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Helpmekaar
I have the privilege of spending a lot of time on Valhalla game farm at Helpmekaar in Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Valhalla Farm belongs to my husband Colin's family, his family moved here in the 1970's and introduced game about 30 years ago. Now my 24 year old son Brett lives here and runs this 1240ha as a beef and game farm, so we visit fairly often.
It is a beautiful farm surrounded by hills, very peaceful.
Wildlife
Recently a giraffe and her 8-month-old calf were released here, which was such a pleasure to watch.
There are kudu, blesbok, zebra, red hartebeest, impala, nyala, bushbuck, reedbuck, duiker, bushpig, steenbok, porcupines, lynx, jackal and many more animals.
The local hunters come here over the winter months stocking up their freezers with venison.
Other visitors, both local and international tourists come all through the year to stay, as it is such a good base for visiting the Anglo-Boer War Battlefield sites. It is not far from Rorke's Drift and has a military cemetary just behind the Helpmekaar Police Station.
Birds
There are so many different bird species including lately a ground hornbill also vultures, secretary birds, weavers and fish eagles.
Snakes
As well as legavaan there are the odd python, cobra, boomslang, night adder.
Fish
Black bass, tilapia and yellow fish.
Flora
The dominant trees are acacia karoo, nilotica, sieberana, caffra, dombeya rotundifolia, greyia sutherlandii, apodytes dimidiata, ficus
Lodge
There is a fully equipped 5 bedroom Lodge on the premises. It has a lovely outdoor area overlooking the pool and farm.
History
The hunter-gatherer Khoisan were the first to live here and their paintings are still visible under the large rock overhangs on the farm.
The iron ore smelting sites are visible too.
In the early 19th century the Zulus led by Shaka led to many clashes with the other tribes, some survivors fled to the hills and became cannibals.
In 1879 Helpmekaar consisted of two stone houses and a small chapel. Helpmekaar had been named by the Voortrekkers who made a cutting for the difficult ascent with their wagons to the top of the escarpment.
For more information regarding the history of Anglo-Boer War Battlefield sites look at this article.
