Northern
Drakensberg
-
Royal Natal
- Cathedral Peak
- Bergville
-
Ladysmith
- Oliviershoek
- Van Reenen
Central Drakensberg
- Monks Cowl
- Champagne Valley
- Injasuti
- Giants Castle
- Highmoor
- Kamberg
- Winterton
- Estcourt
- Mooi River
- Weenen
Southern Drakensberg
- Lotheni
- Vergelegen
- Sani Pass
- Cobham
- Bushmans Nek
- Drakensberg Gardens
- Underberg
- Himeville
Natal Midlands
- Rosetta
- Nottingham Road
- Balgowan
- Howick
- Lidgetton
- Currys Post
- Karkloof
- Lions River
- Fort Nottingham
- Hilton
- Dargle
Drakensberg Attractions
- Bushman Rock
Art
- Hiking Trails
- Hot air
ballooning
- Horse trails
- Helicopter & Microlight
flights
- Restaurants
- Arts & Crafts
- Drakensberg
Boys Choir
- Canopy Tours
- Midlands Meander
- Fly Fishing
- Game Viewing
- Golf
- White Water rafting
- Birding
-
Quad Biking
- 4x4 Offroad trails
- Battlefield Tours
- Wine Tasting
- Museums
- Bicycle tours
- Abseiling
- Wellness & Spas
Weddings
Conferences
Drakensberg Links

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Matatiele - Southern Drakensberg
Matatiele is a mid-sized town serving the farming and trading communities
of East Griqualand in the foothills of the western Drakensberg
Matatiele is a mid-sized town serving the farming and trading communities
of East Griqualand in the foothills of the western Drakensberg, Eastern Cape,
South Africa, on the border with KwaZulu-Natal and 20 km from the southern
frontier of Lesotho.
Dairy farming is the principal activity in Matatiele. Good trout
fishing is to be had in the numerous streams of the area. As a town, Matatiele
is the reference point for all of the northern Transkei. The name "Matatiele" is
clearly a Sotho word, based on the Sesotho phrase "matata aile" meaning "the
ducks have gone"
Evidence of Stone
Age inhabitants in the form of art adorning rocks are found throughout the
area. In the early 1860s the Griquas settled here after migrating across
the Drakensberg from Philippolis. Matatiele was the centre of cattle rustling
and gun-running and order was only restored in 1874 by the Cape Mounted Riflemen.
Matatiele became a municipality in 1904. In 2005, the municipality was moved
from the KwaZulu-Natal province to the Eastern Cape as part of the 12th amendment
of the constitution, over the objections of the majority of residents, some
of whom in response founded the African Independent Congress. On 18 August
2006 the Constitutional Court ruled that the part of the 12 amendment dealing
with the transfer of Matatiele from KwaZulu-Natal to the Eastern Cape was
invalid due to insufficient consultation.
Matatiele Attractions
- Matatiele Museum - Display depict the history of the
town and it’s people
- San Rock Art - Also to be seen are Bushman artifacts
dating back to the Stone Age
- Mountain Lake Nature Reserve Located 12 km from town,
on a plateau of rolling grasslands and wetlands. The reserve offers magnificent
views of the Drakensberg. The lake covers 30 ha when full and offers excellent
trout fishing (rainbow trout ). The reserve is home to more than 80 species,
including the rare Rudd’s
Lark.
- Wilfred Bauer Nature Reserve Situated 5 km west of town
on the Lesotho road the reserve offers picnic facilities, fishing, walking
and game viewing.
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