Ohrigstad
Ohrigstad is a small town in the Mpumalanga province north of Lydenburg. The official name is Andries Ohrig City named after the Voortrekker leader Andries Hendrik Potgieter and the Dutch trader Gregorius Ohrig who arrived at this place in 1845 and built a fortress. Soon they were plagued by malaria and had to leave the area. Only when the disease was under management did they withdraw. In May 1873 the area became an official “public gold field” after gold was found in the Selati River
Ohrigstad is called the “gateway to the Panorama Route” because it is close to the Blyde River Canyon, God’s Window and Bourke’s Luck Potholes and you can easily explore all this and more natural beauty from here. Ohrigstad is located in a beautiful valley between the mountains and is surrounded by arable land. They grow corn, beans, fruit and peppers, among other things.
Between Ohrigstad and the historic mining village of Pilgrim’a Rest you will find the Ohrigstad Dam Nature Reserve which is worth a visit for a wonderful relaxing day in nature. This 25,000-hectare nature reserve is located on the edge of the Greater Drakensberg Escarpment and is surrounded by mountains. There is a picnic area that you can use and there are opportunities for fishing, canoeing and rowing (bring your own supplies). You can also go hiking / hiking and bird watching. Keep your eyes open for different types of goats, antelopes and other (small) game. Who knows, you might even see hippos in or near the dam.