Zastron
LOCATION
Zastron is situated at the foot of the Aasvoëlberg, which at 2207 m, is the highest peak in the Southern Free State. The mountain has a unique feature, a 9 metre wide hole between two huge buttresses – the famous ‘eye’.
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FUNCTIONS
The main social and economic functions of the town include: main local municipal administrative centre, regional agricultural services centre, regional social centre for health services, social functions such as residence, education and medical services, as well as transport support services on major routes.
HISTORY
The area between the Caledon and the Orange Rivers was extremely fertile and revered. It was once the home of the nomadic San and was later declared no-man’s land due to the many clashes between Basotho tribes and the Voortrekkers over ownership. The De Winnaar brothers, Jan and Renier, had settled in this district in 1838 and had precariously made a life here until they were forced to leave due to the general insecurity of the area. They were eventually allowed back into the region in 1869 and were given a portion of land that was known as Verliesfontein. The town of Zastron developed on this piece of land and was named after Johanna Zastron, the wife of Jan De Winnaar. Zastron was proclaimed a municipality in 1881.
ATTRACTIONS
The surrounding mountains each have their own claim to fame. Aasvoëlberg is crowned with a kranz known as Aasvoëlkrans and depicts the head of the Cape Vulture for which it is known to be the home of this species for many decades. Aasvoëlkrans is also the highest point in the Free State situated outside the Drakensberg range, the height above sea level being 2200 metres. Spitskop is a large koppie with a solid kranz on its crown. It is similar in stature as Teebus near Steynsburg, but its peak is the highest above sea level in the Southern Hemisphere.
Tourism attractions include;
- Anglo-Boer War Monument in front of the town’s Dutch Reformed Church.
- A cable car built in 1957 by Charles Moss. It was used as a way of entering the mountain kingdom of Lesotho.
- Eeufeeskloof Dam
- Eye of Zastron A curious formation in the Aasvoël mountain.
- Glen Rosa Farm A cave on the farm features a 5m-high, perfectly-preserved polychrome San Frieze. It is one of the world’s most important pieces of historical artwork
- Hippopotamus Cave Named for the predominance of hippo drawings in its San art, including evidence of live of the area’s early inhabitants, including pots shards, cooking implements and other relics.
- Mayaputi Nature Reserve Angling bird & game watching, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, river rafting, 4×4 routes.
- Vechtkop The 2 072m peak and historic battle site that dominates Zastron’s eastern horizon.
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