Kaapsche Hoop, also known as Kaapsehoop or Kaapse Hoop, dates from the famous gold rush of the late 1880’s where fortunes were made and more often, lost.
The land with legends of gold and horses has an exciting history which dates back to 1721.  In 1882 Bernard Chomse claimed to have found gold in the bed of a stream on a high, narrow plateau which projects like a finger between the valleys of the Elands and the Little Crocodile Rivers.  Situated in the hills above Ngodwana 32km from Nelspruit this picturesque village also do have a charming country atmosphere.
The diggers called the strange place Duiwelskantoor “devils office”.  The mountains are so rugged that only the devil could live here.The valley is often covered in mist and the plateau then resembles a cape in a sea of clouds.  It became known as De Kaap “the cape”, and the centre of the gold rush was named Kaapschehoop “hope of the cape”.

Today this village offers the environmentally conscious tourist a number of options and has a lingering atmosphere of the gold-rush days, and prospectors still work in the area.

The historic mining village of Kaapsehoop is situated about 25 kilometers from the town of Nelspruit in the South African province of Mpumalanga. The Kaapsehoop area offers exceptionally beautiful landscapes, complete with gushing waterfalls, indigenous forests and rugged hillsides. A large area of the grasslands of Kaapsehoop has been designated as a protected National Heritage Site and is a haven for endemic birds including breeding pairs of the endangered Blue Swallow.  It is within this paradise-like setting that the legendary wild horses of Kaapsehoop roam freely.
There are numerous eco-friendly tours available which give visitors the opportunity to see the natural beauty of Kaapsehoop on horseback, in much the same way that pioneering miners did in the past. Experienced guides lead the horseback tours along the magnificent Drakensberg escarpment, which offers a breath-taking view over the Barberton valley. Riders will also be given the opportunity to experience the excitement of galloping alongside the Kaapsehoop wild horses. Tours include a visit to the old mines and swimming in the cool, clear water of pools below the waterfalls.
South Africa is truly a country of great natural beauty and diversity.  Visitors to the Kaapsehoop area in Mpumalanga should not hesitate to explore its beauty on horseback and enjoy the exhilaration of riding alongside the Kaapsehoop wild horses

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 at 8:49 am and is filed under Places of Interest. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.