The small South African town in the mountains which claims links to Lord of the Rings
The small town of Hogsback in the Eastern Cape is often mistaken for the inspiration for John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (J.R.R. Tolkien)’s The Lord of the Rings books. However, this is not the case.
Hogsback is situated around 144 kilometres from East London, in the Amathole Mountains of the Eastern Cape.
While there isn’t an officially known date for its establishment, early references date back to the 1800s.
It is also unclear when the town first received its name, though the earliest known reference to the ‘Hogs Back’ comes from the famous Thomas Baines, who noted it in his journal in 1848.
It is not clear whether this was a reference to the mountain’s shape or a nod to Captain Hogg, a commander based at a nearby fort.
Towards the late 1800s, a small hotel was built in Hogsback, originally known as the Hogsback Hydro. It still stands today under the name Hogsback Inn.
Around the same time, colonial timber harvesting became popular but nearly decimated the local forests.
The planting of fast-growing timber species such as Pine and Eucalyptus became a major economic driver in the region, and forestry remains a significant industry in the surrounding areas.
Over this time, Hogsback gradually began to develop into the small town it is now.
Today, the small town of Hogsback boasts a population of over 1,000 people and is a tourism hotspot due to its Afromontane mistbelt forest biome.
It features popular, incredibly scenic hiking routes and walking trails, as well as vast, misty areas that create stunning views reminiscent of the English countryside.
It also gets winter snow, making it a popular attraction for major towns like East London and Gqeberha, which do not.
Scenery like this has attracted a number of authors, artists, and musicians, as the town has become an isolated, somewhat off-grid haven surrounded by natural inspiration.
Many of these artists rely on tourism for an income. A study on Local Economic Development found that 90% of businesses said the town is heavily dependent on tourism.
100% of businesses agreed that tourism is the largest employer in the region. Over time, the small forestry town has transformed into one where SMEs depend on tourism.
The J.R.R. Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings claims
One driver of tourism in the area is a mistaken association with the world-famous author J.R.R. Tolkien.
Tolkien, who famously wrote the fantasy books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, was born in South Africa in 1892.
However, it was 500 kilometres away in Bloemfontein, and he left the country at the age of three.
Tolkien never returned to South Africa, and there is no evidence to suggest his family ever visited Hogsback.
Yet, if you visit Hogsback, you will find an entire area called “Hobbiton”, with many Tolkien-themed names.
This dates back to 1945 – almost ten years after The Hobbit was published, when Jack Press ran a mountain camp in Hogsback for children and orphans from World War Two.
Press called the camp “Hobbiton”, and Hobbiton-on-Hogsback still exists as a non-profit outdoor education centre for disadvantaged youth.
The rest of Hogsback adopted the theme over the years.
Businesses, streets, and cottages are named after features from the famous fantasy book series, including The Shire, Rivendell, and Middle-earth.
While Tolkien never visited Hogsback, the town continues to benefit from his IP.
Photos of Tolkien
Photos of Hogsback
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