Rhodes, Eastern Cape
Encyclopedia
Rhodes is a hamlet or small village alongside the trout rich Bell River, near Ben Macdhui (at 3,001 m the highest mountain in the Cape region) in the Drakensberg
mountains of the north Eastern Cape
, South Africa
.
. The village is surrounded by the towns of Maclear, Ugie and Elliot below the escarpment and Barkly East above this barrier. It is 60 km or 60-plus minutes drive from Barkly East
, which is the closest town, on a poorly maintained gravel road which is narrow, winding and must be driven with care.
The farm Tintern, owned by Mr J A Vorster, was advertised for sale in 274 erven or lots on 16 September 1891. In September 1894, the erf-holders and residents met to petition the government to proclaim Rhodes as a village under the Village Management Act of 1881. Rhodes was proclaimed a township with municipal rights in 1897.
Between 24 June 1901 and February 7, 1902, the village was invaded no less than 29 times during the Second Boer War
.
Local legend has it that it was originally named Rossville after Ds Ross and that the name was changed to Rhodes in the hopes that the mining magnate and then Prime Minister of the Cape, Cecil John Rhodes
, would bless the village with his benificence. Alas, this was not to be and the legend has it that he sent a wagonload of Stone Pine
trees instead. Another variation has it that he sent the trees as well as 500 pounds The story continues that the funds disappeared together with the official who received them. More recent speculation would have it that the trees could not have been donated by Rhodes as the species reputed to have been supplied by him have a life-expectancy which has long been exceeded.
Ds Ross, who was based in Lady Grey, ministered to the community, travelling to and fro on horseback. Although of English-speaking origin, he was interned during the Second Boer War. Prior to the war, he conducted his services alternately in English and Afrikaans. Clothed in rags and having walked bare-footed from the Aliwal North concentration camp to his home in Lady Grey after his release, he was thoroughly disgusted with the British and refused to conduct his services in English thereafter.
The majority of buildings were constructed around the turn of the century and the village continued to grow and prosper, it's heyday being between 1911 and 1945. The advent of the "Wool Boom" of the 1950s provided a brief upsurge but the riches gained were soon spent. At this time, wool was sold for a pound for a pound. A gradual decline set in after this flash-in-the-pan and which continued into the 70s as witnessed by the eventual closure of the white school in 1976. Municipal status was relinquished in 1979 and control ceded to the local authority now known as the Drakensberg District Council. A brief upsurge followed with the advent of the so-called "Hippie Era".
. This is a 52 km event held in the heart of winter which starts and ends in the village.
Billed as "The Most Extraordinary Mountain Biking Race in Africa", the Rhodes Mountain Bike Challenge, it was held in October each year, is an 82 km grind. More recently, the race date has been changed to September. The route follows the road to Naudesnek and then off past the Tenahead Lodge, the Cairntoul Stock Theft Unit Police Station and along the Lesotho border to pass the Tiffindell
Ski Resort and back to Rhodes via the Carlisleshoek Pass.
The annual Wild Trout Festival is based in Rhodes and is organised by the Wild Trout Association. The field is limited to 40 participants who fish for three days on the 180 km of running water which is within an hours drive of the village.
A number of 4 x 4 vehicle routes are available in the area. Using Rhodes as a starting and end point, day trips of varying length can be planned depending on requirements and time available. Being off the beaten track, it is important to be prepared as the weather can and does change at short notice. Rhodes is also central to 8 passes in the district that have become very popular in more recent years.
Rock art by members of the various San
communities abounds in sandstone valleys in the area and can be viewed by prior arrangement only.
(Cwb, according to the Köppen climate classification
), with mild summers and chilly, dry winters, with occasional snow
falls. The average annual precipitation is 626 mm (25 in), with most rainfall occurring mainly during summer.
Drakensberg
The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising to in height. In Zulu, it is referred to as uKhahlamba , and in Sesotho as Maluti...
mountains of the north Eastern Cape
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...
, 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...
.
History
Rhodes is located in the Eastern Cape Highlands, near the escarpment in the southernmost end of the mighty Drakensberg mountain range in the magisterial district of Barkly East. It is 1,832m above sea-level and is 16 km due south of the Mountain Kingdom of LesothoLesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
. The village is surrounded by the towns of Maclear, Ugie and Elliot below the escarpment and Barkly East above this barrier. It is 60 km or 60-plus minutes drive from Barkly East
Barkly East
Barkly East is a town in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, seat of the Ukhahlamba District Municipality, and 80 miles by rail E.S.E. of Aliwal North, lying in the mountainous area just south of Lesotho. The town lies at the southern tip of the Drakensberg on the Langkloofspruit, a tributary of...
, which is the closest town, on a poorly maintained gravel road which is narrow, winding and must be driven with care.
The farm Tintern, owned by Mr J A Vorster, was advertised for sale in 274 erven or lots on 16 September 1891. In September 1894, the erf-holders and residents met to petition the government to proclaim Rhodes as a village under the Village Management Act of 1881. Rhodes was proclaimed a township with municipal rights in 1897.
Between 24 June 1901 and February 7, 1902, the village was invaded no less than 29 times during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
.
Local legend has it that it was originally named Rossville after Ds Ross and that the name was changed to Rhodes in the hopes that the mining magnate and then Prime Minister of the Cape, Cecil John Rhodes
Cecil John Rhodes
Cecil John Rhodes PC, DCL was an English-born South African businessman, mining magnate, and politician. He was the founder of the diamond company De Beers, which today markets 40% of the world's rough diamonds and at one time marketed 90%...
, would bless the village with his benificence. Alas, this was not to be and the legend has it that he sent a wagonload of Stone Pine
Stone Pine
The Stone Pine , is also called Italian Stone Pine, or Umbrella Pine , and Parasol Pine. It is in the pine family Pinaceae and occasionally listed under the invalid name Pinus sativa. The tree is native to the Mediterranean region...
trees instead. Another variation has it that he sent the trees as well as 500 pounds The story continues that the funds disappeared together with the official who received them. More recent speculation would have it that the trees could not have been donated by Rhodes as the species reputed to have been supplied by him have a life-expectancy which has long been exceeded.
Ds Ross, who was based in Lady Grey, ministered to the community, travelling to and fro on horseback. Although of English-speaking origin, he was interned during the Second Boer War. Prior to the war, he conducted his services alternately in English and Afrikaans. Clothed in rags and having walked bare-footed from the Aliwal North concentration camp to his home in Lady Grey after his release, he was thoroughly disgusted with the British and refused to conduct his services in English thereafter.
The majority of buildings were constructed around the turn of the century and the village continued to grow and prosper, it's heyday being between 1911 and 1945. The advent of the "Wool Boom" of the 1950s provided a brief upsurge but the riches gained were soon spent. At this time, wool was sold for a pound for a pound. A gradual decline set in after this flash-in-the-pan and which continued into the 70s as witnessed by the eventual closure of the white school in 1976. Municipal status was relinquished in 1979 and control ceded to the local authority now known as the Drakensberg District Council. A brief upsurge followed with the advent of the so-called "Hippie Era".
Activities & annual events
Rhodes is the home of three significant sporting events, the oldest of which is the Rhodes Trail RunRhodes Trail Run
The Rhodes Trail Run is a 52 km trail run that takes place in the southern Drakensberg of South Africa. The event starts in the Victorian-era hamlet of Rhodes at an altitude of 1800m , and climbs to 2677m at Lesotho View running along the Ben MacDhui snowfields before returning to Rhodes.There...
. This is a 52 km event held in the heart of winter which starts and ends in the village.
Billed as "The Most Extraordinary Mountain Biking Race in Africa", the Rhodes Mountain Bike Challenge, it was held in October each year, is an 82 km grind. More recently, the race date has been changed to September. The route follows the road to Naudesnek and then off past the Tenahead Lodge, the Cairntoul Stock Theft Unit Police Station and along the Lesotho border to pass the Tiffindell
Tiffindell
Tiffindell Ski Resort is the only ski resort in South Africa.Located in the Southern Drakensberg, South Africa and was established in 1993. The resort is built on Ben Macdhui and has a relatively high elevation of 2810 metres .-Location:...
Ski Resort and back to Rhodes via the Carlisleshoek Pass.
The annual Wild Trout Festival is based in Rhodes and is organised by the Wild Trout Association. The field is limited to 40 participants who fish for three days on the 180 km of running water which is within an hours drive of the village.
A number of 4 x 4 vehicle routes are available in the area. Using Rhodes as a starting and end point, day trips of varying length can be planned depending on requirements and time available. Being off the beaten track, it is important to be prepared as the weather can and does change at short notice. Rhodes is also central to 8 passes in the district that have become very popular in more recent years.
Rock art by members of the various San
Bushmen
The indigenous people of Southern Africa, whose territory spans most areas of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, are variously referred to as Bushmen, San, Sho, Barwa, Kung, or Khwe...
communities abounds in sandstone valleys in the area and can be viewed by prior arrangement only.
Climate
Rhodes has a subtropical highland climateOceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...
(Cwb, according to the Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
), with mild summers and chilly, dry winters, with occasional snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
falls. The average annual precipitation is 626 mm (25 in), with most rainfall occurring mainly during summer.