Lydenburg

Lydenburg the centre of South Africa Fly Fishing

Lydenburg is a town in Mpumalanga, South Africa. It is situated on the Spekboom tributary of the Olifants River at the base of the Long Tom Pass. The name is derived from Dutch meaning "Town of Suffering." It has become the centre of the South African fly-fishing industry and is an agricultural and mining centre.

The town of Lydenburg was founded in 1849 by the Voortrekker leader Hendrik Potgieter, who had been forced to move his people from Ohrigstad, due to a serious outbreak of malaria. From 1857 to 1860 the town was the capital of De Republiek Lydenburg in Zuid Africa until unification with the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR). The town was given municipal status in 1927. Lydenburg is a major agricultural and mining centre situated on the Sterkspruit River, on the Mpumalanga escarpment. Dams, rivers and open vleis are an attractive feature of the area. Lydenburg is an important historical centre, housing an excellent museum at the Gustav Klingbiel Nature Reserve. The history of Lydenburg dates back many centuries to the early passage of migrating people who left behind a remarkable record of their dwellings and terraced farmlands. The culture of the Afrikaner is well represented in the outstanding historical architecture of the town. Lydenburg offers an excellent window into the history, the culture and the passage of the many people who chose this fertile valley as their home over many centuries. Lydenburg is centrally located on the Mpumalanga escarpment making it an ideal centre from which to take in the many historical and scenic points of interest throughout the area. Lydenburg is a town for all seasons, boasting a healthy climate, sunny warm summers and exhilarating cold winters. With it’s high mountain air, beautiful rolling grasslands and spectacular scenery, it is a paradise for the outdoor enthusiast. Excellent accommodation facilities are available in and around Lydenburg together with restaurant facilities. Lydenburg offers excellent shopping facilities, including a specialist angling shop, Fishy Pete’s. approximately 8 km from Lydenburg on the R540 to Dullstroom you can visit Krugel’s Mampoer Cellar where liquor is distilled from local fruits. Not for the faint hearted. To the west of the town, over the Dorps River lies the suburb of Mashishing (a Pedi word meaning ‘savannah grass’) housing a vibrant community of over 36 000 people. The suburb has an interesting history. The area was originally called Marambane, a name derived from the word ‘mahambane’ meaning ‘to walk’, and used to describe the gold prospectators. ‘Abamahambane’, who scourced the hills and valleys around Lydenburg at the turn of the century in search of gold. One of the first secondary schools in the region was located here, attracting students and their families from the many smaller local communities. The Marambane Primary School, which was opened in March 1942, was built by the Lydenburg United Church and is a superb example of early school architecture. Today the school has a student enrolment of over 800 pupils. One of the famous sons of Mashishing was Gert Skhosana a deacon in the NGK, who championed the causes and interests of this community in a lifetime of dedicated service. Today, Mashishing forms an integral part of Greater Lydenburg.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Blyde River Canyon 100 km (R532), Dullstroom 55 km (R540), Graskop 75 km (R533), Johannesburg International 300 km (N4), Kruger National Park 160 km (R37), Nelspruit 100 km (R37), Pilgrim’s Rest 59 km (R533), Sabie 56 km (R37)

Altitude: 1424 m above sea level

Average Rainfall: 600 mm per annum in the summer months

Average Temperatures

Summer Day 25°c to 28°c; Night 20°c; Winter Day 15°c to 20°c, Night 3°c to 10°c

Banks

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

Dams

Buffelskloof, Kwena, Lydenburg, Ohrigstad

Rivers

Crocodile, Dorps, Sterkspruit River

HISTORICAL VIEW

Burger Memorial

Commemorates members of the Lydenburg Commando who lost their lives during the Anglo Boer War of 1899 – 1902

Dutch Reformed Church (1890)

On Church Square, which cost a mere 12,119 pounds to build, features a superb kiaat pulpit which is the exact replica of the pulpit of the Stellenbosch Church. The organ was donated to the congregation in 1926 by the descendants of the Voortrekker, GC Schoeman. This beautiful building is now a National Monument.

Lydenburg Heads

Clay heads unearthed near the town, form an important link in the archaeological findings of the area. These clay sculpted heads date back some 800 years.

Mtololo Volcanic Pipes

Located at the end of Voortrekker Street, shows evidence of volcanic activity dating back some 2000 million years.

Museum

Features some excellent exhibits of early gold mining and military history, along with the many cultural exhibits, are also of great importance.

Ox Wagon Trek Memorial

On the corner of Burger and Voortrekker Streets, was erected in 1938 to commemorates the Great Trek of 1838.

Powder Magazine (1890)

Was in constant use by the various occupants of the town from the time of the Sekhukhune War of 1897 when the 94^th Regiment (British) were stationed in Lydenburg through to the first South African war of 1881,when the town was defended by a small garrison of British troops before being evacuated. The fort was named Fort Mary after the wife of the officer commanding the garrison, Lt Walter Long.

Steenkamp Bridge

11 km from Lydenburg, just off the R36 to Ohrigstad, was opened in 1897 and remained in use until 1965. The bridge, which was damaged during the war of 1899 – 1902, was named after Helgard Steenkamp, commandant of the Lydenburg Commando.

Voortrekker Church (1852)

Voortrekker School

The Voortrekker School which dates back to 1851 is situated on Church Street. Both buildings are National Monuments, having been fully restored from old pen and ink sketches drawn in 1867.

ZAR Post Box

Situated on Kantoor Street, in front of the Voortrekker Church, was manufactured at Pletterij den Haag and erected in 1895.

NATURE

De Kuilen Trout Hatchery

The largest of it’s kind in the southern hemisphere, supplies trout ova and fingerlings to a wide local and international market. The hatchery is closed to the public.

Gustav Klingbiel Nature Reserve

Conserving a variety of antelope, small mammals and birds. Hiking trails.

Long Tom Pass

The highest point on the pass is about 2750 m above sea level. From here you have a spectacular view of Mt Anderson, 2284 m above sea level, named after two land surveyors, the brothers HM and WAB Anderson. South of Mt Anderson is the road to Long Tom Pass, named after skirmishes on the pass between Boers and British during the Anglo Boer War of 1899 – 1902

Lydenburg Waterfall

16 km north of town, is one of the most spectacular in Mpumalanga. The three falls, which drive an electrical generation plant, have a combined height of 244 m

Mpumalanga Parks Board Fish and Plant Production Lydenburg (1)

Take the R37 to Sabie over the Long Tom Pass, visit the Forestry Museum and a number of waterfalls before traveling on to Pilgrim’s Rest on the R532 returning to Lydenburg over Robber’s Pass on the R533 with a stop at the Ohrigstad Nature Reserve, before joining the R36

(2) Take the R36 to Ohrigstad and the Abel Erasmus Pass. Retrace to the R532 to the Blyde River Canton with the many scenic wonders to the discovered on this drive, continue towards Graskop, returning through Pilgrim’s Rest.

(3) Take the R540 to Dullstroom, then on to Stoffberg on a minor road, to join the R555 to Roossenekal for a visit to the Mapoch Caves, returning to Lydenburg on the R577.

(4) Visit the Gustav Klingbiel Museum and Nature Reserve, 3 km from Lydenburg on the R37, return to town with a visit to the Fish and Plant Production Reserve. Then take the R36 towards Ohrigstad to the spectacular Lydenburg Falls.

Steenkampsberg Mountain Pass

This pass has the highest tarred road in the former Transvaal and is known as ‘Joops Hoogte’. This pass was named after the Steenkamp family who settled in that area.

Sterkspruit Nature Reserve

Conserving a variety of antelope, small mammals and birds on 4000 ha of typical middleveld grassland. Hiking trails. The nature reserve also protects the mountain catchment area above Lydenburg at the Long Tom Pass.

ATTRACTIONS

Finsbury Goldfield

Situated north of the town in the Spekboom River Valley is the site of early alluvial diggings. These diggings can only be visited by special arrangement.

Mpumalanga Belle

Lydenburg boasts the largest fly tying and fishing lure factory in South Africa where a team of highly skilled craftsmen provide for the needs of every type of angling. The business supplies fishing tackle to a wide export market. When the regional tourism body decided to use a trout fly as it’s logo, a special design was created called the ‘Mpumalanga Belle’.

Piso Plant Long Tom Marathon

Second Saturday in March

ACTIVITIES

Cycling

Fishing

Lydenburg is one of the foremost trout and coarse fishing centres in South Africa. Fishing facilities on both dams and rivers have been well developed to suit every need. Camp sites, caravan parks and guest houses all cater for the many fishermen who come to Lydenburg to enjoy both the angling and the tranquility of this beautiful town and surrounds.

Hiking

Crane Nature Trail, Famba Farms Nature Trail, Marantan Nature Reserve, Mount Sheba Nature Trail, Ohrigstad Dam Nature Trail, Pedi Interpretative Nature Trail, Protea Nature Trail, Ribbok Nature Trail, Sterkspruit Nature Trail.

Accommodation in and around Highlands Meander