Maclear

Maclear is named after Sir Thomas Maclear, astronomer at the Cape Observatory 1834-1879

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Maclear (population 13'000) is located in the southern Drakensberg Mountain Range on the R56 between Ugie and Elliot, and and on the R396 between Rhodes and the N2 between Mthatha and Mount Frere.

The town lies in the Mooi River valley near the Pot (or Tsitsa) River, which eventually becomes the Umzimvubu River, entering the Indian Ocean at Port St Johns.

San rock art

Apart from very old San paintings, there are paintings of more recent events, such as a ship being wrecked on the rocks (on the farm Chamisso), a wagon drawn by oxen and driven by white people, possibly of the European pioneers (Voortrekkers) who travelled through the area from 1934 onwards (on the farm Craigmore - permission to view must be obtained from Mondi Paper Co), a donkey (on the farm Rockwater - the first donkeys were brought by the Griquas to Maclear in 1862).

A member of the San painted one of these ox wagons under an overhanging rock on the farm Craigmore. With the p. the spot can be visited.

The last San people seen in the area was in 1873.

Some of the San paintings of this area were removed in 1932 to be displayed the South African Museum in Cape Town.

Contact Sheila (045 9321437) for guided tours.

Architecture

The Ugie Methodist Church is built in the typical settler eastern Cape architecture.

The Sivewright Bridge, a sandstone bridge with arches, is a National Monument.

Gatberg

Southwest of Maclear at Gatberg is a rock formation - a large hole in the mountain.

Dinosaur tracks

Dinosaur Footprints can be viewed on the farm Oakleigh. The road there is not recommended for cars.

Contact for permission and keys to the gate: Ginger Jenkins 045-932-1675

Naudes Nek Pass

Naudes Nek Pass is the highest pass in South Africa. It is not recommended for sedan cars.

Tsitsa Waterfall

Tsitsa Waterfall (www.tsitsafalls.com) is about 70Km to the east of Maclear just off the N2 routes. The fall of 26m is in the Tsitsa River, which starts out as the Mooir River west of Maclear.

Sport

Golf: there is a 9 hole golf course.

At the Maclear Country Club: squash, tennis.

Tent Pegging (Gymkana): Maclear hosted the SA Junior Gymkana championships.

Abseiling: at the Tsitsa Falls

Other: 4x4 trails, paragliding

Snow skiing is possible at the Tiffendell Ski Resort (20Km north of Rhodes, which is about 95Km from Maclear).

Fly fishing

There are more than 1000Km of rivers and streams in the Maclear area. The Maclear Fly Fishing Club are the custodians of fly fishing in the area.

Contacts
Colin Moolman: 082-578-2048)
Noel Wagenaar: 045-932-1038).

Day permits are available at Maclear Agencies, or Maclear Nissan at R50.00 per day.

Tractor Museum

There is a Tractor Museum in Ugie, which is about 20Km from Maclear.

Events

Shell Maclear River Festival

This is an annual Flyfishing Festival, The Rapture of the River, held at around April-May every year.

Kapaailand Classic

The annual Kapaailand Classic golf tournament is held during November.

Things to do

Hiking trails

The Prentjiesberg and Woodcliff Cave Trails offer hikes of
1-4 days.

History

The San people were the earliest known humans living in the area. There are numerous San rock paintings in the area.

Mpondomise

Around 1420, the Mpondomise, an isiXhosa speaking tribe of the Nguni people moved into the area. They were originally from central Africa.

The river north of Maclear, was named Mbisa, meaning a pot. The European settlers named this river the Pot River.

The Mpondomise Rebellion

When the Griquas moved into the area (see below), and the British introduced a hut tax they had to pay to the Cape Colony, the Mpondomise rebelled against this. In 1880 several Europeans were murdered in the Maclear-Ugie area.

Kapaailand - Ncapayi's Country

Between 1832 and 1853 Ncapayi and his followers of the AmaBhaca tribe roamed through the area of Mount Fletcher, Maclear and Elliot. The area was called Kapaailand by the Europeans.

The Griquas

The Griquas moved into the area around Kokstad around 1861. This new land of ther Griquas was known as New Griqualand. The area in which the Griquas were settled before in the present Northen Cape, became known as Griqualand West.

Some groups of Griqua broke away from the settlement in the Kokstad area, and settled at Ugie (then known as Inxu Drift) and Maclear (then known as Nqanqaru).

Sir Thomas Maclear

Thomas Maclear was England's Astronomer in the Cape Colony. In 1843 he was remeasuring and extending the arc of the meridian at the Nqanqaru River.

European pioneers - Voortrekkers

A group of pioneers under leadership of Piet Uys departed from Grahamstown in January 1834. The passed through the area of Maclear. The named the Tsitsa River as Mooi River (i.e. Pretty River).

Maclear was established in 1875.

TOP