Ficksburg

Ficksburg in the Free State is the home to the Cherry Festiv

Ficksburg is situated in the scenic panorama of the Eastern Free State along the Highlands Route. Ficksburg nestles at the foot of the Imperani Mountain and on the banks of the Caledon River, the border with Lesotho. With magnificent views of the majestic Malutis as backdrop, changing with the seasons, from the purple haze of summer to the snow clad slopes in winter.

The history of the Ficksburg area goes back to the dawn of time, starting with the dinosaurs who left their fossils and their footprints as reminders of their presence, later came the seas and deserts that set the sandstones with their fossilised remains, and wonderful evening colours, later yet the first humans we know of who left us their prehistoric tools, then the Bushmen, who left their tools and their paintings for us to wonder at. Later came the Black man, with the difaquane and wars of extermination, and the Basotho nation was built up of the remnants of the tribes that had survived. Then came the white man, the hunters, the "trekboere" the Voortrekkers and after them the settlers.

The first permanent European settlers in this area that was eventually to become Ficksburg was a missionary the Rev. James Allison and his wife. Ficksburg was proclaimed in June 1867, and named after General J.I.J. Fick, commandant general of the Free State forces, to serve as a "Military town". Ficksburg became a magisterial district in 1891. The Ficksburg Town Hall and old Court House were built before the Anglo Boer War, as was the Methodist Church, all were built of local sandstone. In 1907 the Dutch Reformed Church, the Railway Station, the old Post Office and the bridge across the Caledon , all built of Ficksburg sandstone, were formally opened. Many public buildings including the Union Buildings in Pretoria were built of Ficksburg sandstone.

On the agricultural front Ficksburg has the distinction of being the birthplace of what eventually has become the largest hail insurance company in the Southern Hemisphere. It was in 1929 that a few local farmers got together and formed the Conquered Territory Mutual Hail Assurance Co. This later became Farmers Hail or Boere Hael, then Sentra Oes, and today is known as A.R.S. Agri Risk Security.

Ficksburg also had the honour of being declared the first Soil Conservation District in South Africa in 1946.

Ficksburg has developed and prospered and today is not only the gem of the Conquered Territory but also the Gateway to the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Ficksburg is situated in the scenic panorama of the Eastern Free State, between the slopes of the beautiful Imperani Mountain and the western banks of the Caledon River. This is a point of entry to Lesotho and the majestic Maluti Mountains, the ‘Alps of southern Africa’. The town was founded in 1867 and was named after Cmdt – General JIJ Fick. Numerous historical places and national monuments testify to Ficksburg’s pioneering past. With it’s luxuriant vegetation and abundant water, it’s hardly surprising that many of the early Voortrekkers chose to follow a route through the region, Characteristic of this area are the vast stretches of wheat fields, which in summer form a golden belt. So too is the unparalleled beauty of the cherry orchards in blossom during early September.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Bloemfontein 198 km, Cape Town 1211 km, Clocolan 34 km, Durban 500 km, Golden Gate National Park 150 km, Harrismith 185 km, Johannesburg 332 km, Ladybrand 70 km, Port Elizabeth 842 km, Rosendal 53 km, Senekal 87 km

Banks – Absa (ATM 1), Fnb (ATM 1), Nedbank (ATM 1), Standard Bank (ATM 1)

Mountains – Imperani, Maluti

River – Caledon

HISTORICAL VIEW

Fick Memorial

The graves of Gen Fick and his wife are at the foot of this memorial in front of the town hall.

Ficksburg Jail

A national monument containing the cell in which CR Swart, the first President of the Republic of South Africa, was imprisoned in 1914 and released one day before his scheduled execution.

Ficksburg Museum

A charming museum largely detailing the life of Gen Fick, and the history of the town’s cherry industry, among other exhibits.

Historic Railway Sidings

Two railway sidings, Kommandonek and Generaalsnek, on the line between Ficksburg and Fouriesburg are reminders of the area’s stormy past. Cmdt – Gen Fick met with Paul Kruger at Generaalsnek, when the latter came to the Free State’s assistance during the 1865 Basotho War.

McBride’s House Antiques

San Rock Art

Many examples of San art found in the Ficksburg vicinity.

Sandstone Buildings

Tunnon Museum

Located 15 km from Ficksburg, the museum houses a rare collection of perfectly restored carriages and wagons.

NATURE

Meulspruit Dam

A dramatic stretch of water in the Mpharane Ravine, offering watersport facilities.

Mpharane Nature Reserve

A former Wesleyan Mission station, where missionaries planted willow cuttings from Napoleon’s St Helena grave, is now a small reserve and forestry station with a profusion of willows.

ATTRACTIONS

Annual Events

Ficksburg Cherry Festival - November

Frankfort Wilge Marathon – February

Deemster Farm - One of the largest asparagus farms in the world. Visit by appointment

Dunoon - Unique collection of carriages and wagons

Pelliseur Art Gallery - Worth a visit at the High School

Pierneef Frieze

A fine example of the work of JH Pierneef, one of South Africa’s most revered painters

Polo Tournament

Tanglewood Studio - Art and Woodcraft

ACTIVITIES

Mountain Biking / Cycling - Six biking trails in the area

Fishing - The fishing is great, the rivers and pools cool and refreshing

Game Viewing - Excellent birding and game viewing

Hiking - Hoekfontein Game Range, Imperani, Kututsa, Thaba Thabo, Waterkloof

Porcupine Trail

An idyllic 26 km walk with an overnight stop at the historic farm Vierfontein

Mountain Climbing

Accommodation in and around Ficksburg