Kaapsehoop

Kaapsehoop, wild horses, arts and crafts and historic villag

Kaapsehoop is situated 25km southwest of Nelspruit on a buttress of the Mpumalanga escarpment. The Kaapsehoop area offers protection to between nine and twelve pairs of the globally threatened Blue Swallow and is designated as an Important Bird Area. Kaapsehoop is a good locality to see Southern African bird endemics, an asterisk in the text marks these species. A 470ha portion of Kaapsehoop grassland falls under protection of the Natural Heritage Site while the state owned forestry company owns a another substantial expanse of grassland wedged between the reserve and town.

The name Kaapsehoop has many different spellings. Originally it was called Duiwels Kantoor (Devils office) and later (in 1886) changed to Kaapsehoop. Duiwels Kantoor came about because of the tall sandstone boulders that formed in the shape of a room, with a table and chairs, with wild trees growing around the setting, thus making it look somb and sinister.

Gold was discovered in the 1880s with the value being about lbs3 per ounce.

The first official government buildings were erected in 1885 and still exist today. This almost forgotten mining village is approximately and now offers various arts and crafts, modern restaurants, pubs and an abundance of accommodation.

The Wild horses of Kaapsehoop

Many fairy-tale stories exist with regards to the origination of the wild horses. Approximately 160 to 200 feral horses roam the 17 000 hectares of Kaapsehoop and surrounding areas. The breed type seems predominantly Boerperd with herds ranging in size from bachelor herds of +- 3 to larger more structured herds of 15 to 20 horses. They are enjoyed by visitors and locals alike and share a protective interest by the residents of Kaapsehoop.

Accommodation in and around Kaapsehoop