Farming and Mining Town
You will find the town of Vryheid hidden amidst the lush, rolling hills and forested slopes of battlefield country in KwaZulu-Natal province’s Zululand region.
A cattle-farming coal-mining town surrounded by flat-topped outcrops that served as fortresses to Zulu warriors in days gone by, the history of the town can be traced back to 1886, when some Boer mercenaries helped the Zulu chief, Dinizulu kaCetshwayo, to defeat his rival, Zibhebhu kaMaphitha Zulu.
Dinizulu then gave them some land next to the Umfolozi River, where they established the Nieuwe Republiek (New Republic) with Vryheid as its capital. Their freedom, however, was short-lived, as the Transvaal Republic annexed their land in 1887. After the Anglo-Boer War, Vryheid was incorporated into the then Natal.
Rich seams of coal (also used by early Zulu tribes) to the east of Vryheid contributed to the town’s prosperity and unfortunately to the occasionally prevalent pollution. A Benedictine abbey to the south of town explains the many German influences, while surrounding battlefield memorials are a stark reminder of the bloody wars fought within the region.
The Dutch Reformed Church is an old but popular attraction, and visitors to the town are welcomed by friendly locals, charming shops and restaurants, as well as comfortable accommodation options.
During the Anglo-Boer War, the town of Vryheid produced no less than five Boer generals. The region’s history of battle comes alive when y...
Many dams and resorts such as the Bivane Dam around Vryheid offer amazing bass fishing and great family fun. The Vryheid’s Birding Route c...