Modimolle

Voortrekkers known as the Jerusalem Trekkers settled here in 1866; mistaking the pyramid-shaped Kranskop hill for an Egyptian pyramid, they named the river the Nyl and the town Nylstroom. The Waterberg district's landdrost was based here from 1866, the Dutch Reformed church followed in 1889 and the railway from Pretoria arrived in 1898. The British ran a concentration camp here during the Anglo-Boer War. It was the home town of Prime Minister J.G. Strijdom, and in 2002 it was officially renamed Modimolle, often explained as 'the spirits have eaten'.

About 135 km (roughly 1.5-2 hours) north of Pretoria and around two hours from Johannesburg via the N1 (the Engen 1-Stop Kranskop is on the N1 just outside town); the R101 links it to Bela-Bela to the south-west and Mookgophong to the north-east, and the R33 runs north-west to Vaalwater. A small paved airfield serves private and charter aircraft.

Bushveld climate with hot, wet summers (most rain falls in summer thunderstorms) and dry, sunny, mild winters with cool to cold nights. The area is malaria-free.