Monthly Archives: April 2020

The Magaliesberg by Vincent Carruthers
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This book is a valuable source of information about the Magaliesberg for the visitor, including the history of man in the area; from archaeological evidence thousands of years ago, to the battles fought between different groups in more recent times. The portrayal of humankind’s history in the Magaliesberg is fascinating, but it does not dominate the book to the detriment of environmental issues. The extensive descriptions of the fauna and flora of the area inspire the reader to consider the...
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‘Spanish’ Flu Epidemic of 1918 in South Africa.
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A cartoon from Die Burger, 16 October 1918 reproduced in Howard Phillips’ In a Time of Plague: Memories of the ‘Spanish’ Flu Epidemic of 1918 in South Africa. The magnitude of the 1918 flu epidemic is sometimes forgotten. In the 18 months between March 1918 and August 1919 more than 50 million people worldwide died from the disease. This far exceeded the 14 million deaths resulting from World War I itself and the 36 million who have died in the past...
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Magaliesberg Kloofs & Waterfalls
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For decades the kloofs of the Magaliesberg have appealed to mountaineers and many of them are now known by names given to them by members of the Mountain Club of South Africa. Well-known mountaineer Colin Hutchinson named Castle Gorge in the Magaliesberg because of its fine buttresses; and its similarity to the "Cedarberg" mountains in the Western Cape. The Magaliesberg by Vincent Curruthers...
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The Cape Vulture in the Magaliesberg
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Breeding colonies are located in the cliffs above Skeerpoort and at "vulture restaurants" in the Magaliesberg. These scavengers enjoy the respect and support of all the inhabitants of the Magaliesberg and share their cliffs with swallows, swifts, kestrels, black storks, cape rock thrushes and many other interesting birds....
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