Tzaneen / Haernetsburg

The steep mountain slope between Haenertsburg and Tzaneen, Magoebaskloof, is named after one of the area’s most fascinating historic characters. The ‘Kloof takes its name from the legendary King Makgoba, leader of the Tlou people, who successfully protected his mountaintop domain from the Boers between 1888 and 1895. However in 1895 the fearless king met with a sticky end in his beloved mountain kingdom after he was slain by Swazi impis. To prove to the Boers that they killed King Makgoba, the impis cut off his head. To this day the king’s final resting place remains a secret as does the whereabouts of his head.