Maclear is a country town named after the astronmer, Sir Thomas Maclear who worked at the Cape of Good Hope from 1833 to 1879. Maclear is a sheep farming district that lies below the Drakensberg Mountains. The area around Maclear is striking and rivers are filled with trout. There are also a number of waterfalls in the region as well as the Tsitsa Falls. The Gatberg Mountain has a visible hole through the summit. The Xhosa call it “Untunjimkala” which means the opening of the crab. Naude’s Nek is the highest road pass from Maclear that climbs directly over the Drakensburg Mountains which reaches an altitude of 2 623m which is often blocked by snow during winter. Mounatins to the north of Maclear one can view fossilized dinosaur tracks.