Vrede

History

Archeological and records conducted by Tim Maggs in 1976 provides evidence of the early Basotho settlement near Ntsoana-tsatsi. The distinctive corbelled house parttens called "N" for Ntsoana-tsatsi dates between 1600 and 1800 AD and was called "Mohlongwa-fatshe. Before Afrikaaners arrived in the area, it was the Batlokwa's stronghold. In 1863 one J. H. Krynauw bought the farm, aptly named "Krynauwslust" located where the town of Vrede was later proclaimed in 1879. The town celebrated its centenary in 1979. The town's Afrikaans name "Vrede" can be directly translated to "Peace" in English. This name resulted, due to a bitter feud that raged between the early settlers of the area where the town initially should have been placed. A compromise was reached and peace among the early citizens was achieved, hence the name, "Vrede". The names Leeukop (Lionshead), Tygerspoort (Tiger's Passage), Kwaggaspoort (Zebra's Passage) still exist today. Unfortunately the folk of the earlier years were not conscious of the ecology and now only names of the game that roamed the area remain. The last known free roaming lion in the area was shot in 1865. In 1858 a sole hippo was spotted in the wetlands surrounding the district of Memel, the neighboring town. Between 1899 and 1902 many famous battles were fought in and around Vrede and Vrede was also the setting of the stand of the Great Rebellion of 1914 when citizens were called to arms in aid of Britain in the First World War against Germany.

Most-observed species

• Cape Wagtail

  Motacilla capensis Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  102
• Southern Fiscal

  Lanius collaris Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  92
• African Stonechat

  Saxicola torquatus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  90
• Long-tailed Widowbird

  Euplectes progne (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  86
• African Pied Starling

  Lamprotornis bicolor (Gmelin, 1789) · Aves
  80
• Black-headed Heron

  Ardea melanocephala Children & Vigors, 1826 · Aves
  77
• Hadada Ibis

  Bostrychia hagedash (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  72
• Southern Masked-Weaver

  Ploceus velatus Vieillot, 1819 · Aves
  70