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Potchefstroom
KNOWLEDGE OF Potchefstroom
Potchefstroom is a large academic town with the North-West University, situated on the banks of the Mooi River (literally pretty river), 120 km west-southwest of Johannesburg in the North West Province of South Africa.
The town, founded in 1838 by the Voortrekkers, was the oldest settlement of people of European descent in the then Transvaal. It served as the first capital of the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek (ZAR) (South African Republic in English). Also, for a short time during the 1840s, the towns of Potchefstroom and Winburg as well as their surrounding territories were joined in a political entity known as the Republic of Winburg-Potchefstroom. Voortrekker leader Andries Hendrik Potgieter was elected as head of the republic.
On the 16 December 1880, the first shots of the First Boer War were fired when the Boers laid siege to the old fort. The siege ended amicably on 23 March 1881. The British built a concentration camp here during the Second Boer War to house Boer women, children and elderly men.
The town is also host to the annual Aardklop Festival, an Afrikaans cultural festival held in late September each year.
Today Potchefstroom is known as the City of Expertise and is home to, inter alia, four tertiary institutions and 30 schools, as well as numerous research bureaus and training centres.
The North-West University is a merged tertiary educational institution that was created on 1 January 2004, with campuses at Potchefstroom, Mafikeng, Vanderbijlpark and Mankwe. The Potchefstroom Campus (formerly Potchefstroom University, founded in 1869) is the largest and the head office of the University is situated there. With its merged status the North-West University became one of the bigger universities in South Africa with approximately 32 000 students (full-time and distance education students).
Lakeside Holiday Resort
Situated on the banks of the Potchefstroom Dam in the Mooi River, offers chalets, a caravan park, a variety of facilities and entertainment such as water sports, angling, a swimming pool and a supertube.
Dome Bergland Nature Park
The site of a meteorite impact some 2 000 million years ago. A fascinating geographic phenomenon in that it is different in shape and vegetation from its surrouding areas. Creating the riches reef in the world, many trails take visitors to this remarkable natural feature and many activities are on offer, including hiking, riverrafting, canoeing, mountain climbing, abseiling, mountain biking and fly fishing.
Boskop Dam Nature Reserve
Yachting takes place on the waters of this dam.
Potchefstroom Museum
The complete history of human experience and interaction in the area is covered by this museum.
National Monuments
The city has many buildings and other structures that have been declared national monuments, such as: The Old Gunpowder House, Old Police Station Building, Kruger Kraal Opstal, Heimat Building, Magistrate's Office.
Churches
The country's oldest Reformed Churches and its oldest stone-built Hervormde Church are found in the town. St Mary's Anglican Church, built in 1891, is notable for its magnificent stained glass windows.
The Green Belt
10 km running along side the Mooi River in the centre of the city, hosts the 18-hole country club, twice the venue for South African Open tournaments.
OPM Prozesky Bird Sanctuary
Which attracts bird lovers from far and wide to its +- 200 bird species.
Buffelsvlei Wild Animal Park
Buffelsvlei has the following activities available: Game drives with or without guide, hiking, bicycle riding, horse riding, swimming, clay-pigeon shooting, biltong and trophy hunting. There is a volleyball court, a bar with DSTV and a pool table, picnic and braai facilities.
City Hall
The stately City Hall in Edwardian Classicictic design was inaugurated in 1909. Together with the City Hall of Krugersdorp it is the oldest existing City Hall north of the Vaal River in South Africa. The western façade is strictly symmetrical with the 26m high ornamental, domed tower as a central axis. The clockwork and bell with its Westminster chimes were manufactured in the Netherlands.
Trim Park
The Trim Park is situated in the Green Belt area adjacent to the Mooi River. This natural paradise through which the Mooi River trail meanders, is a delightful recreational area and has lately also developed as an ideal venue for shows and other festivities.
The town, founded in 1838 by the Voortrekkers, was the oldest settlement of people of European descent in the then Transvaal. It served as the first capital of the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek (ZAR) (South African Republic in English). Also, for a short time during the 1840s, the towns of Potchefstroom and Winburg as well as their surrounding territories were joined in a political entity known as the Republic of Winburg-Potchefstroom. Voortrekker leader Andries Hendrik Potgieter was elected as head of the republic.
On the 16 December 1880, the first shots of the First Boer War were fired when the Boers laid siege to the old fort. The siege ended amicably on 23 March 1881. The British built a concentration camp here during the Second Boer War to house Boer women, children and elderly men.
The town is also host to the annual Aardklop Festival, an Afrikaans cultural festival held in late September each year.
Today Potchefstroom is known as the City of Expertise and is home to, inter alia, four tertiary institutions and 30 schools, as well as numerous research bureaus and training centres.
The North-West University is a merged tertiary educational institution that was created on 1 January 2004, with campuses at Potchefstroom, Mafikeng, Vanderbijlpark and Mankwe. The Potchefstroom Campus (formerly Potchefstroom University, founded in 1869) is the largest and the head office of the University is situated there. With its merged status the North-West University became one of the bigger universities in South Africa with approximately 32 000 students (full-time and distance education students).
Lakeside Holiday Resort
Situated on the banks of the Potchefstroom Dam in the Mooi River, offers chalets, a caravan park, a variety of facilities and entertainment such as water sports, angling, a swimming pool and a supertube.
Dome Bergland Nature Park
The site of a meteorite impact some 2 000 million years ago. A fascinating geographic phenomenon in that it is different in shape and vegetation from its surrouding areas. Creating the riches reef in the world, many trails take visitors to this remarkable natural feature and many activities are on offer, including hiking, riverrafting, canoeing, mountain climbing, abseiling, mountain biking and fly fishing.
Boskop Dam Nature Reserve
Yachting takes place on the waters of this dam.
Potchefstroom Museum
The complete history of human experience and interaction in the area is covered by this museum.
National Monuments
The city has many buildings and other structures that have been declared national monuments, such as: The Old Gunpowder House, Old Police Station Building, Kruger Kraal Opstal, Heimat Building, Magistrate's Office.
Churches
The country's oldest Reformed Churches and its oldest stone-built Hervormde Church are found in the town. St Mary's Anglican Church, built in 1891, is notable for its magnificent stained glass windows.
The Green Belt
10 km running along side the Mooi River in the centre of the city, hosts the 18-hole country club, twice the venue for South African Open tournaments.
OPM Prozesky Bird Sanctuary
Which attracts bird lovers from far and wide to its +- 200 bird species.
Buffelsvlei Wild Animal Park
Buffelsvlei has the following activities available: Game drives with or without guide, hiking, bicycle riding, horse riding, swimming, clay-pigeon shooting, biltong and trophy hunting. There is a volleyball court, a bar with DSTV and a pool table, picnic and braai facilities.
City Hall
The stately City Hall in Edwardian Classicictic design was inaugurated in 1909. Together with the City Hall of Krugersdorp it is the oldest existing City Hall north of the Vaal River in South Africa. The western façade is strictly symmetrical with the 26m high ornamental, domed tower as a central axis. The clockwork and bell with its Westminster chimes were manufactured in the Netherlands.
Trim Park
The Trim Park is situated in the Green Belt area adjacent to the Mooi River. This natural paradise through which the Mooi River trail meanders, is a delightful recreational area and has lately also developed as an ideal venue for shows and other festivities.
Chapi