Piet Retief

Piet Retief is named after a pioneer (Voortrekker) leader who was killed by the Zulu King Dingane in 1838

Piet Retief is a rural town on the N2 route. It is located on the on the Assegai River in the Assegai Valley, and surrounded by forests of indigenous yellowwood and such hardwoods, and planted forests of Bluegum, Pine and Wattle.

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Dutch Reformed Church

The Dutch Reformed Church was designed by the architect Gerard Moerdijk and built in 1921. It is a national monument.

Piet Retief Game and Bird Sanctuary

This sanctuary is home to local fauna and flora, including the endemic aloe species.

Oribi conservatory

The Oribi conservatory focuses on the protection of the oribi antelope.

War Memorial

The War Memorial commemorates the Anglo-Zulu War, or Intombe War. There is a monument to Heinrich Filter and Nils Larsen.

Events

There is a large German settlement in the area with German festivals providing oompah music.

Things to do

Horse riding, Bird watching. There are several game farms in the area.

Sport: tennis, squash, indoor cricket, and a 9-hole golf course.

Assegai Hiking Trail

This trail winds through mountain scenery.

Phongolo Highlands Hiking Trail System

This trail system offers hikes ranging from 1-5 days and longer. It includes the Ngcaka and Mpisi Trails.

Fishing

The area has several dams and many rivers with yellowtail and Natal yellowfin. Fly fishing is also available.

History

The town of Piet Retief was laid out in 1883 on the farms Osloop and Geluk. It became a municipality in 1932. Many Germans and Scots settled here in the later 1800s.

The town was named after the European poineer (Voortrekker) Piet Retief (1780 - 1838). Retief originally farmed near Grahamstown, but joined pioneers moving to the north when he ran into financial difficulties. He went bankrupt at least twice through gambling and land speculation.

Republic of Little Free State

In 1886 the Republic of Little Free State was declared, containing a population of only 72 inhabitants. It existed for 5 years until 1891, when it was incorporated in the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. In terms of population, this was probably the smallest republic in the world.

Climate

Economy

Timber (Bluegum, Pine and Wattle), and paper and wattle bark production. Mining: mica, kaolin, iron.

Wattle was imported from Australia, and large plantations planted between 1900 and 1910. Timber became the main industry of the town. About 75'000Ha around the town was covered by forests.

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