Vryheid – National Monuments and Game Reserves
The town of Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal Province lies southward along the R33 in the valley at the foot of the Zungwini Mountain. It is the centre of coal mining and cattle farming in the district and being an old town with a historical past, there are a number of national monuments in the town. Decisive battles were fought in the vicinity during the Anglo Boer War.
Near Vryheid is the village of Hlobane, also rich in coal and minerals but better known for two heroic deeds
that occurred in the vicinity. In 1838 14 year old Dirk Uys tried to rescue his father from Zulu warriors
but was killed in his attempt along with his father. Further more this was the place where in The Zulu War
of 1879 General Buller won his Victorian Cross.
Vryheid also boasts the Itala Game Reserve that lies along the banks of the Pongola River and the Itala
Valley. The reserve occupies 30 000 hectares of varied scenery and terrain, and supports a variety of
game animals including Rhino, Elephant, Giraffe, Cheetah, Leopard, Spotted and Brown Hyena and many
more antelope species. This reserve has a very comfortable hutted camp with spectacular views of the valley.
