The Mmabatho airport near Mafikeng has been cleared, cleaned, opened, has its’ International Status back and still features in the top 10 of the world’s longest runways.
Mafikeng, the capital of the North West Province of South Africa seems to be in the middle of nowhere, whereas it is actually in the centre of everywhere – with roads and rail crossing in Mafikeng between the North / South and East / West trade routes. Just one hour in the air or about a 3-hour from Johannesburg.
DEEP INLAND DIVING VENUE
The Molopo Eye where the Molopo River rises and Wondergat, a truly incredible experience as an inland diving venue with vast underwater caves and a recorded depth of 178 metres – and that’s not the bottom! The Disaneng Dam is great for fishing and other water sports and The Olympic Sports Stadium is a masterpiece in design with everyone of the 75 000 seats having an excellent view of the green pitch in the centre.
For those with a bent to commune with nature and wildlife, The Mafikeng Game Reserve is less than five kilometres from town. Comprising 4 600 hectares, the game and bird viewing is excellent with Buffalo and Rhino of the Big Five as park residents. The Botsalano Game Reserve is just 36 kilometres away on the edge of the Kalahari on the Botswana Border.
MANY SPECIES OF ANTELOPE
From rolling grassland to scrub bushveld this reserve has gained a reputation as a fertile breeding ground for many species of antelope as well as successful white rhino and buffalo breeding campaigns. The Lotlamoreng Reserve is currently undergoing reconstruction after protest action destroyed large areas, but will be a wow when it reopens. The bird sanctuary at Cookes Lake is also a must see for bird lovers.
Further afield the Madikwe Reserve offers 5 Star Safari Lodges. Situated just north of Groot-Marico and stretching to the Botswana border in the north and the Dwarsberg Mountains in the south the 60 000 hectare reserve offers some 12 000 animals for viewing. All predator species are represented as well as black and white rhino, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and a great number of antelopes. More than 350 bird species have also been registered.
THE SIEGE OF MAFIKENG
For the history buffs, the mere mention of the name Mafikeng and most people will say “Ah – the Siege of Mafikeng –Baden-Powell and Sir Charles Warren”. South African History tended to be somewhat one-sided until fairly recently and said nothing of the role of the Barolong people as combatants during the Siege. In fact there were more Barolong combatants than any other group.
The Kgotla of the BaRolong Boora –Tshidi is the tribal meeting place of Chief Montshoia and has been in continuous use since the 1850 and has a monument to the BarRolong who died in action during the Mafikeng Siege.
A famous resident of the town during the siege was Sol Plaatje who lived at Maratiwa House, the home of Silas Molema – still occupied by Molema family descendants today.
PLAATJIE KEPT A DIARY
Plaatje was the first known black person to keep a diary during a protracted war. While working as a court interpreter in the office of the Civil Commissioner and Magistrate during the siege of Mafikeng, he wrote his Boer War Diary, that was discovered only many years after his death. His diary of the events is a valuable historical document, unique in its presentation of an African perspective.
Mafikeng and its surrounds is rich with historical sites – Kanon Kopje, Warren’s Fort, the Ammunition Magazine, The Women’s Laager built to accommodate English women from the town when the shelling made it dangerous to stay in town, the Mafikeng Siege Headquarters and the Concentration Camp Cemeteries that bear testimony to the horrors of the camp occupied from 1900 to 1902. Recorded deaths run into the thousands with more than 81% of these being children. The Moshoeshoe graves and Maphatswa and Molema Cemeteries give an insight into the lives and deaths of black Africans from the Mafikeng area. The list of sites is long, longer than just a weekend visit.
CEMETARY HONOURS THE HEROES
The Heroes Acre is a more recent historical site – the cemetery honours heroes killed during an uprising against the government of Bophuthatswana. Some 11 graves, nine of them police officers are here. The former Bophuthatswana President Lucas M Mangope’s residence, Lowe, is now used for training and workshops and there’s even a bomb bunker next to the sports stadium – this was built after a coup attempt in 1988 to protect the president in case there was another attempt!
Perhaps the best place to start the tour of Mafikeng is at the Museum, situated in Martin Street and formerly the Town Hall, built in 1902.
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