(Including Ugie)

The picturesque little town of Maclear, with the mighty Drakensberg as backdrop, is a busy trading centre still reminiscent of early frontier days. The area was annexed by the British in 1879 and John Rodgers Thompson appointed the first magistrate. His residency, built on the Mooi River, was besieged for several perilous weeks during the Pondomisi uprising of 1881. After the quelling of this uprising, the settlement at Mooi River became more stable and was renamed Maclear after Sir Thomas Maclear was formed and, in 1916, acquired it’s first municipality. Today the town of Maclear has a thriving business sector and the area is well known for it’s excellent timber, dairy and stock farming. It is a popular venue for trout fishing.

Ugie

The small village of Ugie with it’s peaceful ambience and beautiful surroundings was founded in 1863 by William Murray, medical missionary and schoolmaster, sent out from Scotland to minister to the needs of the Griqua people. He built his lonely mission station on the banks of the river Inxu (Wildebees), and named it Ugie after the river in his native Scotland. The mission became the nucleus of the present village, and in 1874 the Allen brothers from Cradock were the first licensed traders. In July 1885 the first sale of erven took place and shortly after a village management board was established. Today the village is the home of the regional head offices of North Eastern Cape Forests and the area is known for it’s highly successful timber crop and cattle farming enterprises. Ugie lies in the heart of South Africa’s best trout fishing waters.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Barkly East 138 km, Bloemfontein 473 km, East London 332 km, Elliot 74 km, Queenstown 252 km, Ugie 21 km, Umtata 97 km

Altitude: 1300 m above sea level

Average Rainfall: 750 mm per annum during summer, 1000 mm nearer to the mountains

Average Temperatures

Summer 12°c – 24°c; Winter 2°c – 18°c

Banks

Absa Agency, FNB, Standard (ATM)

Dams

Ben Velich, Prentjiesberg

Mountains

Drakensberg, Prentjiesberg

Rivers

Mooi River, Pot River, Wildebees

HISTORICAL VIEW

Ugie Tractor Museum

Collecting of old farming implements

San Rock Art

Some of the world’s best rock is to be found in caves and rock shelters in the area

ATTRACTIONS

Annual Events

Drakensberg Biathlon – April

Kapaailand Half Marathon – May (Between Ugie and Maclear)

Ugie High School Eisteddfod – September

Rose Show – October

Dinosaur Footprints

Various sites on farms in the area

Gatberg

This is one of the Drakensberg’s most fascinating rock formations. The Gatberg (‘hole mountain’) has a large hole at the summit, supposedly caused by wind erosion over millions of years.

Wild Flowers

Best during summer

ACTIVITIES

4x4 Trail

Aucamp Pass and Bastervoetpad – not for the faint hearted. Naude’s Nek. Tsitsa Gorge, Wintermatten Holiday Farm

Bird Watching

The area has an abundant birdlife with one of the highest concentrations of Crested Crane in South Africa. Also Blue Cranes. Khulanathi Education Centre, Prentjiesberg Dam, Rainbow Retreat, Rush Valley Pan, Woodcliffe Cave Trails

Boating

Prentjiesberg Pleasure Resort

Fishing

Conditions in the area are ideal for fly fishing and the streams well stocked with trout. Angling Society, Ben Vorlich Dam, Pot River, Wildebees River and various dams. Hope Farm Holidays, Trout Valley, Rainbow Retreat, Wintermatten Holiday Farm

Wild Trout Fishing

Aucamp Kloof Pass, Vrederus Wild Trout

Guinea Fowl Hunting

Hang Gliding

Hiking

Prentjiesberg Trail, Woodcliffe Cave Trails

One of five day trails. Rock Art, indigenous forests mountain streams. Accommodation in luxury cottage, sleeping six. Nearby trout fishing and dinosaur footprints.

Trails

Hope Farm Holidays, Wintermatten Holiday Farm

Mountain Biking / Cycling

There are a number of challenging routes in the area. Prentjiesberg Mountain Bike Trail, Wintermatten Holiday farm

Paragliding

Rock Art Tours

Skiing

Very popular during winter, May – August

Accommodation in and around van Reenens Pass