When Abbot Francis Pfanner arrived in SA in 1880 no-one could have anticipated the controversies he would unleash, nor the impact his work would have in this country. He established the Mariannhill Monastery and recruited 34 sisters and brothers from Europe to run it. Pfanner belonged to the Trappist order and was under an oath of silence. However, he believed his task from God was to respond to the needs of the community around him and how could he teach, evangelize and heal without interaction with the people? Pfanner went on to establish many outstations, of which Reichenau was the first. Eventually the Mariannhill missions were separated from the Trappist order and, in 1892 Pfanner resigned from office and was effectively banished to the last mission he built, where he was to die in 1909. He left behind a legacy of new missions and Christian outreach programs extending through South Africa and into Southern Rhodesia.
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2 days, 1 night
DEPARTING DURBAN
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Day 1
Meet your guide at 10h00 at Mariannhill Monastery for a fascinating tour of the monastery and an account of its founding before departing to drive two hours and a bit to the remote mission station where Pfanner spent the final years of his life and where his heart is buried. Tour with one of the resident nuns, walk the stations of the Cross and overnight in the simple and serene accommodation near the church. (±186km)
Day 2
Drive on a rough road about 15 km to another, architecturally beautiful church and mission buildings. Enjoy the tranquillity of the quiet gardens and a tour of the buildings with a resident nun or brother, then depart for home, with an optional visit either to the Oaks in Burn for lunch, or the mission Kevelaer for another historic tour. For those who wish, a visit to the the indigenous forest near Bulwer is another option. Here you may see the Green Parrot and other colourful birds. Arrive back in Durban in the afternoon. (±136km)
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3 days, 2 nights
DEPARTING JOHANNESBURG
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Day 1
Drive to Ixopo in KZN, a scenic route that will take you about 5 hours. Your overnight accommodation is a tranquil mission station with its original mill still in working order and a rich tapestry of history behind it. Enjoy sundowners at the old Brickworks on the banks of a stretch of water abounding in water birds. (Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg PLUS 91km)
Day 2
Tour the historic mill and buildings with your knowledgeable hostess before departing to drive half an hour to the remote mission station where Pfanner spent the final years of his life. Tour with one of the resident nuns, walk the stations of the Cross and overnight in the simple and serene accommodation near the church. (±47km)
Day 3
Choose to visit either another mission station, a beautiful church with historic buildings in the heart of what was previously East Griqualand. The scenery and the architecture are both sublime. (Approximately 158km to Pietermaritzburg, then home.)
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4 days, 3 nights
DEPARTING DURBAN |
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Day 1
Meet your Mariannhill guide at 10h00 at the Monastery for a fascinating tour of the monastery and an account of its founding.
After a lunch in the gardens, drive towards Ixopo to your overnight accommodation, a tranquil mission station with its original mill still in working order and a rich tapestry of history behind it. Enjoy sundowners at the old Brickworks on the banks of a stretch of water abounding in water birds. (±149km)
Day 2
Tour the historic mill and buildings with your knowledgeable hostess before departing to drive half an hour to the remote mission station where Pfanner spent the final years of his life. Tour with one of the resident nuns, walk the stations of the Cross and overnight in the simple and serene accommodation near the church. (±47km)
Day 3
Drive to the biggest mission station in this area, on the Umzimkulu River. Enjoy the beautiful historic church with its replica picture of the Black Madonna. Lunch in tranquillity at the mission before departing on a very scenic drive to Reichenau, destination which is not far from Underberg. Overnight near Bulwer. (±73km)
Day 4
Visit an indigenous forest for an experience not to be missed. Walking trails lead you to where bird life proliferates. Walk to the view-site or enjoy sitting quietly in one of the raised bird hides. Back home at your leisure at around midday. (±171km)
Special birds you might see in the area are: The Blue Swallow, Fish Eagle, Crowned Cranes, Cape Parrot, Crowned Eagle, Green Twinspot, Narina Trogon, Orange Ground Thrush, White Starred Robin and the Knysna Turaco.
5 days, 4 nights
DEPARTING JOHANNESBURG |
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Day 1
Drive to Ixopo in KZN, a scenic route that will take you about 5 hours. Your overnight accommodation is a tranquil mission station with its original mill still in working order and a rich tapestry of history behind it. Enjoy sundowners at the old Brickworks on the banks of a stretch of water abounding in water birds. (Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg PLUS 91km)
Day 2
Tour the historic mill and buildings with your knowledgeable hostess before departing to drive half an hour to the remote mission station where Pfanne spent the final years of his life. Tour with one of the resident nuns, walk the stations of the Cross and overnight in the simple and serene accommodation near the church. (±47km)
Day 3
Visit another mission station, a beautiful church with historic buildings in the heart of what was previously East Griqualand. The scenery and the architecture are both sublime. Drive to the Umzimkulu River and the biggest mission in the area. View the beautiful church and tour the historic buildings with the resident guide. Depart about midday to drive the scenic route to Underberg. From there you will visit the Reichenau mission. This station has a water mill that has recently been restored to working order. Overnight in a historic old hotel near Bulwer. (+- 120 km)
Day 4
Drive to the Marutswa Forest near Bulwer. Walking trails lead you into an indigenous forest where bird life proliferates. Walk to the view-site or enjoy sitting quietly in one of the raised bird hides. From there drive to the last mission of your tour, near Donnybrook. Resident sisters will show you around this working station that is the site of thousands of visiting pilgrims each year. Overnight in very comfortable accommodation on the banks of a big lake near Dargle. (+- 128 km)
Day 5
Depart at your leisure to drive on the R103 on the well-known Midlands Meander on the way back to Gauteng.
These tours require:
A vehicle that is robust enough to drive un-tarred
roads and that has sufficient clearance to cope
with rough gravel surfaces. A SUV is ideal. Four
wheel drive is not a necessity.
Accommodation:
Nestled in the heart of the St Isidore Valley and
surrounded by the lush farmlands of Ixopo, the
mission station extends a warm welcome to guests
and invites them to relax and unwind in its unique
atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. Built in
1891 by the German Trappist monks, the cluster
of ancient red brick buildings now house individually
decorated en-suite guestrooms, each with its own
patios, M-Net TV and tea tray.
About 19km from the town of Umzimkhulu, you'll
find another mission station, which leans against
one of the local hills that are a characteristic
feature of this area. It is a place of serenity.
It has natural underground springs from which
pure water flows in streams which transverse the
road the whole year through.
This is an all year round excursion. Rain can
be expected during October and November, afternoon
storms from Dec to February. The winter months
are probably best and August is renowned for the
spectacular Aloe display as the rolling hills
are covered in orange blooms.
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