Volksrust

This town, which lies on the border of KwaZulu Natal and Mpumalanga, forms the northern gateway to the KZN Battlefields Route. Dorrie de Jager, sister of Dirk Uys, gave the town it’s name when the battle-weary Boer soldiers came to rest at Rooibult during the signing of the Peace Treaty which followed the First War of Independence. Majuba Mountain, the final point of conflict between Boer and Brit during this war, forms an imposing backdrop to the town.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Amersfoort 40 km, Durban 493 km, Johannesburg 280 km, New Castle 50 km, Standerton 80 km, Wakkerstroom 30 km.

Altitude: 1675 m above sea level

Average Rainfall: 683 mm annually.

Average Temperatures

Summer 22°c, Winter 10°c

Banks

Absa (ATM’s 2), FNB (ATM), Standard (ATM)

Dams

Mahawane, Schuilhoek, Zaaihoek

Mountain

Amajuba

HISTORICAL VIEW

Amajuba

(Mountain of the Doves)

Amajuba lies to the west of the Newcastle road and was declared a National Monument in 1941. The Battle of Majuba took place on 27 February 1881. General Colley led his troops up the mountain during the night, thinking that it was a good position to hold. Early the next morning the Boers climbed the mountain to attack and drive the British forces away. General Colley was killed during the ensuing battle. A number of grave sites and memorials can still be seen on the mountain. There is a museum and a picnic site. Open daily.

Anglo Boer War Centenary Commemorations

Between the 1^st and the 12^th of October 1899 Commandant-General Piet Joubert gathered an army of over 15 000, mainly mounted Burghers, outside Volksrust. On the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th of October 1899 he marched them down into Natal, occupying the town of Newcastle. Their route took them past all the major battlefields of the First War of Independence, such as Majuba, Laing’s Nek and Schuinshoogte, that have become legends in South Africa history. Commandant-General Petrus Jacobus Joubert was born in 1831, a descendant of French Huguenots who had come to southern Africa in the late 17^th century. He was elected Commandant-General of the Transvaal Republican forces at a mass meeting at Paardekraal in December 1880, although he claimed that he lacked the required talent for the task ahead. When Joubert was six years old his parents had joined the Great Trek and settled in Natal. Later he moved to the Transvaal, settling in the Wakkerstroom district, close to the future theatre of war. Joubert succeeded in educating himself and developed a strong interest in law, which enabled him to come to the force as a politician. In 1873 he became Chairman of the Volksraad (parliament) and was Vice President of the Republic until he resigned from the position. He returned to the political scene following the annexation of the Republic in 1877. He visited Britian in 1878 with President Paul Kruger as part of a deputation seeking to restore the former independence of the Transvaal but was unsuccessful. Joubert and Kruger did not always see eye to eye, but Joubert was always careful to keep on good terms with people whenever possible. A tall and powerful man, Joubert spoke English well, and was known as ‘Slim Piet’ by his followers, ‘slim’ being a Boer word describing guile and craftiness. He had a fiery spirit and was well respected for his generosity and, like Colley, his kindness. Commandant Nicolas Smit, second in command to Joubert, and ideally suitable for this job, was a man in his mid-forties. Although a farmer, like the majority of the Boers, he had an unrivalled natural talent for military matters. His effective use of cover was second to none, and Colley himself commented early in the war that Smit was”….an intelligent and fine man, courteous and humane in everything connected with the wounded, and gallant in action”.

British Memorial

Laid out in the form of a cross at the north side of the town.

Bushman Rock Art

Under an overhanging cliff about 2 km from O’Neil’s Cottage (Approximately 70 paintings).

Concentration Camp

Erected in 1901. Situated at Grenspruit which forms the border between Transvaal and Natal.

Convention Bridge

Negotiations between President Paul Kruger and Sir Henry Loch, British High Commissioner for South Africa, took place here in November 1894.

Grave and House of General Piet Joubert

General Piet Joubert’s grave and house are located approximately 25 km out of town on the Vrede Road

Grave of Dirk Uys

Who fell at Laing’s Nek on 28 January 1881. Two kilometers east of Volksrust on the main road to Amersfoort, his grave is at the Mahawane Dam

Market Square

Renamed Voortrekker Square in 1938. At the northen corner of the square is the 1881 Burgher Monument in commemoration of those who fought for the freedom of the ZAR (Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek).

Mount Prospect

General Colony’s grave, is situated near Mount Prospect, approximately 10 km out of town on the Battlefield Route.

O’Neil’s Cottage

This cottage, originally the home of Eugene O’Neil, was used as a makeshift hospital for British soldiers during the battle of Majuba. The peace Treaty was signed here at the end of the First War of Independence.

Prison

Volksrust Prison was built after the Anglo Boer War. Ghandi spent several months in this prison during his stay in South Africa.

Roodedraai School Museum

Approximately 30 km out of town on the Vrede road. The museum is situated on a historical farm, relating to the Anglo Boer War

NATURE

Mahawane Dam

The dam is situated on the northern side of Volksrust. The picnic area has braai facilities, as well as children’s playing apparatus. The caravan park is equipped with power points and ablution blocks

The Sungrazer Reserve

BEWAREA BOTANICAL GARDEN

Birdlife

White Breasted Cormorant

Large glossy black and white bird with a patch of yellow skin at the base of it’s hooked bill. Easts fish, thus normally found near water.

Sacred Ibis

This large black and white bird with a featherless black head and neck is usually seen near water.

Hamerkop

A dark brown bird with a heavy crest and flattened bill. The hammer shaped profile of the head makes identification easy. The nest is a very large structure built from twigs and sticks.

Bokmakierie

Olive green upper parts of bright yellow spots on the tip is clearly visible in flight.

Blacksmith Plover

This large black, white and grey bird must be the easiest plover to identify. It’s loud, ringing, ‘tink, tink, tink,’ call, reminiscent of a hammer striking the blacksmith’s anvil, can be clearly heard whatever the birds are present

Redchested Cuckoo

This cuckoo visits the area from central Africa during summer. It is seldom seen, but it’s well known “piet-my-vrou” call can be heard everywhere.

Malachite Kingfisher

This beautiful little kingfisher has a blackstriped turquoise crown which extends below it’s eyes. It can often be found perching above water on overhanging vegetation.

Bulbous and Herbaceous Plants

Eucomis autumnalis / Pineapple Flower

Bulbous herb with a rosette of broad, strap-shaped leaves, often with wavy margins. Inflorescence stalk erect, ending in a tuft of green, leaflike bracts on short stalks above the densely packed flowers. Erythina zeyheri / Plough Breaker Dwarf, deciduous shrublet with a large tuberous rootstock, actually a tree with an underground stern. Aerial stems short with sharp, recurved prickles. Flowers-drooping, usually red, very rarely white.

Nemesia fruticans / Wild snapdragon

Herb with few to many slender, erect stems from a woody taproot. Flowers pink, mauve, purple or white with two yellowfish areas in the throat.

Wahlenberia caledonical Slender

Erected perennial herb. Flowers blue or white.

Habenaria Barberton

Plant slender to fairy robust, up to 40 cm tall. Leaves numerous, oblong. Inflorescence lax, flowers 3 – 11. Terrestrial in grassland on rocky hillsides. Flowers in February and March.

Butterflies Belenois aurota

This is the most common white butterfly in South Africa. They are found in abundance throughout the year. Larval host plant – Boscia oleoides-Maerua cafra

Gaudy commodore

Junocia Octavia sesamus

The sexes are very much alike. They change colour during winter and summer and like to gather under rocks to prevent heat loss. They are found throughout the year in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and Mpumalanga. Larval host plant – Coleus spp Plectranthus esulentus

Yellow Panys

Junonia hiërta cebrene

They are easily recodnisable and are one of the most beautiful butterflies. They are well-camouflaged when they close their wings which are brown underneath and blend in with their surroundings. Larval host plant Adhatoda natalenses

Southern milkweed butterflies

Danaus chrypsoppys aegyptuis

Males and females look alike. The males have four black spots on the rear wing while the females have three spots. Carnivores don’t eat them because of their bad taste. They can be caught easily and bred in captivity: Larval host plants – Asclepias spp

Fungi

Scleroderma cepa / Puffball

Inedible toadstoll with a fruit body 10 mm – 80 mm in diameter. Lies flat on the ground

Rhus Iancea / Karre

A small to medium sized tree reaching 8 m in height. The leaves are narrow and trifoliate. The flowers are small and a dull yellow-green. Does not occur naturally in the area.

Celtis Cinencis / White Stinkwood

Trees can reach up to 30 m in height. The leaves are grey-green and the small flowers are green. The fruit is yellowish brown and is a favourite with many birds.

Grasses

Eragrostis capenisi / Heart seed

Love Grass

Clump forming, perennial, up to 300 mm high. Found in open grassland often in stony, hilly areas.

Cymbopogon plurinodes / Turpentine Grass

Clump forming perennial grass with turpentine like taste. Open grass land. Most unpalatable

Digitaria eriantha / Finger grass

Clump forming perennial grass. Highly palatable climax grass

Insects Dragonfly

Green and blue dragonflies have been noticed on the surface of the stream. They survive on decayed material

Leaf Beetle

Belong to the family Chrysomelidae. Brightly coloured, metallic sheen, mainly found on shrubs and trees

Crab Spider

Family Thomisidae. Many species in several genera. Appearance 3 mm – 12 mm. Coloured to suit their background.

ATTRACTIONS

Annual Events

Mardi Gras

The Mardi Gras takes places each year. A Mr and Miss Mardi Gras are crowned. Smiley the Clown will entertain the children during daytime, while the parents shop. Helicopter rides to Majuba Mountain.

ACTIVITIES

Bird Watching

Volksrust is a birder’s paradise. Several nesting sites of the Bald Ibis (nearly extinct) are found in the area. Kingfishers, Paradise Flycatchers, different types of sugar birds, woodpeckers, etc. can be seen. At Roodedraai there is a pan with several types of birds and an observation outpost.

Hiking

Majuba

Bewarea Botanical Gardens (walking)

Waterfall

Situated on a farm 13,6 km outside Volksrust on the Vrede road. One day trail of approximately 13 km in length leading through the mountains. The two day trail is approximately 30 km in length, with an overnight hut. Wildlife includes ‘strandwolf’, caracal (rooikat), zebras, springbok and black wildebeest. Horse Riding, game hunting and yearly game festivals are also held.

Outdoors

Horse Riding, Hunting, Paragliding

Sports

Bowling, Golf Course (9 hole).