S1 - Ep 380 - Vryheid - A Truly Memorable and Delightful Visit!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ย. 2023
- Our visit to Vryheid was unexpectedly filled with rich history and significant battle sites that truly surprised us. Arriving late in the afternoon, we managed to explore the captivating Carnegie Library and the Lucas Meijer Museum, both of which left us thoroughly fascinated. After grabbing some evening provisions, we retreated to our accommodation on a picturesque farm. The following morning, we paid our respects at the Khambula battle site, a sombre reminder of the lives lost. Then, we marvelled at the town's architectural gems, with the 1891 church leaving us in awe of its remarkable preservation. Vryheid turned out to be a truly memorable and delightful visit. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #southafricavlog #travelongravel #kwazulunatal #vryheid
Instagram
/ dustbugstravel
Facebook
/ dustbugstravel
Beauty by MaxKoMusic | maxkomusic.com/
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)
creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Desolation by Alex-Productions | onsound.eu/
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Thanks for the video. It brings back so many memories. I lived in Vryheid for about a year in 1993. We lived at 78 Kommisie Straat and my children went to Nardini Convent. Later, when we moved back to Babanango, my children were boarders at Nardini Convent as were King Goodwill Zweletini's. I met the Queen in our children's dormitory. We had breakfast at Wimpy before heading back to Babanango. . We, being my youngest son and Chester Solina Mthembu, who looked after my son when I was working.
Thank you for sharing those special memories with us, it sounds like you and your children had good times in Vryheid. 😊
Hi great vedio. Please visit Dundee kzn. The heart of the battle fields and Anglo boer war large open air Museum in SA
Boers, British and Zulu.
Talana museum
Dundee kzn.
This trip was last month and we're back home already. 🚙😁 We might make a return trip to KZN again sometime in the future to visit some of the places we didn't get to this time around.
I spent my Primary school years there in the 70's. Absolutely loved it there.
I'm sure you did! From what we saw, it's still a great place to live. 🚙😁
Thank you for the video! I’m in England, watching with my dad who grew up in Vryheid. He matriculated from the high school in 1986 when it turned 100 years old!
I just can't get enough of travelling with you.
My husband loved this episode since he was born in Vryheid and did all his schooling there. Lucas Meyer is a distant relative. The fort is the oldest building in Vryheid. My husband's 1st job was with the post office and you drove past the post office building. He said they used to look after the exchange in Paulpietersburg.
Thank you for sharing some of your husband's history with the town. I'm so glad he enjoyed this episode! 🚙👌🏻
My mom also worked in the post office....
Great video as always! I've been very impressed by how Sonia pronounces difficult Zulu words throughout your KZN series. Being Zulu myself, I think she is at Jonny Clegg's (nicknamed the White Zulu) level. 😊😊
Wow! Thank you so much for that great compliment. I just read it to Sonia and her grin wrapped right around her head. 😁 She loves languages and definitely has a knack with pronunciation. It's great to have you travelling along with us! 🚙😍
Also appreciate that about Sonny, she makes a huge effort to pronounce all foreign words correctly. I had to laugh though as we Natalians call Pongola "Pon-go-laa" and its the first time I've heard someone pronounce it the Zulu way😊
Loved this,thanks,my hometown,lived there for 18 years. Thanks for this one😊
Loved this episode! Memories.
I hope those memories are good ones. Thank you for watching. 🚙😊
Spend a lot of time in Vryheid as a kid...Ouma lived in Boerenstreet....Still have family who lives in Vryheid. Nice town!!
Thanks guys very exciting tour around Vryheid lots of history behind the town ❤❤❤❤❤
So true! There was so much history and we loved exploring the town and its surroundings. Thanks for joining us! 🚙🏛️
A bathroom with a chair, is a must for me!!!🙃🙏🤗
Most bathrooms have one already, that's usually good enough for me! 😁
Keep going and give us more places. I’m learning a lot of history, and Vryheid is rich of history. We love ❤️ you
Howdy - brilliant episode again very interesting thank you
Thank you so much, I'm always happy to hear you enjoy our videos. We appreciate you watching! 🚙😁
Thank you for another wonderful video. Heartening to see British war graves being maintained with such dedication by the Commonwealth War Graves South Africa, even though - as you saw - it can be quite a mission to reach some of the grave sites!
It was indeed quite the mission to reach the Battle of Kambula site. I don't think many folks would take that drive and I can only hope that the roads are improved one day to make it more accessible to the public. 🚙🏛️ Thank you for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed this one! 😁
Very beautiful church you found in Vryheid. The roof similar to the one in Pinetown. I cant believe the amount of memorials dotted all over SA. Everywhere there is sad reminders of where we have come from to be here now. Lovely video dust buggers. You can be proud of the work you doing.....I know I am
🎉❤🎉
Totally blown away by the cooling tower in such good nic
I also thought the cooling tower was super cool to see! Gone are those days! 🤷🏻♂️💡 The stone church blew our minds, not only once, but twice! 😍💒 Thank you for your constant support of our channel and for always hopping on board with the two of us to explore these incredible places, most of which we know so precious little about. 🚙
Vrijheid, wat een prachtige naam voor een stadje! Geen wonder dat dit de langste DustBugs episode oplevert tot nu toe, volgens mij. Zoveel moois in ruim een uur. Ik had er werkelijk geen idee van dat ook dit ooit heel kort een aparte Boeren republiek was met eigen president en vlag. En dat hij ook nog in die 4 jaar kans zag de hoeksteen te leggen van die fraaie kerk. Geweldig dat orgel, en je close-up ervan. Bijzonder dat onze reiswegen zich een soort van kruisen, dat ik 2 weken geleden het ‘geboortehuis’ alias het paleis in Compiègne, en jullie nu de rozen dagen ter ere van de laatste Franse kroonprins Imperial Napoleon in het gebied waar hij sneuvelde 🌹🥀. Carnegie heeft veel gesponsord overal, die bibliotheek en in mijn stad het Vredespaleis. Altijd geruststellend Curtis als jij zegt dat het, heus waar, allemaal goed komt. In dit geval de weg berijden tot aan het Anglo-Zulu monument 😅🙏. Geen battlefield out of reach voor de DustBugs 😁. Komisch dat de kippen voorrang hebben op de weg bij jullie geweldige accomodatie en ook andere dieren in beeld verschenen 🐥🐔🐱🐴🦆🪿. Zoveel (bloedige) geschiedenis in dit gebied, tijd en woorden schieten te kort, dank voor deze leerzame ervaring ❤
Yes, Vryheid is a beautiful name for a town. Freedom is the most basic of commodities every single person on this planet should have an abundance of. I did smile to myself when I saw your recent reference to the Crown Prince, but didn't want to spoil the surprise. 🌹Interesting to hear that Carnegie sponsored the Peace Palace in your city, he was a very generous man by all accounts. The drive to the Kambula Battlefield site was rather tricky, but I just had to get there to see it with my own two eyes. 🏛️ The history for sure runs deep in this town and area and we were honoured to share a little bit of it with our viewers. Our accommodation provided for a relaxing time, amongst all the farm animals and sounds. It was magical. 😍🐓🐱🐴 Thanks for coming along again! 🚙😁
Nice treat to hear people singing in that beautiful church.Vryheid delivered!
Our timing was perfect that Sunday. 💒🎶 I was happy to have caught some of the audio of the closing hymn.
What a nice town with such a rich history. The library and museum and the heritage sites were nice to see. Thanks for enduring a bad road to allow us to see it. I am sure as you move around Vryheid i am sure you smell the history of somany wars. Thanks for this trip well done. My seat ready for the next one
The history for sure runs deep in the town of Vryheid and its surroundings. It was awesome to visit some of the sites and we'll always jump at every chance to hit a little gravel along the way. It was totally worth it to eventually reach the monuments and graves in memory of the Battle of Kambula. 🚙🏛️
Was born and bread in Vryheid. Woooow
Thank you for watching our video of our visit to your hometown! 🚙😍
These videos are amazing thank you so much.❤
I'm so glad you're enjoying them, thank you for coming along! 🚙😁
What a nice drive out in the country again....away from the hustle and the bustle..It is also nice to read through the comments and to find people that had lived in the places you visit and the memories it brings. Thanx
I agree with you on both those things. It was fantastic to feel gravel under the wheels again. 🚙😁 I'm always so grateful when our videos remind folks of good times in their own lives, that's very special to me. 😊 Thank you for always travelling along, we enjoy your company.
Been following you travels all over SA. and glad you visited our town Vryheid and surrounds.
We love lovong here.
We recently visited the northern Cape and enjoyed seeing the places you went to.
Blessings.
Thank you for watching our video of your hometown! 🚙😍 It certainly looks like a great place to live, I'm sure you're very happy there. The Northern Cape is also a beautiful province, I'm glad to hear that you had a good trip!
The theatre building you observed used to house the cinema, with a Wimpy next door. The library was great, and there was a municipal swimming pool close by (long since closed). The Checkers used to be opposite the cinema, and the OK was the largest store, housed where the Checkers is now.
We lived in and around Vryheid between 1980ish to 1985ish. My father and sister are buried there. Many of the old and modern buildings remain. The Standard Bank was there in the 80s - and the FNB used to be a Barclays if I remember correctly.
I remember the Paddadam being smaller - with more reeds. I remember catching a fish there.
My sister-in-law (a teacher) tells me that VHS (the high school) was at one point the largest in the country.
I'm pretty sure that the Kentucky Fried Chicken (before it was renamed KFC) first opened during the time we lived there. I also remember someone opening a Chinese takeaway, which was considered to be very exotic.
I also lived in Port Shepstone, and Vryheid looks much better looked after. Greater civic pride possibly. What's changed since I lived in SA is the sheer amount of metal fencing, razor wire and security everywhere. And... load-shedding of course.
These videos are great :)
Lived here till was 13 moved in 95 missed the good old days
Hi guys, loved traveling with you to Vryheid. Loved the farm stay over, it was stunning there!! Wow that veranda was my cup of tea ❤ Take care beautiful people❤
And that veranda was for sure my cup of coffee! 🏡☕ We loved staying over at that farm, it was fantastic to hear all the animal sounds first thing in the morning. I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed this leg of our trip, thank you for watching! 🚙😁
@@DustBugsTravel 🥰
What an amazing video. I have grown up and lived here for many years. You could have visited the mountain where the battle took place. Maybe next time❤
Really interesting.
I'm glad you thought so! 🚙😁
That's my dream house. So much character and interest. I absolutely LOVE it. I'd have it over a $1M penthouse any day. I wish the walls could speak, would love to know its history and stories.
The info plaque at the gravesite .... now that's another story. Somebody who cannot spell too well wrote it, and someone who cannot read to well approved it, and someone who couldn't do either printed it. Whenever I see grammatically substandard official boards I wonder about the accuracy of the facts written on it.
Hi guys another gem loved the history and the old buildings interesting the Carnigie connection also the plaque about Loie Napoleon he was killed before battle of Islandwana and Lucy's Mayer who' was President .I love the bit about the wide roads for turning wagon around. The farm accommodation was stunning loved the sign chickens have right of way the Cockerell definitely made his presence shown got to mention the chess set nuts and bolts!!! .we'll done for getting to the kambula battle field and cemetery nice to see it's in good nick. The little padda dam was cute and the seats were unusual plus entry fee much cheaper the frost on the car was crazy! The big stone church was stunning inside and out full of memorials. The sap station was outstanding the Fort was great absolutely loved the old wagon. The power stations was interesting maybe a good idea to put them back in use ??? .amazing historic town the bit about the Lancaster regt was intriguing the same regt was almost anialated on Spion kop the famous Liverpool football club the home end is called the Kop in memory of this .thanks for taking me along cheerio till the next one
That chess set with the nuts-and-bolts was too cool, I loved it too! Even I might try my hand at a game of chess with such a cool set. 🤣♟️ The site of the Kambula Battlefield was a little tricky to reach, but I was also happy to see the graves and monuments in good shape. 🏛️ I think the cooling towers' days have come and gone. They use a fair amount of asbestos which has been proven to be a health hazard. I do wish that individual towns could generate their own electricity again. We didn't even know about loadshedding back in those days. 🤷🏻♂️💡 Thanks for coming along to Vryheid, I hope you could feel the freedom! 🚙😁
Lived in Vryheid (Park St) from the end of 1983 to 1992. There is very little on your video that I can remember, town has grown a lot since then.
Hi Curtis and Sonia I love the 2 flat topped species of acacia trees lining the streets of Vryheid. the the umbrella thorn acacia - Vachellia Tortilis and the flat top acacia - Vachellia abyssinica.
Thanks for all your efforts in producing such an entertaining channel.
Are those also known as the Vag n Bietjie trees?
@llewellyndalton6085 Thank you for the info on the trees, I can't guarantee we'll remember those names though! 😁🌳 I'm glad you enjoy our videos! 🚙🤩
@gregorycotton1 The Wag-'n-bietjie tree doesn't seem to be an Acacia. It's scientific name is Ziziphus mucronata. That's what I found online, my knowledge of trees is extremely limited. I just admire them for their beauty! 🌳💚
Hey guys! Saffas living in Ireland here! Just seeing this video of Vryheid and wondering if you guys are heading over to Newcastle at all? I grew up there and would love to see the town now. Still enjoying all your travels🥳
Thank you, I'm glad you're still enjoying the incredible places we visit! 🚙🤩 This trip was in August already. We didn't visit Newcastle this time around, time had run out and we almost had to head back home to get some work done! 😁 Perhaps on a return trip to that part of the country sometime in the future, but no firm plans for that just yet.
Baie mooi dorp gewees nico kriel
It's encouraging to see so many of these towns looking so much cleaner than they used to. I hope it's not just a matter of the town councils being quick to pick up any plastic bag that falls, and is rather because it's becoming part of South African culture not to litter. The sight of litter gives a feeling of decay and hopelessness, whereas seeing its absence (as we do, because we've known a world where there were more plastic bags than grass clumps) looks like something like physical, visible reason to have some hope.
So many battlefields in the Battlefields area! My great-grandad sent his family to Maritzburg for safety when the invasion took place, then locked up the farm, and operated as a "scout" for the Empire (since he was a citizen, and that was his duty). Once, a Boer encampment he was observing from the nearby hilltop emptied suddenly. They all mounted their horses to ride off to some battle in the area. So he crept a bit closer, found that they'd left no guards behind, so went into their lines to see what he could discover, and found the tent of Genl. Louis Botha. He went in, and he stole the general's watch, I think. This was an act of private revenge, because the "Boers" (quite possibly actually one of the Russian or Irish regiments) took everything he owned, on the farm. Anything that could be carried off, or driven off was carried off or driven off; anything that could be eaten was eaten; anything that couldn't was killed or destroyed - except for one thing: a church organ he received as wedding present (because he'd taught himself to play for his church, so they gave him his own organ to practice on). Cattle? Gone. Sheep? Gone. Chickens, ducks? All dead. Furniture? Gone. All their wedding presents went to the Transvaal. So when he found the general's tent, he made a symbolic kind of revenge theft. It might have just been a tobacco pouch, actually. I forget what it was. It got passed down to someone else in the family. (And then, of course, he went back to his post. Or maybe he cleared off, having now effectively announced his presence.) I think if he'd had foresight of what Kitchener would do to the Boers, he would've maybe not felt any right to this little bit of revenge, maybe (although from what I've heard, he remained quite prejudiced against Afrikaaners because of the looting, and maybe somehow convinced himself it wasn't possible for nice British generals to have actually committed crimes against humanity. Just to finish that off, his youngest son married an Afrikaans girl, they fell on tough times, and it was his brothers and sisters who had to help out, because the old man's heart had hardened too much.
Very interesting story
@@charlietreston4035 Thanks. I've just remembered what it was he stole from the tent. It was the general's snuff box.
Thank you for sharing your family history! Such personal stories always tell so much more about the human nature than the generally known facts about wars. Touching how you discribe the ‘tit for tat’ reaction of your forfather and your own empathetic view concerning Anglo and Boer behaviour as well as the hardship in the family when the Afrikaner meisje entered his family. Always a pleasure to read your comments. Greatings from the Netherlands
@@ingeborgvanderveer789 I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the stories. :-)
@sicko_the_ew There are never any winners in any war, according to me. 😥 And the innocents pay the highest price, namely women, children and animals. I have a very close relative who fought in the Border War and it left a permanent mark on him. I can't imagine anyone being untouched by having participated in such an event, especially if it wasn't voluntarily. 🤷🏻♂️
Glad to be in kzn for a change.
Hullo, so enjoying my tour through Natal. LOve the little history lessons that pop up. Beverages huh! My dad always liked to relax with a beer after a long trip. I love the smell of beer for that reason, but hate the taste! Gee my n klein bietjie wyn! Love the story of the Carnegie Library. Particularly lovely place where you stayed over. Sort of old world charm. But ai! You guys! Your diet...well, words fail me! Not a vegetable in sight!! Man! Those cocks are crowing their heads off, if anyone wants a lie in, well, it aint gonna happen! Now the turkeys have joined the chorus, and doves saying beg pardon, beg pardon. Perhaps they shouldnt have had that curry last night! Yep! The peacocks...still recovering from that curry! So you eventually made it to Khambula...aanhouer wen!! No worries about tyres on a clay road like that, its sharp edged stones that make a papwiel. I am just hearing that song, Impi...So glad you went back to take in the magnificent church. And so beautiful inside too. All the old buildings are such a feast for the eye. Especially the old fort with the wagon...amazing!!! Oh my hat! A cooling tower! The two cooling towers in Athlone were a landmark, the salt and pepper pots we used to call them. I remember the ones in Bloemfontein, we had to drive past them to get to Maselspoort, back in them days before the bypass. And the old station too! I have particularly enjoyed this one, thank you so much!
You may just have to look the other way when we show our food. 😁🍕🍔🍗🍟 With the long days we have on the road and the distances we cover, we're just not in the mood to cook or fuss about food. We just want to relax and, as long as the tummies are full, we're happy travellers! My evenings on the road will just not be the same if I don't enjoy a few beers. 🍻 There was an abundance of history and historical landmarks in Vryheid and we enjoyed each one. 💒🏛️ I'm so glad you did too! Thanks for coming along, as always! 🚙👌🏻
What is that lovely African theme in the intro to all your videos called....it cuts off too quickly....love it 🇿🇦🥰. Hope you can make Dundee, and also the Blood River Monument.
We will be visiting there soon, staying at Chez Nous Guest house if you're looking for an overnight stay x
The title of our opening jingle is 'Kick the Can' by the Mini Vandals. I'm so glad you enjoy it, I love it too! 🚙🎶 I wish you a fantastic trip, you must be so excited! 😁
Fun fact:Vryheid means "freedom" in Afrikaans.
It does indeed. 😁
Waardeer.
Anytime! 🚙😁
Now that's a farmhouse!😅
Agreed, it's a stunning place! 😍🏡
Why did the chicken cross the road at Petra's? Because it has right of way. 🌝
Thanks for the joy of travelling through our beloved country with you both.
No doubt! Those chickens will make sure they get to to cross the road in one piece or they'll have their voices heard! 😁🐓 We appreciate you joining us on our travels as we explore all these amazing places, it's great fun!
I wish you went inside the second building after library before you reach police station, very interesting staff inside.
Very impressed with your video quality while driving. What gear do you use? I'm guessing a gimbal? Camera attached?
Thank you so much! 😁 I film with my regular everyday cellphone, a Samsung S22 Ultra, mounted on a selfie-stick. I've tried several gimbals before, but find them too restrictive for my liking. The selfie-stick does the job just fine for me! 📱
@@DustBugsTravel wow! Never would have guessed.
I'm looking for the Bloedrivier video please. I saw it a few weeks ago but couldn't watch it at the time. And now I can't find it.
Here you go:
th-cam.com/video/T4PU7qYpF3U/w-d-xo.html
Enjoy! 🚙🏛
Hi what is gold wegon rods?
The roads were wide enough for wagons to turn around, so we call them wagon roads. 🙂