Koedoeslaagte Trail Park

History

The recorded history of Koedoeslaagte dates back to the Great Trek. The Koekemoer and Van Vuurens were part of the Battle of Blood River on 16 December 1838. The Voortrekkers thereafter left the Republic of Natalia (Kwazulu-Natal today) and settled in the Eastern Free State and Transvaal. Great-grandfather Van Vuuren settled here on on Koedoeslaagte along the Vaal (River). Because of his part in the Battle of Blood River, the then Commission of Monuments honoured him by covering his grave with this commemorative stone.

One of Great-grandfather Van Vuuren’s daughters married Gottlieb Rudolph Koekemoer and she inherited this part of the farm where the Koekemoers live today. The ruins of the original farmhouse is still here.

During World War II, Johannes Gerhardus Koekemoer (Hannes), was born right here on the farm. Since there has been no commercial farming here since 1971 we are left with a bushveld wilderness ready to be explored. The Vaal River is the source of live on the farm and Koedoeslaagte boasts a 1 km river front with a network of rapids, pools and islands. The farm also features its own mountain and interestingly it was here on this mountain where geologists in the 70’s studied the possibility of a meteorite being responsible for the mountainous landscape in the midst of the pan-flat Northern Free State and Northwest. Koedoeslaagte is now proudly part of the UNESCO Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site.

Situated 10km outside Parys in the North West Province, Koedoeslaagte Trail Park & Venue offers visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy this famous crater and wilderness.

Hiking & Cycling

Koedoeslaagte offers an abundance of unspoiled wilderness, 1.2 km Vaal River front and an host of bird and wildlife, ideal for hiking, trail running, mountain biking, active family time, hard core training, photography, picnics and more.