Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve

The Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve

The Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve lies in the central Free State between Theunissen (probably the town most central to the Free State) and Winburg, roughly 20 kilometres west of the latter, with the turn off roughly 10 kilometres outside the former. Whilst these directions might sound a little overcomplicated, Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve is anything but.

The 400 hectare Erfenis Dam reserve is a quiet and unassuming reserve that has as its fulcrum the Erfenis Dam, used by locals as a boating and fishing venue. The dam is not small - the upstream side of it ends just 10 kilometres from town - and its 3 800 hectares was constructed to provide neighbouring farms with irrigation. There is wildlife to view, but most people head out to Erfenis for the fishing.

The historical town of Winburg is worth a visit if not for anything then for the Voortrekker Monument, which stands on the site originally selected for that monument that today stands in Pretoria (see Voortrekker Monument). The town is obviously steeped in Voortrekker history – the cemeteryy is the oldest Voortrekker cemetery in the country and the Garden of Remembrance in town is a pretty landscaped garden kept in memory of the Voortrekker of the Groot Trek. Even Fords Hotel dates back to the time of the Voortrekkers.