Louis Trichardt

History

Some Venda traditions claim that Tshirululuni was originally a settlement of the Dau clan's legendary ruler Raphulu, while others attribute it to the Tshivhula Ndou dynasty. Jannie Loubser says that the former is more likely. After the collapse of the Venda Kingdom in the 18th century, Tshirululuni continued to be an important location, and in the early-19th century it became the seat of the Ramabulana dynasty. Around 1830, the death of king Mpofu of the Ramabulana dynasty caused a succession conflict between his two sons, Ramavhoya and Ramabulana (from whom the dynasty gets its name). Ramavhoya won and was installed at Tshirululuni (the capital), while Ramabulana fled to a town to the south. In 1836 Ramabulana allied with a migrating Boer group led by Louis Tregardt. Tregardt tricked Ramavhoya into leaving Tshirululuni, where he was ambushed and strangled by Ramabulana. Ramabulana assumed the kingship and offered Tregardt's group land and access to hunting grounds, but they decided to move on. In 1848 Ramabulana welcomed another Boer group led by Hendrik Potgieter who founded a settlement that later became Schoemansdal. Ramabulana expected the Boers to respect his jurisdiction, however the town became a centre for Boer power and they coerced tribute and labour from the surrounding communities. They also captured and traded slaves (exported to the east coast), and relied upon African marksman for hunting who were paid in cattle. The polity was later incorporated into the Transvaal Republic (ZAR). In 1864 Ramabulana's death caused another succession crisis. His eldest son Davhana was suspected of being involved in Ramabulana's death, and many Venda disapproved of his temperament. Ramabulana's preferred successor was his youngest son Makhado; Makhado's mother Limana…

Most-observed species

• Red-eyed Dove

  Streptopelia semitorquata (Rüppell, 1837) · Aves
  195
• Dark-capped Bulbul

  Pycnonotus tricolor (Hartlaub, 1862) · Aves
  186
• Hadada Ibis

  Bostrychia hagedash (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  181
• Southern Boubou

  Laniarius ferrugineus (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  178
• White-browed Robin-Chat

  Cossypha heuglini Hartlaub, 1866 · Aves
  174
• Cape White-eye

  Zosterops virens Sundevall, 1850 · Aves
  169
• Yellow-bellied Greenbul

  Chlorocichla flaviventris (A.Smith, 1834) · Aves
  167
• Black-backed Puffback

  Dryoscopus cubla (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  165