Haenertsburg

Haenertsburg is a village on the edge of the Great Escarpment in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, on the R71 between Pietersburg and Tzaneen. The town was established in 1886 after the discovery of gold in the area by Carl Ferdinand Haenert. The attractive village is known as Capital of the Land of the Silver Mist. The frequent mists and relatively high rainfall have resulted in the formation of beautifully wooded, lushly vegetated kloofs. The town is famous for the profusion of flowering cherries, azaleas and the Cherry Blossom Festival in spring. The steepest mountain pass in South Africa, the Magoebaskloof pass (falling approximately 600m in less than 7 km travelled), leads from the Highveld of the Haenertsburg area to the Lowveld adjoining the Kruger National Park. Farming and tourism are the main economic activities of the area. Iron Crown Mountain, a landmark and the highest peak in the Wolkberg can be reached either on foot from the village of Haenertsburg or by vehicle along a gravel road signed Wolkberg near Boyne on the R71 road. Visitors to 'the Mountain', as the area is affectionately known by the locals, has a wide range of accommodation types to choose from. Sani Pass falls 1332 m in 9 km, much steeper.

From Pretoria, take the N1 north to Pietersburg (about 290 km) Then take the R71 East to Haenertsburg (About 55 km).

“Haenertsburg was born in the Gold Rush days and is now more than 125 years old. The village, named after Carl Ferdinand Haenert who hailed from Eisenach in Germany, has seen its fair share of excitement and romance, including the Makgoba War and the Anglo Boer War. The township of Haenertsburg was proclaimed on September 13, 1887 and was measured out in Cape Feet with each erf being only 50 sq feet – enough space to put up a tent or a small shack. In 1890 a census showed that Haenertsburg had 186 inhabitants, of which 16 were adult women and 131 adult men. Haenertsburg has a colorful history. Visitors can visit the open-air museum in Mare Street above the Municipal Offices. Descriptive plaques tell the history of the area dating from the Makgoba War to the Anglo-Boer War and the more recent involvement in the Border Wars of the 1970s. There are also remains of the last Long Tom gun. A collection of memorabilia including items from the Anglo Boer-War can be seen in the museum at the Pennefather Complex. Various books have been written by local historian Louis Changuion and are available at the Memory Hold-the-door book shop in Rissik street. (Tsidi Mzansi Historian)” - Chris Smit, 2025/05/12

Be the first to submit a link or media file

Be the first to submit a link