Amatola Mountains
Encyclopedia
Amatola, Amatole or Amathole are a range of densely forested mountains, situated in the Eastern Cape
province of South Africa
. The word Amatole means "calves", and Amatole District Municipality
, which lies to the south, is named after these mountains.
' region, they form the eastern end of the great Cape coastal mountain range, rising over 1,800 metres above sea level. Their slopes are densely covered in ancient forests
of yellowwoods, white stinkwoods, Cape chestnuts and other indigenous trees. Deep indigenous woods
like Kologha and Kubusie are some of the largest swaths of forest in South Africa
. The mountains are capped with flower-rich montane grassland. Albany thickets
also feature prominently in the surrounding area.
The mountains are famous for their scenic beauty with lush forests, ravines, waterfalls and panoramic views. The 5 day Amatola hiking trail is one of the top hiking trails in South Africa.
is characterised by the Beaufort Group
(subdivided into the Tarkastad and Adelaide subgroups), which forms part of the Karoo sequence
. The sediments were formed by depositions in river channels, floodplains and swamps.
hunter gatherers. The Nguni migrations saw the arrival of the Xhosa herders from the north and the displacement of the Khoisan
.
Many of the current settlements in the Amatola region - like Adelaide
, Cathcart
and Fort Beaufort - began life as military outposts. This is because, in the 19th Century, this region formed the border between the Cape Colony
, and the Xhosa nation to the east. Frequent wars
were fought along this border, particularly the 7th Frontier War (Also known as the Amatola War or the 'War of the Axe'). These wars were usually fought over farming land, cattle theft and legal jurisdiction and they saw the steady movement of the Cape's border eastward, into Xhosa lands. It was into the Amatola mountains' forested ravines, in fact, that the Xhosa armies retreated after the setbacks of these wars, so the Cape built the military towns in an effort to secure these borderlands for its farmers.
is the old centre of the region. In this city there is a large museum, the Amathole Museum
, with old collections.
At the foot of the mountains, in the town of Alice
, is the campus of the University of Fort Hare
.
Stutterheim
, beneath the Kologha range to the east, initially served as a settlement for disbanded soldiers who had fought in the 'Amatola War'.
Hogsback
's first residents were farmers. This town is a very popular holiday destination that is reputed to have inspired Tolkien's Middle Earth.
The nearby town of East London is the largest in the region and is South Africa's only river port. The city is out of the mountains and the main administration centre for the Amatola region
.
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
province of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The word Amatole means "calves", and Amatole District Municipality
Amatole District Municipality
Amathole is one of the 7 districts of Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The seat of Amathole is East London. Over 90% of its 1 664 259 people speak Xhosa . The district code is DC12...
, which lies to the south, is named after these mountains.
Natural history
Part the 'Amatola and StormbergStormberg Mountains
The Stormberg Mountains are a range of mountains situated in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa and are a subsection of the greater Drakensberg mountain range. They form part of the 'Amatola and Stormberg' region which includes major towns like Grahamstown, East London and Port Alfred.Towns...
' region, they form the eastern end of the great Cape coastal mountain range, rising over 1,800 metres above sea level. Their slopes are densely covered in ancient forests
Knysna-Amatole montane forests
The Knysna-Amatole montane forests ecoregion, of the Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests Biome, is in South Africa. It covers an Afromontane area of in South Africa's Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces.-Setting:...
of yellowwoods, white stinkwoods, Cape chestnuts and other indigenous trees. Deep indigenous woods
Knysna-Amatole montane forests
The Knysna-Amatole montane forests ecoregion, of the Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests Biome, is in South Africa. It covers an Afromontane area of in South Africa's Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces.-Setting:...
like Kologha and Kubusie are some of the largest swaths of forest in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The mountains are capped with flower-rich montane grassland. Albany thickets
Albany thickets
The Albany thickets are an ecoregion of dense woodland near the southern point of South Africa, concentrated around the Albany region of the Eastern Cape .-Location and description:...
also feature prominently in the surrounding area.
The mountains are famous for their scenic beauty with lush forests, ravines, waterfalls and panoramic views. The 5 day Amatola hiking trail is one of the top hiking trails in South Africa.
Geology
The Amatola Mountains’ geologyGeology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
is characterised by the Beaufort Group
Beaufort Group
The Beaufort Group is the third of the main subdivisions of the Karoo Supergroup of geological strata in Southern Africa. It follows conformably after the Ecca Group and consists essentially of sandstones and shales, deposited in the Karoo Basin from the Middle Permian to the early part of the...
(subdivided into the Tarkastad and Adelaide subgroups), which forms part of the Karoo sequence
Karoo System
The Karoo System or Karoo Sequence, is a geologic system of rock formations covering 1 500 000 square km and extending from the Equator south to the Cape of Good Hope...
. The sediments were formed by depositions in river channels, floodplains and swamps.
History and Settlement
These mountains - like all of South Africa - was originally home to the KhoisanKhoisan
Khoisan is a unifying name for two ethnic groups of Southern Africa, who share physical and putative linguistic characteristics distinct from the Bantu majority of the region. Culturally, the Khoisan are divided into the foraging San and the pastoral Khoi...
hunter gatherers. The Nguni migrations saw the arrival of the Xhosa herders from the north and the displacement of the Khoisan
Khoisan
Khoisan is a unifying name for two ethnic groups of Southern Africa, who share physical and putative linguistic characteristics distinct from the Bantu majority of the region. Culturally, the Khoisan are divided into the foraging San and the pastoral Khoi...
.
Many of the current settlements in the Amatola region - like Adelaide
Adelaide, Eastern Cape
Adelaide is a town and area in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Population 12,000 . Adelaide is situated near the Great Winterberg Mountain range...
, Cathcart
Cathcart, Eastern Cape
Cathcart is a town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, named after Sir George Cathcart. Sir George Cathcart was governor of the Cape of Good Hope 1852-1853.The town is situated on the N6, just north of Stutterheim on route to Queenstown...
and Fort Beaufort - began life as military outposts. This is because, in the 19th Century, this region formed the border between the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
, and the Xhosa nation to the east. Frequent wars
Xhosa wars
The Xhosa Wars, also known as the Cape Frontier Wars, were a series of nine wars between the Xhosa people and European settlers, from 1779 to 1879 in what is now the Eastern Cape in South Africa....
were fought along this border, particularly the 7th Frontier War (Also known as the Amatola War or the 'War of the Axe'). These wars were usually fought over farming land, cattle theft and legal jurisdiction and they saw the steady movement of the Cape's border eastward, into Xhosa lands. It was into the Amatola mountains' forested ravines, in fact, that the Xhosa armies retreated after the setbacks of these wars, so the Cape built the military towns in an effort to secure these borderlands for its farmers.
Interesting towns
King William's TownKing William's Town
King William's Town is a town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa along the banks of the Buffalo River. The town is about 40 minutes' motorway drive WNW of the Indian Ocean port of East London...
is the old centre of the region. In this city there is a large museum, the Amathole Museum
Amathole Museum
The Amathole Museum, formerly the Kaffrarian Museum, in King William's Town, Eastern Cape province of South Africa, houses the second largest collection of mammals in South Africa and includes Huberta, the hippopotamus. The Xhosa Gallery, housed in the old post office building, concentrates on the...
, with old collections.
At the foot of the mountains, in the town of Alice
Alice, Eastern Cape
Alice, a town in South Africa, is named after Princess Alice, daughter of the British Queen Victoria. Many of the current political leaders in South Africa were educated at the University of Fort Hare, also the alma mater of former President Nelson Mandela...
, is the campus of the University of Fort Hare
University of Fort Hare
The University of Fort Hare is a public university in Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was a key institution in higher education for black Africans from 1916 to 1959. It offered a Western-style, academically excellent education to students from across sub-Saharan Africa, creating a black...
.
Stutterheim
Stutterheim
Stutterheim is a town with a population of 46,730 in South Africa, situated in the Border region of the Eastern Cape province.Stutterheim has a rich history that makes for fascinating reading...
, beneath the Kologha range to the east, initially served as a settlement for disbanded soldiers who had fought in the 'Amatola War'.
Hogsback
Hogsback
Hogsback can refer to:* Hogsback, Eastern Cape, a village in the Amatola Mountains, in the Eastern Cape province, in South Africa.* Hog's Back in the North Downs in Surrey, England* Hogs Back Brewery from the same area of Surrey, England...
's first residents were farmers. This town is a very popular holiday destination that is reputed to have inspired Tolkien's Middle Earth.
The nearby town of East London is the largest in the region and is South Africa's only river port. The city is out of the mountains and the main administration centre for the Amatola region
Amatole District Municipality
Amathole is one of the 7 districts of Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The seat of Amathole is East London. Over 90% of its 1 664 259 people speak Xhosa . The district code is DC12...
.