Geluksburg

History

Geluksburg played a role in the history of the Bushmen (San), Zulu, Boer and British. Firstly, inhabited by the Bushman. However, they were forced out of the region by Nguni clans and the early European settlers. King Shaka’s Mfecane during the early 1800s added to their displacement from this area. The ‘Lost Valley’ located near Geluksburg was an early settlement of ‘Trek Boers’. This group were a “White Tribe” that lived an elementary life. Some five families lost their way from Piet Retief’s primary group, and as a result sought refuge in this valley. They were very reclusive until being discovered by a journalist in the 1950’s. The journalist observed them living in very simple mud dwellings. The “Lost Valley” is now private farmland. However, tours can be arranged to see the remnants of the homes of this community.

Most-observed species

• Pied Crow

  Corvus albus Statius Muller, 1776 · Aves
  180
• Cape Crow

  Corvus capensis Lichtenstein, 1823 · Aves
  123
• Cape Wagtail

  Motacilla capensis Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  119
• African Pied Starling

  Lamprotornis bicolor (Gmelin, 1789) · Aves
  115
• Speckled Pigeon

  Columba guinea Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  113
• Hadada Ibis

  Bostrychia hagedash (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  108
• Southern Fiscal

  Lanius collaris Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  100
• Ring-necked Dove

  Streptopelia capicola (Sundevall, 1857) · Aves
  97