Carolina lies in the Grass and Wetlands region of Mpumalanga, South Africa. This entire region boasts exceptional natural beauty and dotted with an abundance of shimmering lakes and rivers.
There was a rather vital wagon route from Johannesburg to the wildly popular gold fields of the Kaap Valley around the 19th Century. Eventually, farmers in the area decided to establish a town as a ideal stopover for wagon trains. One of these farmers named C.J.Coetzee, decided to offer the other farmers a portion of his farm provided that the town was named after his wife. Soon, Carolina was accordingly established in 1882. Unfortunately, during the 2nd Anglo-Boer War the village was completely destroyed and later rebuilt. Yet, there still lie a few perfect examples of spectacular sandstone architecture in Carolina’s public buildings.
Situated in the vicinity of Carolina is the magnificent Komati Gorge and linked Komati River. This beautiful area allows for many a day picnicking, swimming, fishing, hiking, boating or just general relaxing and soaking up the warm sun. Numerous exciting watersports can be enjoyed. In addition, this lovely area is home to an abundance of vibrant birds. The Komati area is any bird lovers delight!
Situated just to the North West of Carolina is the picturesque Nooitgedacht Nature Reserve. This nature reserve is a very popular birding area and home to more than 200 species of spectacular birds. In addition to birding, there are also a few exciting horse and hiking trails that can be enjoyed in the Carolina area. Most of these lovely trails are day trails, but for the adventure seekers there are several 2 day trails available where one can stay overnight in a trail hut.
Carolina not only boasts magnificent beauty but fine cultural and historical heritage. Besides the fascinating architecture, this area boasts a few fine examples of San rock art which can be seen and explored. To add to the historical heritage of the Carolina area, there are also a few interesting Battlefields which can be visited. Make sure you visit the Market Square, Burger Monument as well as other historical memorials.
Coordinates: 26,0401 30,0701
Dullstroom
Dullstroom-Emnotweni is one of the coldest towns in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, and along with Underberg, it is one of South Africa's premier flyfishing destinations. The town features the highest railway station in South Africa at 2,077 m above sea level as well as at the foot of De Berg, the highest point in the province at 2,332 m high.
Dullstroom was established in 1883 by Dutchman Wolterus Dull to settle Dutch immigrants. During the Second Boer War the town was destroyed and most of the settlers returned to the Netherlands
Coordinates: 25,25 30,07
Belfast
Belfast is a small town in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa (not to be confused with Belfast in Limpopo, South Africa located at 24,560 S 31,220.2 E).
The town is renowned for its excellent trout fishing conditions. Sheep and dairy farming take place here as well as maize, potatoes and timber are produced. Coal and a black granite are mined around Belfast. Around 6 million tulip bulbs are produced here annually for export; the flowers are discarded. Belfast is 2,025m above sea level and one of the coldest and highest towns in South Africa.
It was named after Richard O'Neill from Belfast in Northern Ireland who owned the farm on which the town was built.
Machadodorp
History
The town grew around a station originally named Geluk, after the sheep farm it was built on, but in 1894 the name was changed to honour Major Joachim Machado, an engineer who had surveyed the land for the proposed Pretoria-Delagoa Bay railway line.
The settlement became a capital for a few months from 5 June 1900, but was only declared a municipal town in 1904. This quirk in history happened during the Second Boer War when the Transvaal Volksraad made the town their temporary seat, using railway carriages as their offices and mint after they had to evacuate Pretoria in the face of a British invasion.
A quick-thinking station master rescued a consignment of dying trout by dumping the fish in the Elands River, which formed the start of the town's subsequent role in Mpumlanga's trout tourism industry. With the demise of passenger trains in South Africa, the once-postcard-pretty station closed in 2001 and it is now a derelict ruin.
In the 21st century, Machadodorp's residents either work for the industries feeding a chrome smelter, or the logging industries based on the pine plantations surrounding the town. A large contigent of contract workers employed at the Nkomati mine about an hour's drive out of town also reside in Macahdodorp, contributing a large part of the town's economy.
The Komati Gorge, notable for its considerable biodiversity and bluff habitats, forms a backdrop to the town.
Name change
In early 2010 the town (along with Nelspruit and Waterval Boven) had its name officially changed. In Machadodorp's case the name has been officially changed to eNtokozweni, however it is unknown when (or maybe even if) the name change will catch on.
baKoni Ruins
The hills around Machadodorp are terraced with thousands of stone walls which form part of vast complex described by tour guides as South Africa "real" lost city. Conflicting theories exist as to the origins and age of these ruins:
• Archaeologists have officially described the ruins as cattle kraals of the baKoni clan, which were written about in the 16th century. The ongoing 500 Year Initiative to rewrite South Africa's history has however delivered new insights that has led to a group of leading archaeologists to appeal for funds to study the ruins which, they now say, may stretch as far as southern Ethiopia.
• Self-described renegade scientist and esoteric author Michael Tellinger sells the most radical opposing theory, stating that the "millions" of stone circles and walls constituted a massive power grid covering southern Africa; which an ancient civilisation would have used to resonate and conduct the sound frequency of earth into another form of energy, presumable harnessed to mine gold.
• Anthropologist, Hindu-expert and linguist, Dr Cyril Hromnick, postulates that Dravidian traders, originally from the Gomti river in India, mined and inter-married with the Kung during the first millennium AD and that their descendants were responsible for building the terraces and stone circle dwellings that meander along Mpumalanga's escarpment as "astrological clocks"; as well as for creating the Quena - or Hottentot - race.
