Modimolle, located northeast of Bela-Bela and roughly two hours from Johannesburg in the heart of the Waterberg, is a town steeped in rich history. Formerly known as Nylstroom, the town's origins are tied to the fascinating story of the Jerusalem Trekkers. This group of Voortrekkers, Dutch emigrants seeking greener pastures, left the Cape Colony in the 1860s with a singular goal: to find the Holy Land. After an arduous journey, the group mistakenly identified a hillock near what is now Modimolle as a ruined pyramid and believed they had reached the Nile River. They settled near the stream, which they named the Nyl, though it was actually a tributary of the Mogalakwena River, some 10,000 kilometres away from their intended destination. The hill, known locally as Modimolle (meaning "the forefather's spirit has eaten"), is considered sacred by the local people and is also called Kranskop. Its significance is said to have inspired the architect Gerhard Moerdijk when designing the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria. The town's intriguing history offers a glimpse into the early days of the Voortrekker movement and remains an important part of South Africa's cultural heritage.
