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Hogsback is a village in the Amathole Mountains. Hogsback possesses a spectacular setting, and overlooks some of the highest points in the range including Gaikas Kop and the Hogsback peaks.
HOGSBACK
Hogsback is a village in the Amathole Mountains. Hogsback possesses a spectacular setting, and overlooks some of the highest points in the range including Gaikas Kop and the Hogsback peaks. Gaikas Kop is named after the Eighteenth Century Xhosa leader, Nqgika, (called Gaika by the British), who used the area as his redoubt before his defeat by Ndlambe in the great Xhosa civil war of the early nineteenth century. Later the whole Amathole range was used by the Xhosa forces during their Wars of Resistance to British Rule. The fortified village of Auckland was established by Sir Harry Smith not far from the village, one of a series established in an effort to secure the Amatholes for the colonial forces and prevent the area from being used by the Xhosa during their operations. Auckland, and all the other fortified villages were destroyed by the Xhosa on Christmas day 1849, the first day of the war of Mlanjeni. This event became part of Settler folklore as “The Christmas Day Massacre”, although the Xhosa only killed the males of fighting age and in accordance with their custom, allowed the women and children to escape unscathed and unharmed.
Hogsback grew up around a wagon halt that linked the quickest route between the fortifications of Fort Hare and Cathcart. Once peace had settled over the turbulent frontier, the inhabitants below the Amatholes retreated there in summer to escape the heat in the valleys below and appreciate the scenery and the setting.
Hogsback is well known for its peaceful atmosphere and for the Scenic beauty. There are a number of hikes through the mountains, the seaward slopes are thickly forested and is the home to the vulnerable Cape Parrot (poicephalus robustus robustus). There are a number of waterfalls in the area such as the Madonna and Child and the Bridal Veil. For those who enjoy something to stimulate the adrenaline there are several rock climbing and abseiling opportunities while fly fishermen can cast for trout in the mountain streams. The climate of the village is mild and winter snowfalls are not uncommon.
Source: Courtesy Eastern Cape Tourism Board - www.ectb.co.za
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