Vryheid - West

Vryheid NorthWhere guns fell silent

The open grasslands and wetlands to the west of Vryheid offer something completely different from the wooded habitats ofthe south and east. This area is the prime grain and ground-nut growing region and is the location of many important historical sites and haunting battlefields.

 

The town of Dundee, with its impressive Talana Museum, (70km), and Newcastle (120km) and Ladysmith (135km) are reached on the R33 and R34 roads. Anglo Boer War battlefields west of Vryheid include Scheepersnek (W1, 16km), Bemba's Kop (W2, 25km), Bloedrlvierdrlft (W3, 30km), Bloedrivlerpoort (W6, 50km) -where Gen. Louis Botha broke through the British defences and at the same time raised the morale of his own beleaguered commandos - De Jager's Drift (W1 0, 50km) and Fort Balta (W9, 55km).

A drive up through Bloedrivierpoort takes in some beautiful scenery, with paper-bark thorns growing against the impressive back-drop ofthe mountains behind. The rugged Skurweberg Mountains, through which the Blood River passes atW6, separate the middle and highveld areas, on top of which lie some acclaimed trout fishing waters (W7, 50km). The provincially important Blood RiverVIei (W5, 30km), located in the upper reaches of the Thukela River, is the focal point of nature lovers in this area. Covering some 5000ha, this large wetland is well known for its diversity and numbers of waterbirds, as well as grassland species on the surrounding farms.

A good morning's birding may provide all three crane species (grey crowned, blue and wattled), many species of ducks including African pygmy goose, fulvous duck and white-backed duck, many herons as well as other 'specials' such as the lesser jacana, African marsh harrier and red-chested tlufftail. Some of the grassland specials to be found adjacent to the wetlands include Barrow's and blue korhaans and black-rumped buttonquail. Cape fox, yellow mongoose, oribi and steenbok occur naturally.

North-east of the wetlands lies the popular high-altitude grassland and wetland birding destinations of Groenvlei and Wakkerstroom (W8, 1 OOkm). The Voortrekker and Zulu monuments on opposing sides of the Blood River (W11 & W12, 70km), bear testimony to the clash of wills between these two forces on December 16 1838, a site now em bronzed forever in a wagon laager replicating the one used by the Voortrekkers. The Zulu Monument gives another perspective ofthe battle and a visit to the Ncome Museum is a must. Allow for a entire morning to visit these two sites. Fishing and game-bird shooting are popular in the west and there are many private dams on the Blood River and its tributaries where one can test one's abilities.

Other points of interest include Conference Hill (W4, 30km) and the Museum (W13) in the town of Utrecht (70km), which has incorporated itself into the bordering nature reserve and now markets itself as 'A Town Within a Game Park.