Machadodorp

Machadodorp Tourism Bureau

Phone number: 011-802-8076
Fax number: 011-802-3887
Email: Email inquiry
Web: See the website

Municipality

District Municipality: Nkangala District Municipality
Local Municipality: Emakhazeni Local Municipality

Name

Machadodorp was named after Joachim Machado - the Portuguese surveyor and Governor of Mozambique who established the route of the railway line from Maputo (formerly Lorenzo Marques) to Pretoria. The town bagan with a railway station opened on 10th July 1894.

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Machadodorp is well known for its rainbow trout fly fishing at the Machadodorp Municipal Waters - the Fly Fishing Club and at a number of private dams in the area. There is an excellent fly fishing shop in the village where you can purchase all your tackle.
Machadodorp is an interesting historical village where President Kruger ran his parliament for 3 weeks during the boer War during 1900. There is a very interesting Boer War Grave Yard at the outskirts of the village - and many other historical sites in the area.
Runes - round stone circles built by an ancient peoples are evident in the area for those interested in stone age history.

Machadodorp has an old apartheid bridge over the railway line where an Apartheid Museum is planned to be built.

Machadodorp has an interesting township - Emthonjeni - where many of the black people live which is interesting and safe to visit.

Machadodorp has a Monthly Craft Market at the Riverside Fly Fishing Park on the last Saturday of each Month where quality local arts and crafts can be purchased.

There is Kallie & Petra Grove's Museum Home and Alta & Flip Taljaard's Teddy Bear Bedroom open to the public for viewing.

Alta also has the lovely Tea Rose Coffee Shop open for breakfasts - light lunches and teas.

Steam Train trips are available from Waterval Boven only 5km away.

Art Workshops can be arranged with a local artist to capture the beautiful scenery of the area.

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History

The town started as a railway village in 1894. in 1900 it became the Capital of S Africa for 3 weeks when President Kruger ran his government from railway carriages in a siding of the Machadodorp Railway Station. Following his defeat at the Battle of Berg en Dal he went into exile in Mozambique.

In 1907 a consignment of trout fry destined for a local farm were too poorly to travel to the farm. The trout fry were tipped into the river and grew to become large fish. This is how Machadodorp became a trout fishing destination.

Machadodorp has developed into a little service village for the surrounding sheep and cattle farms in the area - and also houses people working for the Asmang Manganese Processing Plant just outside the village.

Places of Historic Interest:
Ruins on local farms
Boer War Grave Yard
Dutch Reform Church
Methodist Church
Swedish Mission Church Building
Old Municipal Stone Building
Apartheid Bridge
Lepper Railway Waiting Rooms
Battle Site Berg en Dal
Ghosts (tours to be set up shortly)
Cultural Village to be set up shortly
Craft Centre to be set up shortly

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Climate

The climate is brisk and cool.

Average Summer Temperature: 30C
Average Winter Temperature: 12C

Summer days are warm to hot with warm to cool evenings.

Winters days are cool to warm with very cold evenings and below zero C night temperatures occasionally.

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Economy

Sheep - cattle and trout Farming - Manganese Mining and processing - Tourism

Ecoregion

There are some beautiful rocky walks and hikes in the area - and the views make a wide range of artist subject material.

Vegetation: Grassy Bushveld with interesting rock formations. Hills and valleys with beautiful water falls.

Submitted by: Trina Matheson

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