Sedibeng: Rock Art, Cultural Heritage and Experiences on the Vaal

The Redan Rock Art Site on Waldrift Farm includes 244 identified rock engravings depicting animals and unusual geometric patterns. Alongside Sharpeville memorial sites, a blockhouse in the Meyerton area and archaeological sites in Suikerbosrand, it reveals a wide range of cultural and nature-related themes. There are also hiking trails, water activities and experiences involving regional drinks. To plan your trip, you can first decide which of these themes you would like to shape your stay.

Memorial Sites and History

Sharpeville is home to eight memorial sites of national significance. The Sharpeville Sites commemorate the massacre of 69 people who protested against unjust pass laws. The Sharpeville Memorial was built to commemorate victims of political violence. Constitution Square offers another historical landmark: Nelson Mandela opened the square on the day he signed South Africa’s new constitution.

In the Meyerton area, Witkop Blockhouse is one of about fifty blockhouses still standing in the country. The Sharpeville Struggle Route offers a different way to find your bearings, running through Sharpeville to Boipatong. These places offer different ways to engage with history: memorial sites, a memorial to the signing of the constitution, a preserved blockhouse and a route through two named towns. The Suikerbos Route, in turn, includes Iron Age sites within Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve.

Trails and Nature in Suikerbosrand

Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve has the Cheetah Trail, a four-kilometre interpretive trail. The reserve also has a 60-kilometre tourist drive for motor vehicles. The two routes offer different ways to explore the area: a shorter walk and a longer scenic drive. Diepkloof Farm Museum is also located in the reserve.

The T6 Suikerbos Route offers hiking trails, including one suitable for people with paraplegia. Birdwatching is another of the region’s nature-related attractions: KwaDlomo Dam is recognised as a birdwatching site and has an exceptional ecosystem.

Water Activities and Dive Sites

The upper Vaal River has rapids ranging from small to large and is suitable for rafting. For those interested in diving, Bass Lake offers a different kind of water experience: this spring-fed lake covers ten hectares and reaches a depth of 23 metres. There are grids at various depths for practising diving skills, and Bass Lake also has several wrecks for experienced divers.

The details about Bass Lake describe both the dimensions of the lake and the different diving opportunities it offers. Rafting on the upper Vaal and scuba diving in the lake are distinct options to consider when planning a trip. You can choose based on whether you would rather explore a flowing river with rapids or a dive site with training grids and wrecks.

Routes, Brewery and Seasonal Tastings

There are eleven signposted, purpose-built tourist routes in the Vaal. They can be adapted for independent exploration in your own vehicle or combined into a tour. One of them is the Sharpeville Struggle Route, which runs through Sharpeville to Boipatong. The routes therefore offer a way to tailor your plans to your own interests.

Local drinks are also part of what’s on offer: the family-run De Garve Brewery microbrewery offers brewery tours and beer tastings. The Vaal Meander Wine Route features six weeks of winter wine tastings at various venues along the River Road Route and other routes in the Vaal. If you would like to plan your trip around these seasonal tastings, check the event dates for your planned travel period.

Getting to the Vaal

The Vaal can be reached via the R59, as well as the N1, which connects Johannesburg with Bloemfontein, and the N3, which connects Johannesburg with Durban. These road details provide a general guide to getting there. They can help you plan your journey in broad terms, while your choice of activities may depend on whether cultural heritage, hiking trails, water activities or seasonal tastings are your priority.

Discover more destinations: Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark, Heidelberg - Gp, Meyerton, De Deur, Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, East Rand, West Rand.

For the broader travel overview: Gauteng.