Pilgrim's Rest is situated on the magnificent Panorama Route on the eastern Escarpment region of the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. During early 1873, 'Wheelbarrow' Patterson discovered gold in a stream there. Later, the rapidly growing little village that sprang up was named by, William Trafford, another digger who had found gold there. He believed this would enable him to rest after his long hunt for gold. He stated: 'This Pilgrim has come to rest'. Thousands of prospectors flooded the lovely valley in one of the biggest gold rushes ever experienced. There were daily discoveries of fine nuggets of alluvial gold in the stream that came to be called Pilgrim's Creek. The entire town of Pilgrim's Rest was declared a National Monument in 1986 as a living memory of the early gold rush days during the late 1800s / early 1900s. The town has been restored to its original condition. The old Royal hotel - part of which used to be a church in Lourenco Marques (now Maputo) - was brought to Pilgrim's Rest by ox wagon.

ACCOMMODATION:
Accommodation options in the town includes hotel, guest house, cottages, budget backpackers, and lodges. (Jul-15).

FOOD:
Enjoy meals in the restaurants serving buffet meals and South African traditional meals. There are delis, coffee shops and Pubs with traditional Shebeen still significant. (Jul-15).

FUEL:
There is a BP Shell fuel Stop t/a Highwaymans's Garage. Convenient shops also on the premises. (Jul-15).

INFORMATION AND POSTAL SERVICES:
There is an information centre, Uptown for the history of the town, maps and brochures of town facilities and accommodation. Open Mon-Sun : 09h00-12h45 and 13h45-16h00. There is a Post Office in the town situated Uptown. Just for fun buy your own stamps and have a postcard and letters stamped with the Pilgrim's Rest Stamp before posting the letter. Internet and email facilities are also available at the Post office. Tel : +27(0)72 103 9188. (Jul-15)

INTERNET & WIFI:
Internet and email access available at Pilgrim's Rest Post office. (Jul-15).

MONEY:
Banks and their ATMs includes a Standard bank and ATM. There is also an ABSA, Capitec bank and a Nedbank ATM at the Spar Shopping Centre. Currently there are no ATM facilities in the town but credit card facilities are available at the Royal hotel, restaurants and some shops (Jul-15).

PHARMACY/HOSPITAL/HEALTH CARE:
There is no hospital in this town but there is the Pilgrim's Rest Clinic, Tel : +27(0)13 768 1279. There are no doctors in this town, The nearest available doctors can be found in Sabie or Graskop town and the nearest hospital is the Sabie Hospital : Tel : +27(0)13 764 1222. (Jul-15)

POLICE:
Police contact added is for the main SAPS in Pilgrim's Rest town centre. Emergency contact is 10111. (Jul-15).

SHOPPING:
Supermarkets for groceries and clothing retails shops are scattered all over the town. (Jul-15).

TRANSPORT:
There are taxis for public transport. (Jul-15).

“We visited Pilgrim's Rest in May 2013 and was pleasantly surprised. The town was clean and the historic buildings in mint condition. It was our first visit and we found it a beautiful historic town definitely worth a visit. ” - Karin Theron, 2013/06/02

“Pilgrim’s Rest I am disgusted. We visited this previously beautiful, tranquil historic town again on 22 August 2012. What an absolute disgrace that a bunch of incompetents are empowered to convert a former little jewel into a rubbish dump. The “Pilgrims” must be turning over in their graves. The only place still resembling a bit of organization, is the golf club. ” - Chris Smit, 2012/08/23

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