Caught in the late afternoon sunlight.
Ventersburg is about 2 hr 22 minutes (237,8 km) from Johannesburg via N1. There are a couple of reasonably priced toll gates along the road, and compared to many roads I have travelled on recently, there is a distinct LACK of potholes.
If I were to caution drivers, it is once you return to Johannesburg, as it seems that Gauteng drivers have NO idea they should not be travelling at 90km in a 120km zone, as it is even more dangerous than speeding!
And DO NOT get me started on drivers performing multiple lane changes without indication.
However, the purpose of this post is not to rant about motorists, but to inform, educate, and entertain my readers with my time spent in this small town with a population of less than 2000.
TURN RIGHT!
This butcher is well known far and wide. I have been informed that people drive from Johannesburg to stock up on their Geelvet biltong.
FYI:
Geelvet biltong is special due to its unique flavour profile and texture resulting from the inclusion of yellow fat, a traditional ingredient used in certain biltong.
This yellow fat, derived from grass-fed cattle fat, provides a richer, butterier flavour and a slightly firmer texture compared to regular white fat.
The fat draws into the meat during drying, enhancing the overall flavour and creating a more moist and juicy biltong.
Do you NEED to know all that information? Not really, but what you do need to know is that it is so popular that I was told by one employee that they can sell up to 200kg per day!
This is what usually brings visitors to Ventersburg!
Aside from biltong and dried wors, they sell a variety of homemade fudge, sauces, bespoke gin, as well as a range of other products.
Lock your credit card in your vehicle before you set foot inside, as their wares will call out your name…
Check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thefatbutcher/
This short stretch of road has few, if any, potholes!
A brief history of the town.
Ventersburg is a small town in the Lejweleputswa region of the Free State Province in South Africa. It was established in 1857 on the farm Kromfontein after the death of PA Venter, the then-owner.
16 years later, in 1873, Ventersburg was officially declared a town. Their history is marked by the establishment in 1891 of a Dutch Reformed Church, which was burned down by British forces during the Boer War in 1900, and rebuilt in 1912.
The N1 is a significant national route, running from Cape Town to Beit Bridge on the border with Zimbabwe, hence the large number of trucks that use this town as an overnight stop along the route.
As a direct result, the state of the roads in and around the town is in dire need of repair.
This is what occurs when a tire disintegrates at speed.
Luckily, several businesses in the town can repair/replace these.
Street food at its best?
I admit that I did not stop by to either confirm or deny that statement.
Although there is only one supermarket, the Spar, in town, there are a couple of restaurants that travellers will be familiar with (Spur and Steers) on the side of the N1, should they wish to stop for a quick meal.
A time for reflection?
Just ONE of the many giant potholes that litter the streets.
Did you know? The collective noun for potholes is a slalom!
Small-town South Africa in a single image.
Looking at the state of the house that this wall is attached to, I have a suspicion that this business is no longer operational.
Is it only me who sees the irony here?
Every package offered by this funeral home starts with the word “fridge“, and then I noticed the sign on the blue box.
Cat on a hot tin roof?
In summer, perhaps! When the temperature can reach a high of +35°c.
In winter, it can plummet to as low as -9 °c.
Although the town seems to have many attractions, most seem to be closed on a weekend when you would expect them to be open for those travelling on the N1.
It might just be me, but if there were better signage for these attractions, then perhaps more people would visit instead of just stocking up the Fat Butcher and then driving on.
These are just some of those attractions:
The ruins of the Basotho chief Moshoeshoe’s Kraal.
The country’s only fully restored Police Museum. (I did want to visit, but it was not open on a weekend, and we arrived too late on Friday afternoon)
The remains of the Voortrekker hospital.
The Skanskraal Monument.
The graves of children who died in the measles epidemic of the 1830s.
This must be one of the few remaining Post Offices in South Africa.
Perhaps one day it too will become a relic for people to visit.
Corruption, lack of opportunities, and the exodus of residents to larger cities further exacerbate the situation.
And as a direct result, our history as South Africans is slowly but certainly being lost
There is ALWAYS a church that acts as a waypoint in these small towns.
There were 4 clock faces on this spire, and although they were working, each of them was a different time!
Perhaps that is a sign that God does not run on man-made time?
Or that time is just a construct, and it can be interpreted in many ways.
Time to say goodbye to quirky Ventersburg, where the architecture follows no known rules.
Thanks to our host, Keith, for an entertaining weekend and to the locals that we met, thank you for sharing your stories with us.
Travel & Things is the proud winner of these prestigious awards from the digital British lifestyle magazine Luxlife.
The awards are in the categories:
Best Travel & Experiences Blog 2024 – South Africa
Best African Game Reserves & Lodges Travel Review Site 2025.
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