Lephalale (Ellisras)
Previously known as Ellisras
Municipality
Municipality: Lephalale Local Municipality
District Municipality: Waterberg District Municipality
Attractions
Lephalale is on the Mokolo (or Mogol) River about 40Km from the Botswana border. The town is in the Bushveld north of Thabazimbi, northwest of Vaalwater, and west of Marken.
San rock art
San rock art can be viewed in caves in the area.
Nature
The D'Nyala Nature Reserve is about 15Km south-east of Lephalale.
The Mokolo Dam Nature Reserve is about 40Km south of Lephalale, and the Welgevonden Nature Reserve 50Km further south.
About 70Km to the east, near Marken, there are several other Nature Reserves: Masebe Nature Reserve, Keta Nature Reserve, Moepel Nature Reserve, Touchstone Nature Reserve, Lapalata Nature Reserve, Kwalata Nature Reserve.
The Marekele National Park is just south of Matlabas.
Events
There is an annual Agricultural and Tourism Show - in May.
There is an annual Bushveld Festival - July.
Things to do
Photographic hunting
Mogol Sports Club: 18-hole golf course, squash and tennis courts, gym.
History
A border post was opened in 1929 between the Union of South Africa and Bechuanaland (today called Botswana). A railway bus did the route, and stopped over on the farm Waterkloof, owned by Patric Ellis and Piet Erasmus. The stop was named after some combination of the two surnames: ellis and eRASmus.
The town was only established in 1960 after coal mining opportunities were established by Iscor. The town only started growing when Iscor began mining coal at Grootegeluk in 1982, after construction of the mine began in 1974.
Climate
Economy
Coal mining (about half of South Africa's coal deposits are found here), electricity production, agriculture, as well as tourism and game farms, of which there are more than 500 in the area.
Copyright
and Disclaimer | Contact us
© 2005 SA Routes, Bookings and Info Systems