in 1972 and the whole town was bought by the then Transvaal provincial authorities, who developed it as a museum town.
Rich Heritage
This tranquil town is situated on the magnificent Panorama Route in Mpumalanga, and offers a rich cultural, historic and natural experience. Capture the spirit of the bygone era and its people in a desperate bid to strike it lucky as you wander down the streets. The entire town of Pilgrim’s Rest was declared a National Monument in 1986 in memory of the historic gold rush days during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The quaint and pretty town of Pilgrim’s Rest houses many museums, original buildings and atmospheric lodgings, and restaurants and bars. This town has come a long way since the rough and ready days of the past.