Located on the banks of the Klip River, Ladysmith serves as a central commercial hub to outlying communities. It was named after the Spanish wife of Sir Harry Smith, who was Governor of the Cape Colony at the time. It was established in 1850 as a staging post for fortune hunters on their way to the gold fields of the Transvaal and the diamond diggings of Kimberley.
Food processing, textiles and tyre production are the mainstays of today’s town, whose historical significance is steeped in the Boer War, when it was besieged for 118 days during what is commonly known as one of the most critical stages of the Boer War.
Qedusizi Dam provides a very relaxed and enjoyable setting. Meaning “an end to suffering”, the dam was built in an attempt to manage the region’s perennial flooding. The 6000 hectare Spioenkop Nature Reserve, some 35km from Ladysmith, is next to the Spioenkop Anglo-Boer War battle site, and is popular for water sports such as yachting, fishing and water-skiing.
Ladysmith itself is home to many attractions of historical and cultural significance, such as the Statue of Ghandi (opened in 1993 by the Hindu community as a tribute to him), the courthouse, the All Saints Anglican Church, the Emnabithi Cultural Centre and many war/military cemeteries. It is also the gateway to the attractions of the Central and Northern parts of the Drakensberg.
