Stutterheim Cumakala

Stutterheim: Your Gateway to Scenic Beauty and Historical Wonders

As I start my journey, the clear, beautiful N6 stretches ahead of me, connecting Queenstown to East London. There's something therapeutic about this road. The hum of the tires and the rhythmic swaying of the car seem to invite my mind to wander. I glance at my family, each lost in their own thoughts, and smile.

We’re in Stutterheim, a town with a population of 46,730, nestled in the Border region of the Eastern Cape. I breathe in deeply, the air crisp and fresh. This place has a way of evoking long thoughts—some sad, some serious, some energizing, and others that are just fleeting musings.

The N6 begins in the city of East London, winding through the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. The road we’re on is the R72 heading towards the East London CBD. It’s a path steeped in history, one that carries the echoes of many journeys.

Stutterheim was originally named after Baron Richard Carl Gustav Ludwig Wilhelm Julius von Stutterheim. He was a major-general in the British Army and led the British German Legion. He spent eight months here in South Africa before heading back to Germany. For a while, the town bore the name Dohne, after the first missionary, Jacob Ludwig Döhne. But in 1857, it reverted back to Stutterheim, with Dohne now referring to a nearby small station.

We pass through areas where the Cape Colony’s historical influences are still evident. In 1872, the government of Prime Minister John Molteno initiated the construction of a railway line connecting Stutterheim to East London. This railway was officially opened in August 1878, bringing with it significant growth and prosperity.

The town was proclaimed a municipality on 20 May 1879. Today, it’s part of the Amahlathi Local Municipality, which means "a place where many trees are grouped together" in isiXhosa. It's a fitting name, given the lush forests that surround us.

Forestry thrives here, thanks to the fair annual rainfall. We see vast plantations of pine, gum, and wattle trees adorning the Kologha Mountains’ slopes. It’s a scenic drive, about 70 km from East London on the N6 highway. The town is famed for its hiking trails and mountain streams. Gubu Dam, stocked with trout, is a notable spot that draws anglers and canoeists alike.

We decided to do some local outdoor activities and found ourselves heading to Forest Way for a morning hike. We packed our snacks, food, and fruits, ready to escape the small CBD for a while. The forest rests above the Kologha valley, and there lies one of Stutterheim’s best-kept secrets—Gubu Dam. It’s maintained by the Stutterheim Trout Angling Club and is a haven for fly-fishers and canoeists. No powerboats here, just the serene waters thick with rainbow and brown trout.

From Gubu Dam, there’s an MTB route that heads up Mount Thomas, winding through the forest before descending back to the dam. The forest roads here offer more paths for mountain biking and horse riding, perfect for those seeking adventure. As we hike, I listen for the Knysna turacos, their calls echoing from the canopy above, reminding me of the patience required to spot these elusive birds.