Emgwenya means: 'Place of the Crocodile'. (Ngwenya, is an Nguni surname, meaning the same thing!) Emgwenya was formally Waterval Boven and can be found at the top of the Escarpment (as its original name of Waterval Boven suggests- this in Afrikaans means: 'above'- above the Elands River Waterfall.) The 75m Eland Falls is best seen from viewing platform just outside the Town. This platform gives great views of the stunning Escarpment, rich in plant life and bird species.

Established in 1895, as a supply Town, along the NZASM Railway Line that took goods from Pretoria to Delagoa Bay, in Mozambique.Waterval Boven soon grew into a flourishing Town where locomotives, would stop for refueling and repair. Only in the Mid-60's, did Waterval Boven run out of steam, as the locomotive industry slowed down and the Town had to look for alternative sources of income. Now it is not the railway that draws the crowds but the rocky Escarpment, as Emgwenya has been renowned as one of the top climbing destinations in Africa, if not the World. With over 700 testing routes, that suit both novice and experienced climbers alike. The Town’s “Restaurant – on the edge of the universe!” There are also a number of amazing hikes through the Elands Valley, choose your routes carefully as some are perfect for beginners but others will challenge the fittest of hikers. This is however one of the best ways to see the Area surrounding this fabulous Town. There are also a number of great horse trails and there is wonderful trout fishing!

For those looking to stretch their minds rather than their bodies, the Town is home to a number of National Monuments. These include the beautiful sandstone 5-Arch Bridge and NZASM tunnel, leftovers from a bygone era. (the tunnel is featured in the picture above) For the even more mentally adventurous, take a trip to the Stone Circle Museum and Bistro, where the story of Adam’s Calendar is told. Possibly the oldest man-made Monument known to man! 

Waterval Boven Heritage Centre (also referred to as “the Centre”) is a community led initiative to establish a Museum and Tourism Centre in Emgwenya that will highlight the History and Culture of the Area. They inform visitors about the local activities to engage in and demonstrate how Emgwenya connects into a larger network of Historical and Touristic Sites, in Mpumalanga. (It is their objective that the Centre will be a lively and community-based organization that caters to the needs of both tourists and the local community. As it is one of those Towns that as soon as you start looking around it you realise you needed to stay for longer. There are so many fascinating buildings, tales, activities and adventures to be had here. So make sure you book your stay for longer than a day!)

Interwoven in the Hills near Machadodorp in South Africa’s: 'Mpumalanga Province'. It is a labyrinth of circular stone walls and linear pathways. Known as the Blaauboschkraal stone ruins, such is the mystery that shrouds them that very little can be stated for certain. Theories as to who created them and when are both abundant and extraordinarily diverse, with proposed dates of the latter differing by tens or even Hundreds of Thousands of Years. Perhaps the most controversial element amongst the Stone Structures is what has become known as Adam’s Calendar. So what is it?

It has been claimed as everything from a 16th Century cattle enclosure to an ancient Calendar. Adam's Calendar is also known as Blaauwboschkraal Stone Ruins. Mpumalanga means 'the place where the sun rises' in isiZulu. Adam’s Calendar was built as a sun calendar by an ancient civilization, some 75,000 Years ago. They base this on the concept that its rocks are perfectly positioned to align with the points of a compass. And that the calendar works when a taller rock casts its shadow on one of twelve flat rocks, each representing a month of the Year. This Area is home to Thousands of similar stone structures, which feature circular shapes and are surrounded by complex terraces and designs. Laced through the Northern part of the remote Mountains of the Mpumalanga Province is a seemingly endless web of stone walls. Specifically, neat piles of a dark, fine-grained igneous rock known as diabase or dolerite, formed into concentric circles linked by long passages. Dotted throughout an Area of some is 10.4 thousand square kilometers., together they are known as: 'the Blaauboschkraal Stone Ruins'.

It’s among these myriad South Africa stone circles, barely three miles North West of the Town of Waterval Boven. Measuring some 100 feet in diameter, it’s but one Mpumalanga circle among many, yet it has garnered more attention than any other. Why? Because, while the Blaauboschkraal stone ruins as a whole have been claimed to be everything from the walled City of a 17th Century indigenous Civilization to ancient Temples, only the ruins has been interpreted as being a; Megalithic Stone Calendar . Adam's Calendar is believed to be one of the oldest man-made structures on Earth. It's sometimes referred to as 'African Stonehenge' and was brought to public attention in 2003 by the pilot Johan Heine. Adam's Calendar is a site of great Historical importance, as it's believed to be one of the oldest man-made structures in the World. It's made of a series of upright stones in a circle, and it's one of the Provincial Heritage Sites that can be found on South Africa's Heritage Trail. It was declared a National Monument in 1975. The ruins here are believed to be over 75,000 years old. The site around Adam's Calendar with its many stone circles has been known about since the late 1800's.

In 1891 the English explorer Theodore Bent estimated the number of ruins in this Area to be in the thousands. By 1774, this estimate had risen to 20,000; on further exploration. In 2003, a South African pilot called Johan Heine took an interest in these structures - he had been flying over the Area for many years, and began to take some aerial photos as he passed over. He asked local experts what they thought about the Structures, and he was told that these strange shapes were cattle enclosures used by local Bantu people until they migrated in the 14th Century. However, as more exploration of the sites took place, it was noted that these stone shapes aren't like any other Bantu cattle enclosures. These are usually made out of thorny brush, to stop the cattle from escaping. Plus, some of these stone structures didn't have entrances.

Adam's Calendar was discovered by accident when one of Johan's crew crashed his plane. After safely rescuing his crew member, Johan walked over to some stone monoliths that he could see and realised that they were aligned to cardinal points - North, South, East and West. There were also stones that lined up with the equinoxes and solstices. Three stones, aligned with the sunrise, and on the West side, a hole in the ground could be found. At this point, Johan realised that this must be a calendar, and possibly one of the oldest in the World - hence the name, 'Adam's Calendar'. After studying the site carefully, we now believe that it is a fully functional stone calendar. It still works today, with the setting sun casting shadows on the rocks as it sets, allowing you to tell the Seasons and Times. isiZulu elders call the site 'Inzalo y'Langa', which translates as 'The birthplace of the sun'-(Hence the naming of: Mpumalanga.)

Zulu ceremonies are still held at this site, as it's believed that the two main calendar stones can receive energy from other ancient sites around the World. The latest discovery at the site centres around sound frequencies. With modern technology, it's now possible to detect and measure sound frequencies that have acoustic properties and conduct electricity. Some of the stones may have been placed to mirror these acoustic patterns as they rise to the surface, hence the circular patterns.                                                      Adam's Calendar is protected as part of the Blue Swallow National Heritage Site, and you will need a guide in order to explore the stones.