The busy wagon route from Johannesburg to the wildly popular goldfields of the Kaap Valley around the 19th Century lead to the establishment of a town as a stopover for these wagon travelers. Farmer CJ Coetzee offered the other farmers a portion of his land, on condition that the town was named after his wife.
Carolina not only boasts magnificent beauty but fine cultural and historical heritage. Besides the fascinating architecture, this area showcases some fine examples of San rock art. There are also a few interesting battlefields which can be visited which add to the historical heritage of the Carolina area, including Market Square and Burger Monument.
Situated in the vicinity of Carolina is the magnificent Komati Gorge and River. The Komati Gorge Wildlife Reserve is located on Carolina’s doorstep. The region is characteristic of Mpumalanga’s Highveld grassland biome, which makes it popular for birdwatching and game spotting.
This beautiful area allows for picnicking, swimming, fishing, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, canoeing and boating. Numerous exciting water sports can be enjoyed. The Komati area is a bird lover’s paradise with its abundance of birdlife.
Other exciting activities to be enjoyed in the area include 4×4 adventures, quad biking, game viewing, horse and hiking trails. Most of these trails are day trails, however for the adventure seekers there are several two day trails available where one can stay overnight in a trail hut.
Situated just to the north west of Carolina is the picturesque Nooitgedacht Nature Reserve - a very popular birding area and home to more than 200 species of birds. It is also a huge attraction to fisherman with its abundance of carp, bass and barbel in the 756 hectare dam.
- Cultural heritage
- Historical heritage
- San rock art
- Komati gorge and river
- Mpumalanga's Highveld
- Birding
- Wildlife
- Outdoor activities
- Nooitgedacht nature reserve
Carolina was accordingly established soon after in 1882. Unfortunately, during the 2nd Anglo-Boer War the village was completely destroyed, however was later rebuilt. There still remain a few perfect examples of the remarkable sandstone architecture in Carolina’s public buildings.
