May 5, 2019 | Things to in and around Nelspruit
When staying at Nelspruit Lodge, there is so much to see and do in the area. A trip to the rock garden at Revolve Creek is one such adventure that you should do.
During the late 1960s travellers between Barberton and Kaapmuiden were astounded as they came across a sea of beautifully painted rocks. The owner of this stunning sight was Nukain Mabuza, a farm worker from one of the nearby farms. His origins are a mystery and while the people who knew him said he was a Shangaan or Swazi, it was unknown even to them from where he came.
When Nukain was questioned as to why he painted the rocks, he replied that “his head told him too”. He strictly used yellow, black, white and red paint in his garden. He cleared the veld grass and any other vegetation in a triangular area on the slope and marked it off with small rocks. Like most peoples gardens, he had delineated paths. The area outside his rock garden was full of indigenous plants including aloes and wild dagga. While Mabuza painted all sorts of designs, he never once painted a flower on his rocks.
Over the years many people started to donate paint, but any other colours were used between the road and his fence, not in his garden. He painted mostly spots and stripes but there were also paintings of dogs, rabbits, elephant and birds among his art. This certain style he kept up for many years. He painted rocks and also large embedded boulders on the hillside that surrounded his humble hut. A distinctive boulder at the bottom of his garden was said to be his throne. From this “Throne” like boulder, Mabuza could sit and gaze up at his garden. Mabuza used to tell people his garden was the most beautiful garden in the universe. His hut too was painted in a similar fashion, inside and out. Many articles were written about his art and he kept these clippings on the inside walls of his home.
Two books were written about his life and work, “The Home Of Nukain Mabuza” and “The Painted Stone Garden of Nukain Mabuza”.
Nukain Mabuza’s rock art was a tourist attraction during his life but he was never recognised as an artist. Athol Fugard did, however, make a play about his life, “The Painted Rocks At Revolver Creek” and in 2015 the play enjoyed a highly acclaimed debut season in New York. The play was later done at the Fugard Theatre in Cape Town. Like any good story, there is a sad end to this one. Nukain Mabuza was an eccentric man in every aspect. One day in 1981, he dug a hole at the top of his painted mountain and buried himself alive.
His body was removed and today he lies in an unmarked grave in the Barberton Cemetary, identifiable only by a reference number. Like Mozart, his life and brilliance were only recognised after his death and both have ended in paupers graves.
Neglected and forgotten for thirty years, this spectacular garden has faded; it’s peeling and overgrown. Although there are only a few photographic records of the site, attempts to restore it are being made.
When staying at our Nelspruit accommodation, you can visit his rock garden and learn more about this mysterious artist.
Jan 15, 2019 | Nelspruit Lodge
The name Lydenburg means “Place of Suffering” and was so named by the Voortrekkers in the early 1800s, those who were fleeing the heat and malaria prevalent in the lower lying areas. Although Lydenburg was a cooler and much healthier area to live in, the settlers in the area had to fight many battles with the local Bapedi tribe who at that time lived in the region.
Lydenburg has a long and interesting history. And being quite close to Nelspruit, you can spend the day exploring when you are staying at our Nelspruit accommodation. Here are some facts you should know about the town of Lydenburg:
- The pass that connects Sabie to Lydenburg is named “Long Tom Pass’. After the final Anglo Boer War battle that took place on the slopes of Mauchsberg, between Lydenburg and Sabie, the pass was given its name. At Devil’s Knuckles, near the summit of the pass, stands a replica of the Long Tom Cannon, a silent reminder as to how the pass got its name.
- Established in 1972, the Lydenburg Museum is a place for the history lover. The museum is situated on the pass at the entrance to the Gustav Klingbeil Nature Reserve. Although it is a small museum, it is said to be one of the best museums in the Mpumalanga. The museum is filled with archaeological and cultural history. The best know history in the museum has got to be the Lydenburg Heads. These replica 7 heads (the real heads are kept in the National Museum in Cape Town) are believed to date back to the Iron Age, around 490AD. Ludwig Von Bezing, a 10 year old child that was playing on his father’s farm, made the discovery of the intricately carved ceramic heads in 1957. Cultural items from the settlers as well as from the Pedi and Ndebele people that occupied the area at the time are also included among the artefacts in the museum. Beautifully recreated and displayed outside the museum is old farming equipment as well as an ox wagon. Long Tom Cannons from the Anglo Boer War, as well as other military history and early gold mining exhibits can also be viewed.
- Another interesting display in the Lydenburg Museum in the distillery. Here one can sample the traditional Afrikaaner brew known as mampoer.
- If you would like to take a step back in time, a visit or stay over at the De Ark Guest House is a must. Built more than 150 years ago, the De Ark House is the oldest and most prominent building in Lydenburg. Although the original house was built in 1857, it was converted to a double storey building in 1893.
- Today you can choose from bed and breakfast or self-catering rooms and the De Ark Guesthouse is able to accommodate 28 people sharing. Each room has a theme, so you can stay “In the Library” or “On the Green”, in the “Gothic” or in the “Louis XV1” room. There is a Victorian Style Tea garden with rose thickets and a breakfast/dining room fit for royalty. De Ark Guesthouse caters for weddings, with the garden gazebo being transformed into a romantic chapel, with beautifully landscaped gardens and fragrant roses making it the best place for your special day.
Nelspruit Lodge offers the best accommodation in Nelspruit, at the most affordable prices. Contact us today to book your stay!
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