Lichtenburg is a farming town 200km west of Johannesburg. It is well known for being the scene of the greatest South African diamond rush ever as prospectors declared the land ‘diamond rich’. In 1927 the world’s largest red diamond, ‘pigeon blood red’ was found and attracted even more South Africans in search of a rare, expensive bounty. In fact, to this day there are only 20 naturally occurring red diamonds in the world and the biggest belongs to little Lichtenburg!! Although this frenzy took place about 90 years ago, mining (both diamond and limestone) is still prominent in the area. Despite this, its primary economic activity is farming with maize, sunflowers seeds, cattle and sheep as the main produce.
The Molemane Eye Nature Reserve is a small reserve where you and the family can find some peace and relaxation. Right in the centre of the reserve is a natural well which splits into two - half of it flowing into a small dam and the other half turns a water wheel which is a part of an old, working mill. The Mill is a national monument and must be explored. The dam is a prime camping spot and if you’re lucky you might be able to catch some bass while you’re at it. Molemane Eye Nature Reserve can be found on the Lichtenburg- Zeerust Road about 1km from Ottoshoop.
The Lichtenburg Diggings Museum illustrates and casts light on the famous diamond rush as well the astonishing discoveries of alluvial diamonds in the area. It is a fascinating experience.
For the cultural history of Lichtenburg, visit the Ampie Bosman Museum as well as a visit to the Willem Annandale art gallery which showcases the art of South African and North West natives too.
The Lichtenburg Game Breeding Centre is situated just out of town on the R503 between Coligny and Mafikeng. Run by the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, the breeding centre’s aim is to boost the breeding programmes of endangered animals that the National Zoo has laid out in order to supplement the populations of these animals in local and international zoos.
Many of the animals that they breed are extremely rare and this might be the first time you hear of them. Animals such as scimitar-horned and Arabian Oryx, Mohr gazelle, addax, pygmy hippo and Pere David’s deer are bred on their 6 000 hectare reserve. White rhino, blue wildebeest and a variety of antelope call the reserve home to.
Thanks the abundance of water in the area, the birdlife is spectacular too. One of the largest bird hides in the country is found in the centre of the reserve and is an ideal place to gaze at the wonderful assortment of water birds that collect in their thousands at the man-made dams.
Lichtenburg was founded on two farms called Middlebosch and Doornfontein in 1873. They were given to the Transvaal Republic by Commandant Hendrik Greef who was the father-in-law of General JH de la Rey - ‘the Lion of the Western Transvaal.’ There is some dispute regarding the origin of the name with some suggesting that the Transvaal president at the time TF Burgers named the town Ligtenburg, 'town of light', in the hopes of it being a ‘beacon of light’ in the western Transvaal. Others say that Greef named it after a farm in Cape Town where he came from.
