Limpopo is Haunted: The Ghostly Gold Towns and Other Eerie Stories

Get ready for a spine-tingling adventure as I take you through the mysterious tales of Limpopo’s ghostly gold towns and other haunts. Brace yourself for a rollercoaster ride of supernatural stories that will leave you questioning what is real and what is not. So, hold on tight as we delve into the unknown.

Limpopo, a province nestled in the heart of South Africa, holds secrets that can send shivers down your spine. It is home to several deserted gold towns where echoes of the past still linger. These towns were once vibrant and bustling with life, but now they stand like ghostly echoes of their former glory.

One such eerie town is the hauntingly beautiful Naboomspruit. Once a booming gold mining town, it now lies in ruins, a shadow of its former self. As you walk through the deserted streets, you can almost hear the whispers of its lost inhabitants, their stories carried on the wind.

And then there is Leydsdorp, a town with a haunting past. Once a thriving gold mining town, it was abandoned practically overnight. Legend has it that the town was cursed by a disgruntled witch doctor, and the curse still haunts the town to this day. Locals have reported seeing strange apparitions and hearing eerie sounds late at night.

If you are brave enough, make your way to the ghostly town of Louis Trichardt. This abandoned gold mining town is said to be haunted by the spirits of the mine workers who lost their lives in tragic accidents. Some visitors have claimed to see flickering lights and hear distant cries echoing through the empty streets.

But Limpopo’s ghostly tales don’t end with the gold towns. There are many other haunted places waiting to send a shiver down your spine. From haunted hospitals to eerie cemeteries, Limpopo is a paranormal playground.

One such place is the haunted Modimolle Hospital. It is said that the spirits of patients who died under mysterious circumstances still wander the halls, their anguished cries filling the empty corridors.

And then there is the Potgietersrus Cemetery, a place where restless spirits are said to roam freely. Visitors have reported seeing ghostly figures and feeling an icy chill in the air.

So, if you are a brave soul seeking an otherworldly adventure, Limpopo is the place for you. Just remember, when you step into the unknown, be prepared for the unexpected. The supernatural may be lurking just around the corner, ready to send a chill down your spine.

There’s a town in south-eastern Limpopo that’s filled with strange truths and legendary tales. It’s a place where ghosts and snakes are the rulers, and where the number of dead surpasses the number of living.

The doctors and nurses’ quarters remain untouched, serving as a poignant reminder of the challenging conditions the people of Leydsdorp endured.

It wasn’t until recently that I noticed the sign while driving along the R71. Lowvelders, familiar with the area, are well aware of the 60km/h speed limit through the small town of Gravelotte, and the possibility of encountering law enforcement beneath the shade of the acacia trees. Perhaps this explains why so many people bypass Leydsdorp, an even smaller town just 10 kilometers to the southwest.

Upon arriving at the Leydsdorp Hotel, I was greeted by Andries Masete, a versatile staff member who handles luggage and takes drink orders at the bar. After enduring a sweltering day with a malfunctioning air conditioning system, my modest hotel room felt like a slice of air-conditioned paradise.

As I ordered a Black Label, two locals dressed in khaki observed me intently. In a town with only six residents, newcomers tend to attract attention.

Hey there! You won’t believe what I found out about this little town called Leydsdorp. It used to be a real happening place, bustling with people and excitement! Can you imagine that?

So, let me take you back in time, about 130 years ago. Leydsdorp was just a tiny village until gold was discovered in the Murchison range in 1888. Boy, did things change after that! The Selati Goldfields were set up, and soon enough, Leydsdorp started to grow. They even named it after this guy named Willem Johannes Leyds, who was the secretary of state. It’s pretty cool to think about how this little place became so important because of some glittering gold!

When I think of Leydsdorp, I can’t help but think of a tiny town that was plagued by a deadly disease. They used to call it a “fever trap” because malaria was a constant threat, and sadly, it claimed the lives of many people. It’s hard to imagine the fear and despair that must have filled the air.

Even though it’s been years since those dark days, remnants of the past can still be seen in the town. If you walk through the doors of the doctors’ quarters, you’ll notice old screen nets hanging in the frames. These nets were supposed to protect the doctors from the mosquitos, but they proved to be useless against the relentless insects.

It’s a sobering reminder of the hardships that the people of Leydsdorp had to endure. They fought a battle against an unseen enemy, and unfortunately, many of them lost their lives in the process. But their memory lives on, reminding us of the importance of fighting for our health and the well-being of our communities.

Back in 1890, there was a small town called Leydsdorp that attracted a bunch of gold miners. And as the town grew, so did the stories of mischief and wild behavior. During the day, these guys worked in the mines, but at night, they turned into troublemakers. There were a couple of infamous characters like Mica Bill and Paraffin Joe who became the stuff of local legends.

Then there was poor Sandy, a local fellow who still managed to haunt the hotel bar even after he died. The story goes that when Sandy passed away, they put him in a makeshift coffin to take him to his grave. But somewhere along the way, maybe because his pallbearers were drunk, they dropped the coffin or didn’t notice that he fell out of it. Later, when someone realized what happened, they found Sandy’s body and put him back in his usual corner of the bar.

Now, you’d think that would be the end of it. But no, Sandy’s adventure didn’t stop there. They decided to move him to a cooler place in the cellar beneath the bar and that’s where he spent his first night in the afterlife. And some folks say he never left that cellar.

I gotta tell you a cool story about Leydsdorp. You see, back in the day, this place was a real favorite of Boer president Paul Kruger for hunting. He loved it so much that he even had a house right by the hotel. Imagine that! It had a green roof and a fancy verandah that wrapped around the whole place. Nowadays, the hotel staff lives there, but it used to be his pad.

Now, here’s the interesting part. During one of his hunting adventures, Kruger found himself in a bit of a pickle. He had some important papers to sign, but they could only be signed in a city. But, here’s the thing: Kruger didn’t want to cut his hunting trip short. So, what did he do? He came up with a brilliant plan.

He decided to turn Leydsdorp into a city. Yep, for one whole day. Pretty crazy, right? And guess when he did it? On October 1, 1890. That’s the day when Leydsdorp became an official city. All because Paul Kruger didn’t want to miss out on some hunting fun. Talk about making things happen!

So there you have it, the story of how a little town became a city, if only for a day. It just goes to show you that sometimes, when you’ve got a problem, you can come up with a clever solution. A little creativity and a “can-do” attitude can go a long way. Pretty neat, huh?

Imagine this: you can actually climb this super old baobab tree! It’s like stepping into a secret club that used to be a cool hangout spot called the Murchison Club.

When the sun went down, my partner and I were the only people left in the restaurant, and we had the whole hotel to ourselves. As we got ready for bed, we could hear these birds called fiery-necked nightjars singing their hearts out. We had just finished eating burgers and drinking beer, so we were feeling pretty full. I laid in bed, thinking about how lucky we were to have air conditioning. I couldn’t help but wonder what it was like to spend a summer night in Leydsdorp a hundred years ago.

I didn’t want to leave Tzaneen and head into the fever country and the gold mines of the Murchison Range,’ Hans Merensky, a famous geologist and prospector, wrote in his diary back in 1904. ‘Leydsdorp, the main village in that area, is a complete fever trap. They say there are more dead people in the cemetery than living people on the streets.’

Despite the sign’s desperate plea, the baobab tree in Leydsdorp continues to draw in visitors from all around. And it’s not just the tree that’s captivating; the man who cares for it is a local legend himself, drawing in quite a crowd.

Just a few kilometers away, you’ll find Leydsdorp’s main attraction – a baobab tree that’s been standing for an incredible 2,000 years. The tree’s caretaker, Swanie Swanepoel, is a pensioner who has plenty of interesting stories to share. “Believe it or not, this baobab used to be a bar back in the day. They even called it the Murchison Club. Can you imagine? A dozen men could fit inside the hollow trunk,” Swanie proudly proclaims.

Nowadays, Swanie can’t offer you a drink, but he did sell us an ice-cold Coke. As I enjoyed my beverage, he spoke of the devastating drought that took its toll on the land, as well as the relentless tsetse flies that infested the area. He mentioned the rampant malaria and blackwater fever that plagued the community, leading to a constant stream of funerals.

‘You know what? They even tried using zebras to pull the carts and wagons after the cattle and horses had died from disease. But let me tell you, they weren’t very good at it,’ the man said.

‘I think there were around 5,000 people living here, and unfortunately, about 3,000 of them died from malaria,’ Swanie shared with me.

The next morning, after my partner had left early to handle an unexpected work problem, I found myself sitting alone at a table set for six, ready for breakfast. However, I soon realized that I wasn’t truly alone. Sitting frozen in a menacing pose on the lounge suite in the corner was a lioness. Across the room, I spotted a similarly glassy-eyed caracal, and to my left, a bushpig. ‘This place was left just like this,’ Margaret Locke, the hotel manager, informed me. ‘Tables set and everything.’

Back in the old days, when people traveled by oxwagon, the hotel pub was a popular spot for tired cyclists to quench their thirst.

This place used to be called Dickinson Bro’s Hotel, but now it’s known as the Leydsdorp Hotel. It has been restored to its former glory, and they even managed to bring back the original bar counter. This is the very same counter where Kruger, the famous leader, would rest his weary elbows. It’s incredible to think that despite being missing for a while, with a couple of initials etched into the wood, the bar counter is still in perfect condition.

When the hotel was abandoned in the 1990s, a local farmer decided to rescue the bar counter and kept it safe in storage. In 2015, when Kobus and Kodri Smuts bought the hotel, they knew the bar counter belonged there, so they brought it back. Now, thirsty visitors can slam their empty glasses on it, just like in the old days.

As I ventured out into the village of Leydsdorp after breakfast, I couldn’t help but be captivated by its history and unique charm. The town’s snooker room, adorned with countless hunting trophies, served as a constant reminder of its past as a popular hunting destination.

Interestingly enough, this snooker room was once the town’s makeshift chapel. Hanging on the wall was a moose bust, its origin shrouded in mystery. It was said that the priest who conducted the church services also played the role of a bartender, seamlessly transitioning from sacred Sundays to boozy afternoons.

Excited to explore further, I heeded Margaret’s warning of potential snakes and stepped cautiously. Little did I know the significance of her words until I encountered two stripe-bellied sand snakes, a mysterious cobra, and an olive grass snake within a short span of time. The vulnerability I felt in my open sandals became all too real.

I paused to investigate the living quarters for doctors and nurses, and a shiver traveled down my back as I looked through the shattered windows. In a remote town plagued by malaria and blackwater fever, I couldn’t picture a more ungrateful task.

When I think about Leydsdorp, I can’t help but imagine what it was like in the early days. Hunting was a popular activity, and it’s no surprise to see the snooker room still adorned with trophies. After church services, people would gather here for a refreshing beer, served through an easy-access hatch.

Walking down the deserted roads, I try to picture the dangers that lurked in the past. Leydsdorpers had to be cautious not only of venomous snakes and malaria but also of big game. It must have been quite a sight!

According to Merensky, there were more wild animals than humans in those days. He recalls a time when an elephant casually strolled down the only street, and nobody batted an eye. It was not uncommon to wake up and find a lion or a leopard lounging in your garden…

Life in Leydsdorp was tough, but the people were even tougher. Just imagine, there’s a picture hanging on the hotel’s veranda that shows four Leydsdorpers standing confidently with a lioness at their feet, a lioness they had shot right at the front door of the hotel! Can you believe it?

Now let me tell you, the women in this town were something else. They were known for their fearlessness. It’s said that they would simply wave their aprons at any lions that dared to come near. That’s right, they didn’t run or hide, they just shooed those lions away!

Back in the day, Leydsdorp was quite a bustling place. They had not one, not two, but a whopping eight bars! Can you imagine the fun and laughter that must have filled the air? Alongside those lively bars, there were trading stores, a hospital, a mortuary, a police station, a butchery, a bakery, and even a magistrate’s office. And get this, there was even a printing house that published a newspaper called The Leydsdorp Leader. How cool is that?

In the hotel’s dining room, it feels like time itself has stopped. The furniture takes you back in time to another era, with its classic design and old-fashioned charm. It almost makes you want to dress up in a fancy suit and tie, even though it’s too hot for that!

But the hotel’s history took a turn when the Witwatersrand reefs were discovered to be full of gold. Everything around it fell into disrepair, except for the hotel. Here, the history is still alive and well, woven into the very fabric of the building. You can see it in the bar counter, which is carved with names and stories from the past. You can feel it in the trunks of the old trees, which whisper secrets only they know. And you might even catch a glimpse of a ghost or two in the cellar, if you’re brave enough to go down there.

So, why not stay here?

Leydsdorp Hotel

Prices start at R550 per person. Call 082 461 6433 to book your stay.

Kimberley

Have you ever heard of Kimberley? It’s a historic town that has quite a reputation for being haunted. With 158 known haunted sites, including houses, cemeteries, and even the old Kimberley Club, it’s no wonder people are intrigued by its ghostly stories.

One of the most famous hauntings in Kimberley is at the Africana library. Legend has it that the librarian, who tragically died from swallowing arsenic, still lingers in the library. Visitors claim to see him sipping tea at 4pm and mysteriously rearranging the books on the shelves.

Another chilling spot is Rudd House, known as one of the most eerie places in South Africa. The ghost that haunts this old mansion can be found on the upstairs balcony. Its presence sends shivers down the spines of those brave enough to visit.

If you venture to the Magersfontein battlefield, where the Boers achieved victory in 1899, you might just encounter the haunting sounds of a lonely Scottish piper. Stories say that he mourns the loss of his fallen comrades, and his haunting music can be heard in the silence of the night.

Curious about exploring these ghostly locations? You can join an after-dark guided tour of the Kimberley ghost trail. It’s an unforgettable experience that will send chills down your spine. For more information and updated prices, get in touch with Kimberley Ghost Tours at 083 732 3189.

Nottingham Road

Back in the day, the Nottingham Road Hotel in the KZN Midlands was a hot spot for British soldiers. It’s where I used to work as a lady of the night. The specifics of my demise are vague, but somehow I ended up falling off the balcony. These days, I haunt room 10. I have a knack for taking pictures off the walls and tidying up the clothes of sleeping guests. But my real talent lies in rearranging flowers, although I only reveal myself to a select few. Want to experience my presence? You can stay in room 10 for R710 per person. Just give them a call at 033 266 6151.

When I visited the Nottingham Road Hotel in 1898, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of intrigue. This historic establishment has an old-world charm that is impossible to ignore. The Prince Albert neighborhood, in particular, is known for its rich history and paranormal activity.

If you’re looking for an adventure, I highly recommend taking a stroll through the Fransie Pienaar Museum. It’s a fascinating place where you might hear windows mysteriously opening and closing. Some visitors even claim to have heard the sound of phantom horses trotting down the street. It’s a truly eerie experience!

But that’s not all! You mustn’t leave Prince Albert without booking a ghost walk with the one and only Story Weaver, Ailsa. With her extensive knowledge of the town’s haunted past and her love for its history, she will guide you through the spookiest spots in town. The ghost tour is not only spooky but also full of interesting historical tidbits. Even children will enjoy it!

Now, I know you’re probably wondering about the cost. Well, for adults, it’s only R80 per person, and for children, it’s even cheaper at R40 per child. What a bargain for an unforgettable experience!

If you’re ready to embark on a thrilling journey, give the Story Weaver a call at 023 541 1211 or visit storyweaver.co.za to book your ghost tour. Trust me, it’s an adventure you won’t want to miss!

Matjiesfontein

I’m going to tell you a spooky story about the Lord Milner Hotel in Matjiesfontein. You see, this hotel is said to be home to some mischievous ghosts. But don’t worry, they’re actually quite friendly. One of these ghosts is a nurse named Kate. They say she used to play card games with her sick patients on the second floor. In fact, they’ve even turned that room into a special place called Kate’s Card Room. If you’re feeling brave, you can request to stay there and maybe experience some ghostly card games yourself!

But Kate isn’t the only ghost in the hotel. There’s also Lucy, who never checked out of her room. You might just catch a glimpse of her wandering around. And then there are the British soldiers. They haunt the main staircase and have been spotted by guests and hotel staff from time to time. So, if you’re looking for a spooky adventure, this hotel might just be the place for you.

If you’re interested in staying at the Lord Milner Hotel, it will cost you R525 per person sharing. To make a reservation, you can call 023 561 3011 or visit their website at matjiesfontein.com. Just be prepared for some ghostly encounters!

Pilgrim’s Rest

When there’s gold, there are bound to be ghosts. That’s certainly the case in Pilgrim’s Rest, where restless spirits abound. One of the most famous haunted spots is the Barry mansion, which has been transformed into a museum. Legend has it that a young girl’s spirit lingers here, and visitors have even witnessed a doll’s pram mysteriously moving about. Despite not being lived in for decades, the house sometimes emanates the smell of cooking. It’s an eerie sensation.

In the cemetery, you’ll come across numerous graves from the days of gold mining. Many of these graves are unmarked, but if you spot a grave facing south, it’s a telltale sign that a criminal lies beneath. To learn more about these eerie tales and explore the haunted history of the area, I highly recommend taking a guided after-dark ghost tour. One of the stops on the tour is Alanglade House, which was built in 1915 as a residence for the mine manager and his family. During your tour, you’ll also get a look at the infamous “Robber’s grave.” For more information and tour bookings, contact Brunmer Tours at the information center. They can be reached at 082 522 1958.

Written by: Lauren Dold