Memel

The Anglo Boer War and the Rebellion have contributed to the region’s rich history. Various memorials and battlefields may be observed. The well known Amajuba mountain is only 40 km from Memel. The Rebellion, led by General Christiaan de Wet, began in Memel in 1914. De Wet at that stage owned the farm Allanvale just outside of Memel. The Memel commando (of 70 men) were among the first to join De Wet. A Monument, in memory of this popular revolt, was erected in the town in 1915. In 1917, eleven people from the community that were killed in the Rebellion were buried here, among them Gen de Wet’s son. Memel (founded in 1913)is situated in the Drakensberg area in the northeastern corner of the Free State. This quaint town is nestled between vast plains, mountains and streams. The name Memel (meaning ‘surrounded by water’) is of Prussian origin and is indeed an apt description, for this is a water rich area with unique wetlands. The whole area is of spectacular beauty and is a nature lover’s dream. Bordering on the town of Memel is one of the largest remaining natural wetlands in South Africa. It is of international ecological importance and has declared a Ramsar site. The Seekoeivlei wetlands provide a unique aquatic habitat of some 220 oxbow lakes, which have been formed in the Klip River through the centuries. This is one of the few remaining marshes in the Vaal River catchment. A large variety of good, affordable accommodation facilities are available in and around Memel, varying from luxurious guest houses to farm houses, chalets, B&B’s to bungalows and a caravan park.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there - Newcastle 48 km, Vrede 58 km

Average Rainfall – 500 mm – 800 mm per annum

Average Temperatures – Summer 24°c; Winter 0°c – 18°c

Banks – Absa. Fnb

ATM’s – None

Mountains – Amajuba

HISTORICAL VIEW

Dutch Reformed Church - Built behind the monument in 1925.

Memorial

History lovers will be interested to learn that the 1914 Rebellion started here. A memorial erected in front of the Dutch Reformed Church in honour of the rebellion also marks the spot where General de Wet’s son is buried.

Mercury Airways Plane Crash

Spitzkop, a koppie near Memel, was the site of South Africa’s first commercial plane crash. On 15 May 1948 a Skyliner (a version of the well known DC – 3) belongings to Mercury Airways, on it’s way from Stanford Hill airport in Durban to Palmietfontein (present day Johannesburg International Airport), crashed into Spitzkop, killing all 13 people on board. The crash was, at the time, regarded as South Africa’s biggest air disaster. The pilot was Commander JN Smith, a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross during the Second World War.

NATURE

Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve (5000 ha)

Situated within the wetlands area. Of the total of 12 000 ha of flood plane, the wetlands are comprises approximately 3000 ha. The last hippopotamus in the Free State was hot here in 1894. Re-establishment of the hippopotamus into the reserve was started in 1999. this unique habitat is home to thousands of birds. Scarce and endangered species such as the Wattled and Blue Crane, as well as the Crowned Crane are observed here. Memel is the only place in the country, apart from Dullstroom (Mpumalanga), where all three these crane species are found. Apart from the water birds, huge numbers of birds make their home in the plains. The extremely scarce Rudd’s Lark is also found here. The Memel region is one of the areas in South Africa where the largest variety of bird species occur – presumably more than 350 species, of which 232 have already been listed.

ATTRACTIONS

Game Farm - Outside Memel on the farm Verkykerskop

Zulu Cultural Village

ACTIVITIES

4 x 4 Routes

The nearby Botha’s Pass and the surrounding escarpment lend itself to four wheel driving – check for the condition of the roads during the summer rainy conditions of the roads during the summer rainy season. Remains of the British forts built along the escarpment during the Anglo Boer War can be viewed.

Bird Watching

Just 2 km north of Memel is one of the largest remaining wetlands of it’s kind in South Africa, stretching from Memel northward to Villiers

Hiking Trails

Witkoppe Hiking Trail

There are numerous hiking trails in the mountains, taking the hikers to pristine forests, waterfalls, caves and panoramic views. A special treat is to come across the mountain rhebuck, reindeer with magnificent antlers, baboons and monkeys.