Have you ever felt a tingle down your spine when visiting an old house or hotel? There are several South African locations that are considered haunted by those who believe in ghosts. Are you brave enough to venture into these towns and hotels?
Uniondale, Western Cape
The ghost of Uniondale is known as Maria Charlotte Roux, a young woman who died in a car accident with her fiancé in 1968. She is said to attempt to hitchhike on the road between Uniondale and Willowmore and when the driver stops, she gets into the car and provides an address. After being driven a short distance, she mysteriously disappears. The haunting was first reported in 1973 on Good Friday by a young man, since then many similar stories have surfaced.
The Flying Dutchman Ghost Ship at Cape Point
When you visit Cape Point, a guide will ask you to look far into the distance, to see if you can see the ghost ship of the Flying Dutchman. The tale is a century old and tells of a legendary captain who refused to turn his vessel around in a storm in 1641. The Flying Dutchman was destroyed and all her crew members subsequently drowned. Seafarers have since seen ghosts of this ship and its crew offloading themselves onto rowboats and passing ships, with letters they want delivered to their loved ones on shore.
Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein
This area holds the reputation of being the most haunted hamlet in South Africa – Matjiesfontein is a must-visit for ghost-hunters. Legend has it that the Lord Milner Hotel is home to two mischievous female ghosts.
One named Lucy floats around the passages and stairs, it is alleged that she died in the building. The second is Kate, the ghost of a young nurse who died mysteriously. Kate enjoyed a game of cards with patients and if you listen closely enough to the sounds coming from her room, it’s said that you can hear voices, shuffling and other muffled sounds.
The abandoned Kempton Park Hospital, Gauteng
Closed on Boxing Day in 1996, Kempton Park Hospital is a hot-spot for paranormal activity. Most of the hospital is still intact, including original patient files and equipment. The ghosts that grace the corridors are said to be from the psychiatric ward. Various malevolent ghosts have supposedly been seen and heard. Plans to demolish the building and to develop a new hospital have been approved but are still pending – could the ghost sightings have anything to do with it?
Nottingham Road Hotel, Midlands, KZN
Legend has it that this hotel is home to a ghost named Charlotte, a beautiful young woman who died an untimely death. There are two tales as to how Charlotte died. The first, is that she was thrown off the hotel balcony by a client who refused to pay her for her services. The second, is that when her only love died in battle, she threw herself off the balcony and died from her injuries.
Charlotte’s ghost has been known to rearrange flowers, unpack travellers bags and pictures have been taken off the walls and placed on the floor. Charlotte’s ghost has been described as far from malevolent and rather harmless.
The Africana Museum, Kimberley
The former Kimberley Public Library, founded in 1882 has a special resident ghost. The city’s first qualified librarian, Bertrand Dyer, arrived in 1900 from the Queen’s library in the UK and began restoring and organising some of the rarest books in the world. According to the tale he stole money from the library and and when he was found out, Dryer poisoned himself with cyanide but it took him three days to die. As a result, his soul still wanders the passages of the now Africana Museum. It has been reported that if you need help looking for a book, Dyer will push it off the shelf for you.
The Victoria Hotel, Tshwane (Pretoria)
Victoria Hotel, formerly known as Station Hotel, was built on the corner of Paul Kruger and Scheiding streets in 1884. Employers of the hotel have said that numerous guests and staff have witnessed a few spooky souls wandering around the hotel.
According to folklore, a woman committed suicide by throwing herself off the staircase – she has been seen on the balcony of one of the rooms, overlooking the city. Hotel staff also hear voices of a man and woman laughing and running around. Cleaners have said they have felt a man tap their shoulders in an attempt to pass them while cleaning the passages.
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