Name

Haenertsburg is named after Carl Ferdinand Haenert, who discovered gold here.

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Haenertsburg is a tiny village on the slopes of the Strydpoortberg Mountains, which is the northern-most region of the Drakensberg Mountain range that leads all the way southward past Lesotho to the northern areas of the Eastern Cape. Several other mountain peaks are also in the area, such as the Wolkberg, with a peak of 2'127m.

Haenertsburg is a small village, but there are many hospitality services in the mountains around the village, and lots to do in the area.

Cherry Blossom Spring Festival

In September and October there is an annual Cherry Blossom Spring Festival.

Wolkberg Wilderness Area

The Wolkberg Wilderness Area is just southeast of Haenertsburg. It is about 20'000Ha in size and consists of grassland slopes, with indigenous forests and several small waterfalls. The peak is 2'127m high.

The Wolkberg hiking trail starts at the New Agatha forest station.

Debengeni Waterfall

The Debengeni Waterfall is at the bottom of the Magoebaskloof Mountain Pass on the R71 route between Haenertsburg and Tzaneen. There are picnic spots under the trees and swimming is allowed. An entrance fee is charged.

Cheerio Gardens

These gardens were established shortly after World War II by Sheila ‘Box' Thompson. Azaleas and flowering cherries are on display in September/October. There is a tea garden with light snacks and refreshments.

Pekoe View Tea Garden

Although the tea plantations no longer functions, there still is this tea garden.

Long Tom Monument

Although the last Long Tom gun was destroyed near Lydenburg, there is a monument to this gun in Haenertsburg (see below).

Magoebaskloof Dam

The Magoebaskloof Dam is at the bottom of the Magoebaskloof Pass on the R71 between Haenertsburg and Tzaneen. There are picnic sites.

Stanford Lake

Stanford Lake is on the R71 between Haenertsburg and Tzaneen. Trout fishing can be done on the lake, as well as other water sport.

Ebenezer Dam

The Ebenezer Dam is just north of Haenertsburg at a lower elevation.

Angling: trout, kurper, eel, barbel and black bass.

Boating: contact Mountain Yacht Club for details: 015-276-4200.

Cruises: Sunset Queen accommodates 35 passengers and is suitable for day cruises, conferences and overnight accommodation. This is a well equipped vessel.

Trails

There are several hiking trails, mountain bike trails, horse trails and 4x4 trails in the area.

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History

Not much is known about the people who lived in the area prior to being colonised by the Europeans.

At some stage the Pedi people settled here, and called the area Byadladi, which means place of plenty.

King Makgoba

King Makgoba of the Tlou tribe ruled in this area during the time of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republic. History about this is scant, but he defended his land against the invading colonisers.

On the settler's side, the war was led by General FA (Groot Freek) Grobler (ca 1850 - 1901). Swazi soldiers were on the Boer side.

Makgoba was eventually defeated and beheaded by the Boers and Swazis under the guidance of Abel Erasmus, after whom a road pass (between Lydenburg and Ohrigstad) was named. By June 1895 Makgoba's people had been dispossessed and scattered away from the area.

Today the mountain slopes around Haenertsburg and Tzaneen are known as the Magoebaskloof, which is derived from Makgoba's name.

Carl Ferdinand Haenert

The German Carl Ferdinand Haenert came to southern Africa as a big game hunter in 1857 and eventually settled in the area as the first coffee grower in southern Africa. Later he found gold near the present Haenertsburg, and the location was named after him. The now depleted gold mines can still be visited.

The village of Haenertsburg was established in 1887.

Long Tom

During the Anglo-Boer War, the Boers used an artillery canon with a 4.2m long barrel, which was nick named Long Tom. This gun is not to be confused with a similar long barrel canon used by the Americans in World War II, which was also named Long Tom.

In 1897 the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republic, who was at war with Great Brittain, bought four 155 mm Creusot French field guns, 4,000 common shells, 4,000 shrapnel shells and 800 case shots. These Creusot canons were called Long Tom guns. The guns were used in battles at Ladysmith, Mafeking, Kimberley and Bergendal. When the Boers' ammunition for the guns were finished, they were destroyed to prevent them from falling into British hands. The last canon was destroyed near Lydenburg, about 100Km (in a straight line) southeast from Haenertsburg.

Nature

Haenertsburg lies on the slopes of the northern regions of the Drakensberg Mountain range, which forms the border between the interior higlands plateau on the south and west, and the Lowveld bushveld, which lies to the east and north of the mountains. The slopes are one of the areas in the country with the highest rainfall, hence tropical rainforests grow here.

Haenertsburg lieas on the border of the WWF AT1004 Drakensberg montane grasslands, woodlands and forests ecoregion and the WWF AT0717 Southern Africa bushveld ecoregions.

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