Aliwal North & Surrounds Information
.jpeg "Scenic Drive from Barkly East: Dinorbin Rock Painting to Dinosaur Tracks")
Scenic Drive from Barkly East: Dinorbin Rock Painting to Dinosaur Tracks
Tour Highlights:
- Dinorbin Rock Painting
- Barkly Pass
- Elliot
- Ugie
- Maclear
- Oakleigh Farm
- Dinosaur Tracks
Dinorbin Rock Paintings:
Denorbin site is a very large sandstone overhang with many beautiful rock paintings of rhebok, eland, human figures in various postures, therianthropes (partly animal, partly human forms) and dancing figures.
Barkly Pass:
Barkly Pass:
This is a 10km pass over the southern Drakensberg. From the summit are magnificent views of the deep ravines and valleys lying 600m below and on a clear day the Indian Ocean can be seen. Interesting natural rock sculptures e.g. the Castle, Camel Rock and Vulture’s Roost can be viewed from several vantage points to the west of the summit.
Elliot:
Elliot:
In 1885 the town which lies in a valley was established and named after Sir H.G. Elliot, Chief Magistrate of the Transkeian territories from 1891-1902. Its Xhosa name ‘Ekowa’ means mushroom, this fungi grows in this area in summer. It is a farming town with the backdrop of the rugged mountains with its magnificent sandstone formations. 18km south of the town is the 80m high Gillie Cullem Waterfall.
Ugie:
Ugie:
This area developed in 1863 around the mission station on the banks of the Inxu River by the Rev. William Murray. The town was founded in 1885 and today it is an agricultural centre. Visit the Tractor Museum which has an extensive collection of agricultural implements and equipment.
Maclear:
Maclear:
This town lies in the valley of the Mooi River and was named after Sir Thomas Maclear, Astronomer Royal at the Cape from 1833-1870. It was established in 1876 around a military camp for troops traveling to Matatiele. A place of interest is the Sivewright Bridge built in 1890. Visit the 26m high Tsitsa Falls just outside the town.
Oakleigh Farm Dinosaur Tracks:
Oakleigh Farm Dinosaur Tracks:
The tracks here are among the earliest evidence of dinosaurs in the subcontinent, dating back some 180 million years. Along the banks of the Pot River are the tracks of a large, four-footed dinosaur together with the markings of its dragging tail and a smaller, two-legged one. There are tracks of at least 7 theropods, formed when these primitive reptiles walked across the muddy bed of an ancient river. As the water subsided, the mud dried out, preserving the tracks and forming mud cracks, still visible on the surface.
Website: http://www.southafrica.net
Barkly East Attractions
Scenic Drive from Barkly East: Dinorbin Rock Painting to Dinosaur Tracks
Tour Highlights:
- Dinorbin Rock Painting
- Barkly Pass
- Elliot
- Ugie
- Maclear
- Oakleigh Farm
- Dinosaur Tracks
Dinorbin Rock Paintings:
Denorbin site is a very large sandstone overhang with many beautiful rock paintings of rhebok, eland, human figures in various postures, therianthropes (partly animal, partly human forms) and dancing figures.
Barkly Pass:
Barkly Pass:
This is a 10km pass over the southern Drakensberg. From the summit are magnificent views of the deep ravines and valleys lying 600m below and on a clear day the Indian Ocean can be seen. Interesting natural rock sculptures e.g. the Castle, Camel Rock and Vulture’s Roost can be viewed from several vantage points to the west of the summit.
Elliot:
Elliot:
In 1885 the town which lies in a valley was established and named after Sir H.G. Elliot, Chief Magistrate of the Transkeian territories from 1891-1902. Its Xhosa name ‘Ekowa’ means mushroom, this fungi grows in this area in summer. It is a farming town with the backdrop of the rugged mountains with its magnificent sandstone formations. 18km south of the town is the 80m high Gillie Cullem Waterfall.
Ugie:
Ugie:
This area developed in 1863 around the mission station on the banks of the Inxu River by the Rev. William Murray. The town was founded in 1885 and today it is an agricultural centre. Visit the Tractor Museum which has an extensive collection of agricultural implements and equipment.
Maclear:
Maclear:
This town lies in the valley of the Mooi River and was named after Sir Thomas Maclear, Astronomer Royal at the Cape from 1833-1870. It was established in 1876 around a military camp for troops traveling to Matatiele. A place of interest is the Sivewright Bridge built in 1890. Visit the 26m high Tsitsa Falls just outside the town.
Oakleigh Farm Dinosaur Tracks:
Oakleigh Farm Dinosaur Tracks:
The tracks here are among the earliest evidence of dinosaurs in the subcontinent, dating back some 180 million years. Along the banks of the Pot River are the tracks of a large, four-footed dinosaur together with the markings of its dragging tail and a smaller, two-legged one. There are tracks of at least 7 theropods, formed when these primitive reptiles walked across the muddy bed of an ancient river. As the water subsided, the mud dried out, preserving the tracks and forming mud cracks, still visible on the surface.
Website: http://www.southafrica.net
