Senekal

Senekal is a small town situated on the banks of the Klipspr

Senekal is a small town situated on the banks of the Klipspruit, a Vaal River tributary in the Free State Province of South Africa. It was named after Commodant-General FP Senekal.

Senekal was established in 1877 and lies amidst the panoramic splendour of the Eastern Free State, on the main route between Bloemfontein and Durban. The town, with it’s enviable climate, beautiful scenery and majestic star studded nights, is situated only 25 km from the renowned Willem Pretorius Nature Reserve, while the adjacent Allemanskraal Dam affords the tourist excellent water sport and fishing opportunities. If you are visiting or just passing through, be sure not to miss the privately built 5 m high ‘world clock’, which keeps time in Amsterdam, Sydney, Moscow and New York simultaneously. The town was named after Cmdt – Gen FP Senekal who was killed during the Second Basotho War (1865). During the Anglo Boer War the British occupied the town.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Bloemfontein 156 km, Cape Town 1178 km, Durban 476 km, Golden Gate National Park 100 km, Johannesburg 247 km, Marquard 45 km, Port Elizabeth 809 km

Average Rainfall: 600 mm per annum

Average Temperatures - Summer 16°c – 17°c; Winter -4°c

Banks – Absa (ATM), FNB (ATM), Standard (ATM)

Dams – allemanskraal Dam, De Put Dam, Cyferfontein Dam

Mountains – Table Mountain, Biddulphsberg

Rivers – Sand River

HISTORICAL VIEW

AD Keet House – Home of the late poet

Biddulphsberg Battlesite

One of the many Anglo Boer War battlesites from 1900 skirmishes

Dutch Reformed Church

Now more than a century old, the walls of this sandstone church is partly build of petrified trees containing fossil specimens from 350 million year old swamplands

Fossilised Tree Trunks

Unique fossilized tree trunks which grew about 250 000 years ago situated at the Dutch Reformed Church

NATURE

Willem Pretorius Game Reserve

The Sand River and Allemanskraal Dam divide the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve of 12 000 ha into northern and southern parts which not only differ in topography, but also in the plant and animal life they support. Doringberg and Bekkersberg shape the hilly and densely vegetated northern side to create suitable homes for baboon, mountain reedbuck, red hartebeest, kudu and duiker. Huge white stinkwood and karee trees beautify the shady kloofs, where the water ripples in small streamlets over slippery rocks during the rainy season. On the southern side eland, blesbok, springbok, black wildebeest and zebra give the visitor a glimpse of the wondrous world of plains ‘teeming with wildlife’ that the early explorers wrote about. White rhino and buffalo, on the other hand, are equally at home on either side of the reserve.

Location, Accommodation and Facilities

The game reserve is situated approximately 30 km from Ventersburg and 150 km from Bloemfontein. The turn off to the nature reserve is clearly indicated on the N1 between Winburg and Ventersburg. There is a modern, fully equipped education and conference centre. Environmental education programmes are presented to groups on request. Groups of up to 100 people can be accommodated in two complexes. The conference centre has modern audio visual facilities. A large recreation hall in the same complex can accommodate 200 people. The ten fully equipped holiday chalets each has it’s own car port and barbeque. The restaurant is licensed and serves a la carte and take away meals. It also caters for functions and conferences. Essentials and curios can be obtained from a small shop. In one of the kloofs of the game reserve is a lapa with barbeque facilities. There is also a bush camp that sleeps 16 people and has a separate kitchen and ablution facilities. The caravan park is well equipped with power points, ablution facilities and a kitchen.

Climate

The summers are hot and the winter days sunny and warm although the night are cold

ATTRACTIONS

Annual Events

Voortrekker Kommando – Throughout the year

Show – February

Fat Cattle Auction Festival – March

Carnival – October

Aventura Aldam

Excellent fishing, sailing and boating opportunities. A wide spectrum of leisure activities to entertain the whole family; swimming, golf, tennis, bowls, mini golf, snooker, trampolines, roller skating and water slides. Accommodation, ranging from family chalets and rondavels to caravanning and camping facilities will suite every taste

Bible Garden

Have lunch in this collection of olive, herbal and palm gardens near the church

ACTIVITIES

Fishing - Aventura Aldam

Hiking

Biddulphsberg -The farm of Jan Cilliers, brother of the Voortrekker leader, Sarel Cilliers

Sport

Athletics, Badminton, Golf, Netball, Polo, Rugby, Soccer, Squash, Tennis, Water Sports

Accommodation in and around Senekal