Marico Experiences

Immerse yourself into all that the Marico has to offer

Sights to see & things to do

Not only is the Marico home to some of the most wonderful natural sites to visit and explore, but it is also home to a number of historically and culturally significant sites that can be enjoyed.

To experience the Marico is to truly get to know her.

Whether it be the culture behind the tradition of Mampoer and Herman Charles Bosman, to immerse yourself in the history or to seek healing and the desire to bring one’s soul in touch with one’s self.

The Marico has a number of very special experiences and activities to offer the traveller looking to further themselves and further their life’s fulfilment.

In the main street of our town, you will find virtually everything one needs to survive: a butchery, bar, general dealer, a post office, a café, a tuisnywerheid and fruit & vegetable shop, an ABSA ATM and an art factory at the Information Centre where information can be obtained regarding accommodation and future events.

Marico BR Visitor Centre Wilde-Als

Marico BR Visitor Centre Wilde-Als for all information on the Marico Biosphere Reserve and guidance on how and where to get involved in Conservation, Research and Sustainable Development within the Marico BR.

Located in the ‘CBD of Marico town.’ Contact Beatrice vd Merwe at 079 839 9167 or moi.marico@gmail.com or find on Google Maps.

Groot Marico Info Centre

The big old house in which the Information Centre is situated, is the original farmhouse on the farm Wonderfontein on which the town was developed. Santa and Egbert will welcome you here with the traditional honey mampoer liqueur. You can support the local craft/arts project and there is also a bookroom to spend time in.

Contact: Santa on 083 272 2958 or 014 503 0085 or info@marico.co.za

Places of interest

The Herman Charles Bosman Living Museum

Address: 1A Hendrik Potgieter St, Groot Marico, 2850

Phone: 083 272 2958

The Herman Charles Bosman Living Museum near Groot Marico is an exact replica of the school at which the famous writer taught in 1926.

Herman Charles Bosman was a teacher in 1926 at the Heimweeberg School in the Marico area. As a result of his time in the Marico, some of the best short stories in South African literature were crafted. His stories captured the atmosphere and the essence of the Western Transvaal Boers. Many people know about Marico through Bosman’s stories.

One of Bosman’s books, “Mafikeng Road”, has been continuously in print since first published in 1947. Herman Charles Bosman was born in 1905 and died of a heart attack in 1951.

Find out more >

Historical Sites

A large number of historical sites and examples of tangible cultural heritage can be found in the MBR. De Jager and Kuijers (1987), commissioned by the Stigting Simon van der Stel (predecessor to Heritage SA), recorded heritage sites in the Western Transvaal in the late 1980s. They focussed on those sites which are of special importance to the Afrikaans community.

Below are the sites that they identified plus a few others that are listed according to the types of tangible heritage as classified in section 3(2) of the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA), act no. 25 of 1999:

PLACES, BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT OF CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

Battlefields

Mosega battlefield (17 Jan 1837) on the farm Sendelingspos (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:86-7).
Site on the farm Vlakplaas (in Klipveld) where Potgieter’s commando camped before the Battles of Mosega and Kapain in 1837 (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:129)
Kleinfontein Battlefield (1901) situated on the R27 6.5 km west of the turnoff to Groot Marico (Van den Bergh 1996:131).

Farmhouses, farmsteads and outbuildings

Buffelshoek farm with farmhouse and outbuildings (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:82-4)
Farmhouse on the farm Witrand – home of Gen Koos Snyman who took part in the Siege of Mafeking during the Second Anglo-Boer War (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:90)
Farmhouse on the farm Paardevlei built by Cmdt J.D.L. Botha of Marico Commando in Second Anglo-Boer War (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:94)
”Waenhuis” on the farm Rietvallei (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:95)
Smith’s workshop on the farm Wilgeboomspruit (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:96)
Old farmhouse on the farm Zwartfontein (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:97)
Old farmhouse on the farm Derdepoort (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:98)
Farmhouse on the farm Bokkraal (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:111)
Old farmhouse on the farm Bokkraal (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:114)
Old farmhouse on the farm Stinkhoutboom (Ottoshoop) built by J.D.D. Fritz, a Voortrekker in the 1850s whose son-in-law Kelly discovered gold in 1875 (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:119)
Farmhouse at Malmani’s Eye on the farm Naauwpoort – Dr G.J. Gubbins bought the farm in 1910 and discovered gold and fluorspar (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:123)
Stone house on the farm Witstinkhoutboom built c. 1840s by J.D.D. Fritz. Used as fort during attacks by blacks (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:124)
Remains of old house (hartbeeshuis) on the farm Ruigtelaagte built c. 1850 by Cmdt Hendrik Greeff founder of Lichtenburg, later belonged to Gen de la Rey (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:127)
“Arendsnes” house built by J.H. Jordaan on the farm Wonderfontein in 1974 – unique architecture (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:130)

Mills and water wheels

Wheel of Hahler water mill on the farm Uitvlucht (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:93)
Water mill on the farm Kaaloog (Grootfontein) (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:112)
Mill on the farm Bokkraal (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:113)
Old water mill at Malmani’s Eye on the farm Naauwpoort (Nooitgedacht) c. 1900, one of only three ‘silent feed’ mills in the world. Declared as National Monument in 1983. (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:121-2)
Mill on the farm Windheuvel (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:125)

Monuments and memorials

Monument at Mosega battlefield for Mrs Wilson, the missionary’s wife and the first white woman who died in the Transvaal (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:86-7)
Monument at Mosega battlefield at the site of the first house built by Europeans in the Transvaal in 1832 by French missionaries (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:86-7).
Doornhoek stone memorial on the farm Doornhoek – erected in 1880 during the First Anglo-Boer War by inhabitants of Klein-Marico who renewed the Covenant and vowed to fight to the bitter end for the freedom of the South African Republic (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:89).
Battle of Kleinfontein Monument on the farm Kleinfontein at the site of the main battle – in memory of Cmdt Sarel Oosthuizen and the 20 burghers who died in the battle on 24 October 1901 during the Second Anglo-Boer War (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:109).
Small Voortrekker monument, Groot Marico
H.A. Greef Memorial on the farm Witklip, northeast of Lichtenburg

Museums

Herman Charles Bosman Living Museum in Groot Marico, a replica of the farm school where Bosman taught in 1926.

Other buildings

Old shop on the farm Rietvlei (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:110)

Sites

Site of the school where Herman Charles Bosman was a teacher and farmhouse where Bosman stayed on the farm Heimweeberg (the school building was rebuilt in the town of Groot-Marico (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:91-2)

Historical settlements and townscapes

Jacobsdal townscape – several buildings and other structures, e.g. remnants of an old water mill (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:73; Labuschagne 1984)
Ottoshoop townscape – several historic buildings, some from the mining history
Post and Magistrate’s Office, Commissioner Street, Ottoshoop – the goldfield was proclaimed in the 1880s, many gold diggers were attracted, they settled at Malmani next to the goldfield, Pres Kruger visited the town and renamed it Ottoshoop (Otto was the magistrate) (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:120)
Groot Marico townscape – several historic buildings
Old police station and magistrate’s office on the farm Ragies, Groot-Marico (De Jager and Kuijers 1987:108)

Monuments & Grave Sites

Contact Person: Stephan Botha
Email: gsbotha@absamail.co.za

Anglo-Boer War Soldier’s Grave

GPS: 25.395726 S, 26.320419 E

Boer soldier killed during an attack on Selons River.

Wonderfontein Anglo-Boer War Graveyard

GPS: 25.351071 S, 26.240802 E

Grave of British Soldiers from the Anglo-Boer War. Most were slain during the Battle of Renosterfontein where the Bosveld Dam is today.