Ohrigstad was founded in 1845 by Hendrik Potgieter, the well-known "Voortrekker" leader. He named the Town after himself and George Ohrig: Andries-Ohrigstad. Sadly, the Town was plagued by malaria mosquitoes and abandoned in 1848. Ohrigstad was only resettled in the 1900's when the malaria plague was controlled. Today, Ohrigstad is a malaria-free zone. In addition, relics of Traces of Iron and Stone Age civilizations found in the Area. This indicates that the Pedi and San groups lived here thousands of Years ago.
Ohrigstad is a quaint Village and Valley nestled in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains, close to the Blyde River Canyon, God's Window and Potholes. At the point where the swift-flowing Blyde River is joined by the Ohrigstad River, engineers built a Dam wall in a bottleneck below to form the Blyde Dam. Wildlife in the canyon Area is varied. There are Mountain Reedbucks on the escarpment, Dassies on the Canyon Walls, Hippo and Crocodile in the Blyde Dam as well as Impala, Kudu, Blue Wildebeest, Waterbuck and Zebra on the Lowveld plain near the Canyon's Mouth. In the Area is another fascinating Ecological Site known as: the Echo Caves. The Echo Caves was discovered in the 1920's. One of the rooms of the Cave had a height of 60m. After exploring the Cave, it was realized that this is a gift from nature laid among the gentle undulating Hills of the Mpumalanga Escarpment. These are some of the oldest Caves in the World and were declared a Historical Monument.
Ohrigstad has stunning Natural Scenery, a moderate Climate. Life here is relaxed and peaceful! There are plenty of activities and marvelous Natural Wonders to explore!