- Weenen, KwaZulu-Natal
Weenen (Dutch for "to weep") is the second oldest
Europe an settlement inKwaZulu-Natal ,South Africa . It is situated on the banks of theBushman River . Thefarm s around the town growvegetables , lucerne,groundnuts , andcitrus fruit . The town was laid out in 1838 at the site of a massacre by theZulu 's followingVoortrekker settlements in the area near the royalkraal ofDingane . A now-closed narrow gaugerailway was built in 1907 to connect the town toEstcourt , 47kilometre s to the west.Weenen Nature reserve
Weenen Game Reserve is administered by KwaZulu Wildlife and covers an area of typical inland KwaZulu-Natal acacia grassland with occasional thickets. There are extensive game viewing facilities, guided walks and environmental education in the Weenen Game Reserve. More than 230 species of birds have been recorded (there are two hides overlooking a dam) and the park is an excellent example of how a severely degraded habitat can be successfully rehabilitated. There are three picnic sites. Mammals in the reserve include
rhino ,giraffe ,hyaena ,jackal ,bushbuck ,reedbuck ,steenbok andporcupine . The Weenen nature reserve has a small two-bedroomed cottage with BBQ facilities and its own trail and waterhole. There are 12 caravan and camping sites and a picnic site. There is a guided walk of 8 km and three self-guided trails which pass dams.White water rafting
The major summer activity is white-water rafting, and the most exciting time to do this is between November and May. The 30 km stretch of river known as the canyon provides some of the most thrilling white water in the country. The South African leg of the Camel White-Water Challenge took place at Zingela in Weenen.
Weenen Museum
The museum (also from 1838) houses a collection of
Voortrekker artifacts and was constructed by Voortrekker leaderAndries Pretorius whose waterwheel is one of the exhibits. It has previously done service as a magistrate's office, post office and a prison. Between 1907 and 1983 anarrow gauge railway connected Weenen withEstcourt and provided an outlet for its produce and was thus called the "Cabbage Express'.PO Box 13, Weenen, 3325 Times: 10.00 - 12.00 & 14.00 - 16.00 Tel: +27 (0)363 41855 41901
Thukela Biosphere Reserve
Thirty-one private landowners have combined to establish this biosphere reserve which integrates both conservation and farming. It encompasses the Tugela, Bushmans and Bloukrans River valleys and incorporates the Weenen Nature Reserve. There are horse trails through the biosphere, game viewing and bird watching - especially the thousands of white storks that inhabit the reserve.
Fishing is popular in the rivers, and for the hunter there is a variety of both buck and birds. The area of the reserve covers grasslands, steep forested valleys and riverine vegetation. One can see Buffalo, kudu, leopard, giraffe, hyena, elephant, rhino, zebra, wildebeest and many others. There are also crocodiles, pythons and monitor lizards.
ee also
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Weenen massacre
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