Kaapse Hoop (or Kaapsche Hoop) is a misty town in Mpumalanga, South Africa. It is close to Nelspruit. I’ve visited this town only once but surely hope to be back soon! When you drive to this town you drive past plantations and the closer you get the more misty it becomes. Gold was discovered in the area, which was originally known as Duiwels Kantoor (literally meaning Devil’s Office)The first government buildings were erected in 1885 and the name of the developing town was changed to Kaapsehoop in 1886. Many of the original buildings from the 1800s still stand today. Kaapse Hoop is also the home of wild horses.There are an estimated 150 – 180 wild horses. Nobody really knows where they come from and many fables exist. These horses are most likely remnants of the gold mining days, the Boer wars and the early cattle farmers. Early documentation of these horses are found in old mining journals of the late 1800’s. The breed of these horses are mostly Boerperd. The herds vary between 8 – 12 with the mature stallion and matriarch mare and they roam on a 17 000 ha property.
We were lucky enough to come across a herd of these lovely horses. I hope to be back there soon to visit these wonderful beings.
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