The Great Battle of Moholoholo took place in 1864. The Sotho people would trek up the escarpment of the Drakensberg each winter where they would settle until the summer returned. While away, the Swazi’s would raid all the Sotho people’s crops and homes, stealing and ruining all as they went through. Chief Marepe Mashile of the Sotho’s had had enough and in 1864 planned to ambush the Swazi people. The Battle of Moholoholo took place from the top of the cliffs just south of Mariepskop (Marepe), right down into the valley below. The Sotho’s separated their cows from calves, taking the cows high up, into kraals. The calves remained in kraals, bellowing and calling the cows. Massive boulders were rolled into place on the cliffs of Moholoholo. When the Swazi’s came, the ambush was set. When the Swazi’s were high enough up the valleys, the now desperate cows were released, crushing, goring and trampling the Swazi warriors in their rush to find the calling calves. Next, the boulders were shoved off the cliff edges, further crushing the Swazi’s who now realised their defeat. The Sotho warriors moved in. “Tshwateng”, was the cry of defeat given by the Swazi’s as the Sotho’s victoriously drove them out. To commemorate this day, the Sotho’s named this section of the Drakensberg Range after their chief Marepe Mashile (Mariepskop) – Marepe. Three Rondavels is named after Chief Marepe Mashile’s 3 wives – Maseroto (1485 m), Mokgaladikwe (1377 m), and Magabole (1354 m). The peak powering up 1628 m above sea level to the west of Moholoholo Ya Mati was given the name Tshateng – the defeated cry of the Swazi’s. South of Moholoholo Ya Mati is a small rounded hill, known as Modimolle – Great God. This is where the Sotho’s would go to pray. Southeast of Moholoholo Ya Mati, towering 1944 m above sea level is Marepe (Mariepskop), named after the great chief Marepe Mashile. Just out of view, south of Marepe, are the cliffs – Moholoholo where the Great Battle of Moholoholo took place. Moholoholo is seen clearly from Moholoholo Forest Camp.
By the water, Moholoholo Ya Mati is situated on the banks of the Blyde River. The name of this river too, has an interesting history. The Blyde River Canyon starts at the Bourke’s Luck Potholes. At this point, two rivers join the Treur River and the Blyde River.
In 1840, a small group of Voortrekkers were doing a recommaisance trip to investigate the possibility of a trade route to Delagoa Bay (Maputo). This group was led by Andries Hendrik Potgieter. As the ox-wagons were struggling to negotiate the steep passes, Potgieter decided to leave them behind and continue further on horseback with a party of men. The party of men stayed away so long, that the party left behind to set up camp next to a stream, began to fear that they had perished. They called the stream next to their camp the Treur River (River of Sadness), and started their return journey. After a few days Potgieter and his party over took them and, amid much rejoicing, the river beside which they were out spanned was named the Blyde River (River of Happiness).
The Blyde River flows into the Olifants River, which flows into the Limpopo River and into the Indian Ocean off the coast of Mozambique.
Cache is placed on private property. Cache has been placed with permission from the owners. If you find the first cache there is a note in it that will tell you what to do next. Please make sure when done, to leave the caches as found.