RIEBEEK VALLEY
Best kept secret of the Western Cape
The Riebeek Valley was named after Jan van Riebeeck, the first commander of the Cape. Dutch explorers under leadership of corporal Pieter Cruythoff discovered the valley in 1661 and named it after the commander. The Kasteelberg mountain was named after the VOC fort or ‘castle’. Situated between the Riebeeksriver and the Bergriver, the fertile valley would provide fresh provisions for the VOC fleets sailing between the Dutch Republic and Batavia.
The first inhabitants were the Zonquas, an indigenous Khoi people. The first settlers were the Bothmas (Kloovenburg) and the Cloetes (Allesverloren).
Riebeek Kasteel is one of the oldest towns in South Africa, situated 80 km north-east of Cape Town together with its sister town Riebeek West.
