Barkly East is a town located in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It serves as the seat of the Joe Gqabi District Municipality and is situated approximately 117 km by road east-southeast of Maletswai. The town lies at an elevation of 1,790 meters above sea level at the southern tip of the Drakensberg mountains.
The geography of Barkly East is characterized by rugged mountains and green valleys. It is positioned along the Langkloofspruit, a tributary of the Kraai River, which eventually flows into the Orange River. The area borders Lesotho to the north and experiences snowfall during the winter months.