The Overberg has been explored as early as 1663. The reason for these expeditions was to buy cattle and take it back to Cape Town. These explorers mapped out the Overberg. They attached Dutch names to the rivers and mountains that remain in use today. Corporal Hieronymous Cruse and Ensign Oloff Bergh were the pathfinders.  Bergh carved his initials on the wall of the Zieken Huys cave on the banks of the Zonder End River, where periodically he traded for meat. Cruse made his mark in a different way. He kept a diary of this 1669 journey to The Breede River. This journey took 20 days, but this diary is a precious record, because it documents the road of the 17th century cattle-barterers to the Hessequas kraal. Cruse utilized words such as ‘Palmiet’, ‘How Hoek’ and ‘Zonder End River’ in his diary to describe his route to the kraals, as if they were already part of the language.  This was indeed the case and Cruse himself helped to put them there. 

It is generally accepted that there would be no rose fair in Greyton, without Sakkie Buys.  It would be hard to find anyone, who is even prepared to give it what this 80+ year old does. His wife, Ilse, supportive helpmate, secretary and personal assistant, stays quietly in the background, but she, too, goes those extra miles for what has become one of the Overberg’s main tourist attractions.

There are 10 short fynbos walks and a historic village walk in Greyton.

Be careful walking around the narrow, shady lanes of Greyton. If the upmarket 4x4s don't get you, the plethora of arts and crafts shops, coffee shops and beckoning B&Bs just might.

Greyton was founded as an "agricultural village" by Herbert Vigne in 1854. Vigne thought he might attract valuable patronage by naming it after the Cape Governor of the day, Sir George Grey.

Sadly for Herbert, the town remained largely ignored until the 1970s. Then apartheid moved out the coloured residents and the city estate agents moved in. There's more interesting history in Greyton - Founded 1854, published by the Greyton Conservation Society and available for a few rand from the tourism bureau. The booklet is essential reading if you want to get the most out of Greyton and its walks.

03/02/2007 (SA)   Maretha Naudé - Johannesburg    
Vat koers deur die Rûensveld op pad na Caledon en daar lê hy, in die voue van die Riviersonderendberge.
Greyton. Juweel van die Overberg, spog die inwoners.
As jy kan, los jou motor by die dorpspoorte, want hier drentel die koeie dikwels lui-lui die hoofstraat af en is ’n donkiekar die inwoners se voorkeur-vervoermiddel. Ouwêrelds. Ongeskonde, byna. Dit lyk kompleet of die tyd vergeet het om sy tande hier in te slaan. Plek-plek ploeg mense nog met osse op laslappies grond en word tuine nou nog uit die breë leivore natgelei.