Situated 40 kilometres from Estcourt, along the banks of The Bushman's River lies the small farming town of Weenen. Weenen got its name from the Dutch language, meaning "place of weeping", and is the second oldest European settlement in KwaZulu-Natal. The town was so named in memory of the massacre of the Voortrekkers after the failure of the land negotiations between Piet Retief and The Zulus in 1838.Crops most widely grown near the town include lucerne, groundnuts, citrus fruit and vegetables. Many of the vegetables found in the Supermarkets of Gauteng and Durban are grown here.

The nearby 5,000 ha Weenen Game Reserve has excellent road infrastructure and walking trails that allow visitors to explore the scenery and game as they walk or drive around the reserve. Both black and white rhino have been introduced into the reserve. Other re-introduced game includes giraffe, eland, zebra, buffalo, red hartebeest, klipspringer, ostrich, common reedbuck, and roan antelope. There are more than 251 recorded bird species, which can be viewed from two hides overlooking a dam. Of particular interest in the reserve, is the vulture feeding site, or vulture restaurant, where visitors can view the birds while feeding.

A popular summer activity in Weenen is white-water rafting. The best time to do this is between November and May after heavy rains. The 30 km stretch of river known as "The Canyon" provides some of the most thrilling white water rafting in the country. The South African leg of the Camel White-Water Challenge took place at Zingela in Weenen.

Other activities in the area include abseiling and 4x4 trails, horse riding, fishing and rock climbing. The Weenen museum is also worth taking a look at, providing a detailed history of the town.


View map and Tourist Attractions in Weenen.