History

The town of Graskop is perched on a spur of the Mauchsberg at an altitude of 1,493 meters and dates way back to 1837, when Andries Potgieter passed through with the Great Trek of the Voortrekkers in search of greener pastures in the north.  In his memoirs he mentions leaving the woman folk in the area known as Graskop ("grassy peak") while he went down the escarpment in search of an ox wagon route to Delagoa Bay (now Maputo in Mozambique).

In the 1850's the Graskop area was a farm owned by Abel Erasmus, an adventurous character in hunting, prospecting and imposing law and order in the area.  He was known among the local tribes as Dabula Duzi ("He who shoots at close range.")

Graskop is also famous for Jock of the Bushveld which dates back to between 1885 and 1887.  Paradise Camp is where Sir Percy Fitzpatrick established his camp.  Two chapters in his book, namely "Paradise Camp and the Leopard" and "The Baboons" are set in this area.  For more info see our special "Jock of the Bushveld" page.

Sketch by Heinrich Egersdorfer (1853-1915)

A railway link from Nelspruit through the farm Sabie and onto the farm Graskop was begun in early 1910 - mainly to transport supplies to the booming gold-mining town of Pilgrim's Rest.  The railway line was completed and ready for the opening ceremony on 18th June 1914.  Graskop was declared a town later the same year.