Philippolis

Accommodation | Activities | Restaurants | Business Directory

Geography and history

Philippolis is a small town situated in the Motheo and Xhariep region of the Free State Province in South Africa. In 1823 it served as a missionary outpost for the Bushman. This makes Philippolis the oldest settlement in the Free State Province. This town was named after John Philip of the London Missionary Society. In 1826 Adam Kok II, a Griqua leader, settled here with his folks and was made the guardian of the mission, but he then, together with his followers, killed all the Bushmen at the Mission Station. Seventy-five of Philippolis’s buildings have been declared national monuments. The library is amongst one of these buildings, and many places are built in Karoo-style which means they have thick walls.

Accommodation

Philippolis offers a variety of accommodation in the form of guest houses, bed and breakfasts, self-catering units, camping facilities, etc. The Old Jail is probably the most popular. For a complete list of places to stay in this town, please view our accommodation directory.

Activities and attractions

A diverse range of activities are available. Anyone who is game for spending the night behind bars can stay over at the Old Jail. Philippolis’s former jail, which has been converted into basic, comfortable self-catering accommodation. Every room comes equip with two single jail beds and a floor mat for a third person or children. The walls are also virtually soundproof.

Other things to do in Philippolis include:

Gariep Dam and Nature Reserve
Jagersfontein Golf Course
Annual Philippolis Horse Show
Bird watching
Game hunting
Hiking, mountain biking, 4 x 4 trails
Sheep-farming and horse-breeding

Businesses

This town has shops, restaurants and businesses for every taste. Please see our businesses directory for a complete list of businesses in Philippolis.