High up in the Amatola mountains and surrounded by indigenous
forests, clear waterfalls and swirling myth, the magical, mystical
little village of Hogsback soothes the spirit and rejuvenates the soul.
The many hiking trails lead the visitor into the pristine beauty of
nature, the majestic old yellowwood tree, peace and tranquility.
Hogsback, with its wonderful mountains, spectacular views, mystical
forests, swirling mists, beautiful birds, butterflies and mushrooms, and
its often glorious sunsets, has an air of enchantment and tranquility
all of its own.
Hogsback is the ideal holiday destination for nature lovers and is
well known for its beautiful spring, summer and autumn gardens.
Name
There are two (or maybe more) theories as how the village received
its name. Some think it was named for Captain Hogg, Commander of Fort
Michell. Some others think that it is because one of the three peaks
that overlook the village, when seen from a certain angle, resembles a
Hog's Back (A hog's back is a geological term describing this particular
rock formation).
History
The earliest known written reference to 'Hogsback' was found in the
journal of the painter Thomas Baines, who passed the 'Hogs Back' while
on his travels deeper inside South Africa in 1848. Besides the
'Hogsback', the highest peak in the area is the 1 954 m Gaika's Kop.
The nearby Xhosa tribes called the surrounding area Qabimbola
(meaning 'red clay on the face') as the surrounding clay was used for
face painting. Gaika's Kop was one of the Xhosa strongholds. British
troops were later stationed here and a number of forts were built to
guard the border with the Xhosa. One of these forts was Fort Michell,
named after Colonel Michell of the Warwickshire regiment, who was at one
point in charge of troops in the area. The name has since changed to
Fort Mitchell. Mitchell's Pass was also named after him. The outline of
Fort Michell, and the first road from Fort Hare can still be seen.
The conflict between the British and Xhosa continued further north
and a small settlement began to grow. Some of the first inhabitants of
Hogsback were Summerton, Odendaal and Booysens. Thomas Summerton, a
gardener from Oxford, has a legacy that survives in the local gardens
and his attempts to re-create the English countryside. This can be seen
in apple orchards, avenues lined with hazelnut, berry fruits and the
flowering plants that have spread throughout the surrounding area.
European flowers, bushes and trees include rhododendrons, azaleas,
fruits and berries. He named his farm Cherrie Orchard and also built a
furrow - Summerton's furrow - to carry water from a stream on Tor Doone.
In the 1880s, Mr. Collins built a small hotel, called the Hogsback
Hydro, of which later became the Hosback Inn. Hunterstoun, the private
estate of Mr David Hunter, in 1910. Mr. Hunter was the honorary
secretary and treasurer of the Lovedale Institution and the Victoria
College near Alice. Forestry began in 1883 with a survey to determine
the best areas for planting. The Hogsback pass was opened in 1932.
Hobbiton-on-Hogsback was started in 1946 as a holiday camp for children
who could not afford to go on holidays and with the aid of several
organisations and private donations, had grown to an outdoor education
facility for underprivileged children. There was also a shop, the Handy
Log Cabin, situated in the grounds of Arminel.
At the turn of the century, local farmers and townsfolk started to
build holiday homes here and its charms became more widely known. The
cottages were mostly of wattle and daub with thatched roofs. A rule was
also made in regard to the size of the plots, namely that each one had
to be at least two morgen.
Geography and Tourism
The area is known for indigenous forests, waterfalls and trout
fishing. The large gardens in the surrounding area also include exotic
plants from all parts of the Earth, and it is a popular destination and
tourist attraction among both International and South African tourists.
Apart from 'the Hogsback', the tallest peak in the area is the 1 954 m
Gaika's Kop.
Hiking and Walking Trails
One of the best ways to experience the stunning beauty of Hogsback is
on foot. There are scores of hiking routes and walks that will take you
through the forests, up the mountains, past the waterfalls and to the
spectacular views. General information on Hogsback such as maps of
walks, hiking and mountain bike trails are available for purchase from
the Hogsback Tourist Office located near the entrance of the village.
These trails vary from short easy walks to trails taking 3–4 hours and
longer. The following are some of the well known Hogsback hiking trails
and all offer excellent views: The Labyrinth at the Edge, The 39 Steps
Falls and Arboretum, Madonna and Child Falls, Kettlespout Falls, The
Three Hogs, Tyumy Pools walk, The Three Waterfall Trail, The Bluff Walk,
The Military Path, The Sunset loop, The Big Tree and The Art and Craft
Trail.
Climate
Hogsback has a cool Oceanic Climate, which compares similarly to the
climate of England. It has a climate range from as low as 3.5°C in July
to as high as 24.9°C in January. Hogsback receives an average annual
precipitation of 974mm. Hogsback receives most of its rainfall in
summer, often accompanied by thunderstorms.
Location
Hogsback is located roughly 30 km from Alice. Overall, it is in the
central-southern part of South Africa, in the centre of the Eastern Cape
province, and is roughly half way between the town of Alice and the
village of Cathcart. Nearby towns include Seymour to the west, Fort Hare
and Alice to the south, Cathcart, Whittlesea and the Waterdown Dam to
the north and Keiskammahoek to the east. However, travel east and west
of the town is rare because there is little infrastructure and
ridges/mountains to these sides.
Tolkien Connection
The Amatola Forest in the Hogsback area is often claimed as J. R. R.
Tolkien's (who was born in South Africa) inspiration for The Lord of the
Rings, in particular for his fictional forest of Mirkwood. The link
between Tolkien and Hogsback would seem to be a back formation from the
establishment in 1947 of Hobbiton on Hogsback, a holiday and educational
camp for underprivileged children. This was ten years after the
publication of The Hobbit which was a huge success and which would have
inspired the camp's founders as they set up in such an evocatively
forested area.