Williston is a small farming town nestled in the Upper Karoo in the Northern Cape. It is part of the Namaqualand, so roadside flowers bloom in splendor during springtime. The town is well-known for its sheep farming and local Karoo charm.
The town was originally a Rhenish mission station and forms part of its history and heritage. The station was originally named Amandelboom by Johann Heinrich Lutz in honour of an early settlers plantation of almond trees. In 1883, the name was changed to Williston in honor of Colonel Hampden Willis.
The NG church was built in 1913 from sandstone, and today many farmers still travel there every Sunday to attend church. The town still has a few corbelled houses, which was a popular architectural style in the north-west Karoo back in the day. These houses are built of flat stones that protrude from domed roofs.
Two hills stand east of Williston, one still bearing the name Amandelboom. They are known as the ‘Singkoppe’, because a choir would sing spiritual songs there during the mission station years.
Situated in the Northern Cape, the Karoo Highlands Route route covers a very unique part of South Africa. The Karoo also offers some of the ...
The famous Williston Mall is the main attraction of the town - many local celebrities have their faces plastered on the karoo guesthouse wal...