Tierfontein is situated 25 km from Potchefstroom on the Vredefort road, in the Vredefort Dome.  Only an hour and a half from JHB and PTA. From Johannesburg the hike can be reached via Potchefstroom or Parys, and you may choose to do a circular route.

Very, very, very, very, very, very long ago a meteorite plunged into the earth here and resulted in the most interesting geological ground formations – it made life possible because the meteorite created so many cracks in the Earth’s crust, which in turn created the right habitat for us to live in. According to NASA, the Vredefort site is the oldest site that was hit by a meteorite and it is estimated to have happened 2000 million years ago.

Also, long long ago, but less long ago, members of the Matabelles settled here and a big city was built, ruins and artifacts from the Iron Age are still visibly obvious. Askoppies in Tierfontein is an archeologists mystery / secret that amazes one. Amongst artifacts that are discovered daily by archeologists are fine ivory beads, remnants of pots, shells and spear points. It shows that there was a settled trade network as well as a sophisticated metal smelter.

In about 1887 gold was discovered and mining activities were started on Tierfontein, but fortunately the gold was only found in feint streaks and mining was called to a halt.

Accommodation is available: Please contact Anvie Ventures on 072 892 2908 or 060 812 2809to make your reservation.

GPS COORDINATES
S26º52.884 E027º13.560 

DIRECTIONS

From Gauteng

• Take the N1 towards Bloemfontein.
• Take the off-ramp just before the Vaal Plaza toll gate towards Parys / Sasolburg.
• Turn Right at the T-junction crossing the bridge over the highway towards Parys
• Follow the main road through Parys
• Just after the CBD turn Right towards Fochville and Potchefstroom. There is a robot and a Bernie’s Diner at the turn-off
• 2 Km from Parys, turn left on the R53 towards Potchefstroom
• About 8 km from the turn-off, turn left again towards Venterskroon. You are now on a gravel road.
• Venterskroon is 15 km from the turn off – there are three old white buildings close to the road at Venterskroon, with the Information Centre being in the middle. The School Masters House is the next building to the right of the info centre.
• Tierfontein is a further 7,5 km from Venterskroon

From Potchefstroom

• Take the Governor Mbeki street – turn left – a Dros is on your left hand side. This is the R501
• Drive straight out of town towards Schoemansdrift and Vredefort
• 20 km from Potchefstroom, turn left on the Venterskroon road – this is a gravel road
• After 2.5 km see sign Tierfontein (Bundu & Boplaas) on the left hand side
• Venterskroon is a further 7,5 km on this road.
• After you have passed the shop on your left hand side, you will reach the old mining village on your left. The information centre is signposted, the School Masters House is the next building to the right of the info centre