Chrissiesmeer: Lakes, Birdlife and Sandstone History

Lakes and wetlands, birdwatching and old sandstone houses give Chrissiesmeer its distinctive character. The town cemetery also tells a story: the graves of the Boer and British soldiers there face in opposite directions. There are different ways to discover the town—through its landscape, its buildings and the stories associated with it.

Lakes and birdlife around Chrissiesmeer

Lake Chrissie, after which Chrissiesmeer is named, is 7 kilometres long and 3 kilometres wide. Together with two large freshwater lakes and more than 320 pans, it forms a diverse habitat. According to tourism information, 82 waterbird species and more than 100 other species occur there. These figures show the central role that water and wetlands play in the character of the area.

Those who want to observe birds and experience the landscape along the way can explore the Highlands Inyoni Wetlands Birding Route by car. The circular route is about 60 kilometres long and runs along Lake Chrissie. During the birdwatching season, a local waterbird guide can also take visitors on an excursion. Check current availability before your trip. The drive and a guided excursion offer different ways to make birdwatching the focus.

Looking up at the night sky is another of the experiences described. According to a tourism assessment, Chrissiesmeer’s relative isolation from large cities and small size make it suitable for stargazing and long-exposure photographs of the Milky Way. Those particularly interested in these subjects will find a different reason to visit here than on a trip focused mainly on birdlife.

Sandstone houses, buildings and history

Chrissiesmeer has beautiful old sandstone houses. The restored sandstone buildings in the town include the Old Methodist Church and the Old Mill. Their names alone offer two specific starting points for exploring local architectural history; together with the old houses, the buildings shape the town’s architectural character.

The cemetery is another historic place. The opposite orientation of the graves of the Boer and British soldiers is an unusual, immediately visible detail. It offers a different perspective from the nature experiences of the lakes and wetlands, and gives visitors a reason to explore Chrissiesmeer’s history during their stay.

Seasonal experiences

Two recurring events with different characters take place throughout the year. Frog Night is held annually on the first weekend of December. Participants explore the wetland at night with torches, rubber boots and buckets. Check the arrangements for the relevant year before planning your trip around the event.

The Wild Flower Day is held annually in January. Nature lovers go on excursions into the veld. This means that a nighttime exploration of the wetland in December and excursions focused on plant life in January are two different seasonal trip ideas. If one of these events is the reason for your trip, check the latest details in advance.

Plan your stay around your interests

When choosing a holiday apartment, it may help to first consider which aspect of Chrissiesmeer you want your trip to focus on: birdwatching and waterscapes, stargazing, sandstone architecture or a seasonal event. The experiences described offer different reasons to get to know the town; they do not mean that a stay has to be limited to just one activity.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bethal, Elukwatini, Grootvlei, Volksrust, Piet Retief, Balfour, Ermelo, Morgenzon.

Go to the main travel overview: Gert Sibande.