What To Do

MEMEL ATTRACTIONS 

Seekoeivlei

ADVENTURE AND SPORT

Adventure sport and angling

Mountain biking, canoeing and angling, particularly fly-fishing opportunities, are offered in and around the town.

Caravan Park

The Dumela Private Caravan Park offers caravan sites with clean ablution blocks and undercover “braai” (barbecue) areas at reasonable tariffs.

4×4 Routes

Botha’s Pass and the surrounding escarpment are ideal for 4×4 enthusiasts. However, some of the roads might pose a problem during the rainy season (in the summer months).

Guest Farms

Ronderus Guest Farm offers rest and tranquillity; a good way to spend a weekend or short holiday. For thrill-seekers there are many hiking, mountain-biking, hang-gliding and rock-climbing opportunities.

Horse-riding

Umvubu Horse Trails offer you the chance to explore the Zeekoeivlei Nature Reserve on horseback by day or night! Umvubu Bush Camp, situated close to road R34 next to the Reserve, offers easy access to the Reserve and makes a good base from which to explore the area.

Hiking

Memel and its surrounds have a number of wonderful hiking trails, such as the Sediba (“Fountain water”) Trail, that traverse and explore the mountains, waterfalls, forests and caves in the area. Do not be surprised if you come across buck, baboons or monkeys.

Hunting

Hunting packages are offered in season on some of the game farms in the area.

FAUNA AND FLORA

Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve

On the Drakensberg Escarpment at Moorefield, only 25 kms from Memel, big areas with unspoilt indigenous forest are to be found. To the north and west the landscape comprises mainly undulating grasslands and includes the extensive 5000 ha Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve. The spectacular internationally important 2000 ha Seekoeivlei Wetlands – listed as a Wetland of International Importance (RAMSAR) – is situated in the Reserve along the Klip River. The wetlands are made up by an extensive meandering floodplain and are now once again home to the hippo, 100 years after the last one was shot in the area.

Bird Watching

The Memel district is also noted for its estimated 350 bird species including many ‘specials’ and 15 Red Data listed species. Memel is becoming a great birding destination. At certain times of the year thousands of water birds congregate on the wetlands, and the grassland areas abound with bird life, making the area a true birding paradise. Scarce and endangered species such as the Wattled, Blue and Crowned Crane may be seen and sometimes roost together in the same part of the wetland. Special birds of the grasslands include Southern Bald Ibis, Blue Korhaan, Rudd’s and Botha’s Larks and Yellow-breasted Pipit.

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE

British Forts

The British erected forts along the escarpment for defence purposes during the Anglo-Boer War, which still stand.

Rebellion Memorial

The Rebellion Memorial, to commemorate the 1914 Rebellion of the Boers against the British, was erected in front of the Dutch Reformed Church. The rebellion was planned on the farm Allenvale and executed from there. It was the result of many Afrikaners disagreeing with the South African government about whether or not South Africa should invade the German Colony of South West Africa on behalf of Britain. Many Afrikaners were still bitter about the Anglo-Boer War and did not want to fight on the side of the British. Furthermore, many regarded and were in fact related to the people of the then South West Africa (now Namibia). The memorial also marks the spot where General Christiaan de Wet’s son, who died during the uprising, is buried. General de Wet was one of the Boer leaders who instigated the rebellion.

VREDE ATTRACTIONS

 

Vrede and its surrounding area is a rewarding tourist destination offering a diversity of attractions, adventures, accommodation, arts, crafts and restaurants. The town has modern golf and tennis facilities and a host of water sports facilities are on offer at the Vrede Dam.  Other activities in the area include hiking, mountain biking, caving, abseiling, rock climbing, horse riding, game viewing, hunting, browsing and shopping or just relaxing in the quaint pubs and restaurants in the area.

ADVENTURE AND SPORT

Emanzini Country Resort

The resort will provide you with an angling and boating holiday to remember. A swimming pool, restaurant and comfortable chalets complete the picture. 4×4 routes: Several farms in the district have superb 4×4 routes, as well as hiking and bird-watching opportunities.

Hiking

Hiking routes have been established on the many holiday farms in the vicinity of the town. Try out the Langberg hiking, biking, abseiling and caving combination trail.

Holiday farms

Langberg Springs on the farm Skerpkloof has four trout dams as well as hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing opportunities. Fairview Holiday Farm offers game viewing and hunting opportunities coupled with hiking, angling and 4×4 routes.

Horse-riding

The Aldo Riding School is located on the farm Eureka and offers lessons for children as young as five years of age. Holiday camps are conducted during April and December. Other horse-riding opportunities and trails exist on the many holiday and game farms in the area.

Mountain biking

The Langberg Trail takes bikers up to the top of Langberg where overnight accommodation is available in an old horse stable.

Sport

Vrede has its own 9-hole golf course set in scenic surroundings, as well as a tennis club.

Trout-fishing

Trout-fishing opportunities abound on the many holiday farms in the vicinity of the town.

Vrede Marina

Vrede Dam, also called the Vrede Marina, is ideal for angling, water-skiingand boating.

ART AND CRAFTS

Art Holiday Farm

The Glen Harry Guest Farm offers accommodation and the chance to learn to paint with the help of a well-known local artist.

Sycamore Semi-precious Stones

“Sycamore Semi-edelgesteentes” is based on a farm in the district and manufacture hand-made jewellery and other articles using South African semi-precious stones.

FAUNA AND FLORA

Little Long Creek

Little Long Creek lies in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountain Range and has superb scenery, wild flowers and birds. Fly-fishing and horse-riding can also be done.

Moreson (“Morning Sun”) Ranch

This holiday and game farm is situated at the foot of Bothasberg Mountain and offers game viewing, hunting, angling, 4×4 and hiking routes and horse-riding. The farm is renowned for its blesbok herd, the largest herd of this type of antelope in the Free State.

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE

Great Trek Monument

A granite monument commemorating the Great Trek of 1838 stands in the town.

Sheep House

The Sheep House was used as a storage place by the British during the Anglo-Boer War. They killed flocks of sheep and stored the carcasses of the animals in the house to deprive the Boers forces of food.

Old Cannon

A cannon that was used in South West Africa (now Namibia) during the First World War can be seen in the town.

War Memorial

The Burghers Memorial in the grounds of the Dutch Reformed Church was erected in honour of the Boers who lost their lives during the Anglo-Boer War. The town also has a Garden of Remembrance for British soldiers who fought in that war.

(Source:  In a Bus Tours)

WARDEN ATTRACTIONS

ADVENTURE AND SPORT

Water sport

The Warden Dam offers several angling and recreation opportunities.

ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALAEONTOLOGY

San Rock Paintings: San rock paintings can be seen on the farm Goedgegewend in the area.

FAUNA AND FLORA

Cosmos Wild Flowers

The beautiful cosmos wild flowers grace the countryside with their colourful presence during the autumn months when splashes of purple, pink and whitecover the landscape in a tapestry of colour.

Bird-watching

The many marshes in the area attract a rich variety of birds, especially water birds.

HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE

Dutch Reformed Church

The massive Dutch Reformed Church towers over the surrounding countryside. It is the largest sandstone church in the southern hemisphere and can accommodate more than 1 000 people.