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Rosendal - Quick Guide
Rosendal lies 43 kilometres north of Ficksburg in a valley surrounded by the Witteberge - part of the Drakensberg range of mountains - in the Eastern Free State.
Only 320km from Joburg, situated on the R70, between Senekal and Ficksburg, Rosendal offers the best small town experience one could hope for.
It is near the Lesotho border and an ideal base for day trips to Katse Dam and the many small towns in the Eastern Free State. About 3 hours from Johannesburg and 4 from Pretoria the town is within easy reach of visitors taking short breaks.
Originally a farming town, Rosendal is a place of undiscovered beauty with simply stunning views and a lot of rustic charm. Art, hiking, adventure sport, horseriding and visits to interesting farming industries are just some of the things Rosendal offers.
See Basotho women, absorbed in their weaving, at one of the self-help community projects or picnic at one of the spots available and just enjoy the pristine fresh air and magnificent surrounds. The town and area have a number of historical sandstone buildings that are really worth a visit.
GEOLOGY
The mountains were formed 2 million years ago with lava being deposited over the Tafelberg sandstone deposit. The lava is up to 500m thick in places. The lava is deposited in layers – evidence of eruptions taking place periodically. Rooikraans is an example of red Molento sandstone in the Tafelberg deposit. The deposits consist mainly of dolerites. The geological beauty of the mountains is one of the main attractions of this area. Quite a few peaks can be seen from town, “Swartkrans” is the third highest peak in the Free State.
NATURE
Green willows line fast flowing creeks, some up to 17m deep, add to the natural beauty. A large number of species of trees, shrubs, succulents, wild flowers and grasses grow in the fertile soil. Quite a few species of bird frequent the area including Vultures and Blue Cranes.
CLIMATE
The area is on average 2408m above sea level. Winters are bitterly cold with severe frost and occasional snowfalls. Summers are mild and cool with temperatures rarely above 30oC. Summer rainfalls are normally high, and showers also occur during the winter months. The area is known for heavy rainfall, windy conditions, hail storms and fog.
HISTORY
The Eastern Free State was first occupied by indigenous San and Koi people who lived in harmony with the multitude of game which populated the vast grass plains. Blacks first arrived in the early 1800's as refugees from the great warlords Chaka, Dingaan and Mtsilikatse, according to the explorer Dr. Andrew Smith who traveled through this region prior to the Great Trek. They mainly lived in the Witteberge Mountains south of Bethlehem.
Hunters and adventurers, probably arrived in the 1820's but only came in large quantities during the great trek, about July 1837. The region was occupied by Trekkers under Andries Hendrik Potgieter. After the arrival of Piet Retief in 1837 it was decided at a contentious public meeting to make Natal the destination of the Trek and to establish a Boer Republic there. Thereafter the Bethlehem region was, for a number of years, mainly a through station.
Rosendal was declared a municipality in 1914. The widow of Phillip Botha was entitled to use the farm on which the town was founded, it was her job to choose a name for the town. She and her little boy Hansie came up with two suggestions; Leliefontein and Rosendal. Rosendal translated means rose valley.
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