Biggarsberg

The Biggarsberg range of mountains if an off shoot of the Drakensberg, and ends at Helpmekaar where the mountains drop down to Pomeroy.

Named after Alexander Harvey Biggar. Read all about him https://www.facebook.com/virtual.eggsa/posts/alexander-harvey-biggarpost-by-pamela-mcfaddenthe-tragic-tale-of-this-ex-paymast/877254948214765/

Indumeni

(height above sea level 1781 on the peak and 1640m in the pass)

The name of the mountain is spelt with and I and the area round they the base of the mountain is spelt Endumeni. In Zulu this translates as  “where the thunder rolls” The Zulu’s also knew the mountain as “The Honey Mountains” because of the hives of wild honey found here in the early part of the 19th Century.

The Voortrekkers called the range the “Mud Mountains” – a reference to the trouble they had crossing the mountain in December 1838. Large boulders and vast quantities of mud on the mountainside made it very difficult for the horses and riders, as well as the oxen pulling the wagons.

A diary entry  by Adulph Delagorgue on a trip through this region recorded

“ We crossed the stream where I had found coal. The weather was turning bitterly cold and filled us with foreboding for the following day when we had to face a long trek through muddy mountains, known by some travellers as the Water or Mud Mountains because of the water and mud found there, and by more fortunate travellers, the Honing or Honey Mountains. …we tackled this mountain range where we had to face obstacles insurmountable to any but a South African transport rider. The trek was slow, long and difficult. The cold was bitter. …although there was no snow, the bite of the south east wind was every bit as bad.”

Mpati

1570m above sea level

From Zulu this translates as “the place of good waters”  and is a reference to the number of mountain springs, streams and dams on the mountain.

Today it is one of the main sources of water  for our town and area.

Talana

1361m above sea level

From Zulu meaning “the shelf where precious items are stored.”

It is a reference to the shelf in a Zulu headman or Chief’s home where important or

valuable items are stored.

Lennox

1372m above sea level

This is the hill to the east of Talana and is Sometimes referred to as “Little Talana.”

It’s names comes from the family names of the Earls of Pomeroy.

Tangeni

1418m above sea level  

From Zulu meaning a “water tank”.   This refers to the large number of springs

and underground water sources in the mountain.

On the right side of the road from Dundee, after Indumeni,  heading to Helpmekaar.

Helpmekaar

1,471 meters above sea level.

The pass starts at an elevation of around 1,471m and descends to 1,166m

A village 26 km south-east of Dundee on the R33 road. The Afrikaans translation means to ‘help each other’. The name is derived from transport riders having to assist each other in getting their loaded wagons up the hill.

It was fortified in both the Anglo Zulu war of 1879and in the Anglo Boer war of 1899-1902.

The battle of Helpmekaar, between the Boer defenders in the Piet Retief fort on the top of the hill and the advancing British army on the way to relieved Dundee, was fought on 15 May 1900.Read more about the battle  https://www.talana.co.za/battles-of-the-area/helpmekaar/

Mkupe mountain

1202 meters above sea level.

From the Zulu meaning “The fouling of the eagles nest”. It has a fortification on it – Fort Eagles Nest-  that faces the Drakensberg and was used to protect the entrance to Natal from passes down the Drakensberg from Free State.

Mkupe Pass

This pass, located on the N11 between Newcastle and Ladysmith, an old Zulu name meaning “Eagles Nest”. To this day, black eagles roost along the cliffs in this vicinity. Mkupe mountain is to the left of the road and on the right is One Tree Hill, with Fort Mistake on the top of the hill. This is neither a fort nor a mistake. Read the story about this at https://www.talana.co.za/visit-places-of-interest/fort-mistake/

Wenkommando Pass

Often referred to as Endumeni Pass this is a tarred pass Dundee and Wasbank. The correct historical name is Wenkommando Pass and was named after in memory of the men on their way to fight the battle at Blood River on 16 December 1838.

Jan Bantjies, the secretary to the Volksraad and who kept a day by day account of the monuments of the Wenkommando recorded this in his diary.

9 December

We stayed over to celebrate the Sabbath. The previous evening we had spent in the tent of the camp commandant singing hymns and hearing a fervent prayer offered by Rev Charl Cilliers. On Sunday morning, before divine service,  the chief commandant called everyone together and asked that they earnestly pray for  God’s relief and assistance in their struggle with the enemy: that he wanted to make a vow to  God Almighty, if they were all willing, that should the Lord be pleased to grant us the victory, we would raise a house to the memory of His great name, wherever it might please Him”. Messrs Cilliers, Landman and Joubert were pleased to hear this and agreed to it. They spoke to their congregations and obtained general concurrence. After this Rev Cilliers led the church service in the Chief Commandants tent. We began with singing Psalm 38 verses 2-1, ,preached about the 24 verses of the first Book of Judges; and thereafter delivered a prayer in which the before mentioned vow to God was made, with a fervent supplication for the Lord’s aid and assistance in the fulfilment thereof.  In the afternoon the congregations gathered again, and several appropriate verses were sung. The Rev Cilliers again made a speech , and delivered prayers solemnly; and in the same manner the evening was also spent.

10 December

We once again proceeded. After crossing the river we were hindered by the long grass and riding was dangerous so we had to burn it. This done we passed several ditches and ascended the mountain, which was very steep and covered with large rocks.. It was late evening before we crossed over. We came into a valley where the grass was lush and smelt lovely and where we found numerous springs of water. One outcome of the difficult valley which presented itself covered with clover. All sorts of veld grass, and herbs. The patrols came back having discovered nothing but had seen smoke and dust in the distance and which they assumed to be the first sign of Dingaan’s kraal.

Glenluce Pass

Glenluce Pass is the pass from Glencoe down into the Wasbank valley. As you travel down the pass, the original road through the pass is to your right, and comes into Glencoe just beyond the refuse dump. With the rebuilding of the roads in the 1970’s a new road was built through the hills and by-passes Glencoe.

Van Tonders Pass

Van Tonder’s Pass is a gravel road pass located just to the west of the R33 between Dundee and Helpmekaar in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Details of the Van Tonder families that migrated to this area during the Great Trek are a little hazy, but it is most likely that the pass was named after Johannes Van Tonder (1788–1855), who owned the farm “Goedekeus”, located on the western extremity of the pass.

This was the route used by the British forces when they withdrew from Dundee on 22 October 1899 and went to Ladysmith. They were unable to defend Dundee after the Battle of Talana (20 October 1899) and left the town to be occupied by the Boer forces. The Boers renamed the town Meyersdorp. Dundee was relieved on 15 May 1900 and the name of the town reverted back to Dundee.

Smith’s Nek

The road access between Talana hill and Lennox as you leave Dundee heading for Vryheid.

Gregory’s Nek

Read about how this name came about https://www.tourdundee.co.za/interesting-tales-of-dundee/