Britstown is a small farming town in the Central Karoo region of the Northern Cape province of South Africa. It lies on the N12, 98km north of Victoria West and is named after Hans Brits, an early settler on the farm, Gemsbokfontein. In 1877 a community centre and a church was built on a section of this farm. In 1885, the Smartt Syndicate built two dams in the area and started a private irrigation scheme, producing lucerne and wheat. This scheme with the syndicated karakul farmers, provided a boon to the area until the 1961 floods destroyed the Irrigation Board Dam. It was rebuilt by the Government in 1964. De Aar is the nearest big town and lies 50 km East of Britstown on the N10. The nearest camping to the town, is at Kambro (w131186), about 20 km North on the N12.