Boer War history – Colour Dots

Attaquaskloof Ox wagon trail

carynkaleido — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 16:01:39 +0000

The Attaquaskloof Ox wagon trail was discovered in 1689. It has a long history and was one of the earliest recorded crossings of the Outeniqua mountains into the Klein Karoo. Khoi chief Hykon of the Inkgua people, who lived in the Klein Karoo, requested a trade visit from the European settlers at the Cape, who had by then been established for 37 years. The request was approved by Governor Simon van der Stel, who sent Ensign Isaac Schrijver of the Dutch East India Company and a party of 21 men on the journey. Travelling east along the old Kaapse Wagenweg before turning inland near present-day Mossel Bay, the expedition followed an established Khoi migration route through Attaquaskloof. Schrijver’s crossing became the first documented settler route over the mountains and took about a week to complete. Over time, Attaquaskloof became an important transport route into the interior and was later used by explorers, including Van Plettenberg and Van Reenen. For nearly 180 years, thousands of ox wagons passed through the pass carrying people and supplies. Until the Robinson Pass was built in 1869, the route was trampled by thousands of oxen dragging wagons. This is rated as one of the top 10 4×4 trails in Southern Africa. Interesting sights of historical significance are the ruins of an old toll house and an Anglo-Boer War blockhouse.

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Heidelberg historical walking route

carynkaleido — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 11:10:58 +0000

The Heidelberg Historical walking route begins on Van Riebeeck Street, at the intersection of Swart Street. Walk in a Northerly direction towards the high school, Murray Street will be on your left Continue to De Jager Street and follow to the right. At the end of the road, turn to the right into Fourie Street. Continue along, crossing Van Riebeek Street again, and walk as far as Eksteen Street, turn left, and walk to Rainier Street. Turn left again and return to Van Riebeek. On this route, you will see Fourie House, the Dutch Reformed Church, the Old Post Office Building, the Heidelberg Hotel, and Brugsig, amongst other interesting buildings. The Post Office is one of the most photographed buildings in Heidelberg. It is a replica of the one in Germany. It was built in 1936 and is on Van Riebeeck Street. This is a wonderful walk. Notice the lei-water (irrigation) streams Heidelberg historical walking route Brugsig at 21 Fourie Street was a refuge for women during the Anglo-Boer War. The old Magistrate’s building, also known as the Magistrate’s House, was built in 1882. Heidelberg Town Hall was built in 1913, and the Stone Post Office is an attractive stone building that was erected in 1936. The Heidelberg Hotel was renovated in 1932, which is the date on the gable, but the building is quite a bit older. Fourie House, the homestead of Doornboom, is the oldest of these historical buildings, dating back to 1728. Map Heidelberg

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Lord Milner Hotel

carynkaleido — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 15:08:16 +0000

Lord Milner Hotel: Matjiesfontein was founded in 1884 by the Scottish railwayman James Douglas Logan. It became established as a fashionable Victorian health spa. The entire Village is a National Heritage Site. Matjiesfontein was a fortification during the Boer War as headquarters of the Cape Command, a refuge for Jamieson Raid reformers, and for controversial war crimes hearings. In 1968, David Rawdon, a well-known hotelier who also established Rawdons Hotel at Nottingham Road, Lanzerac, the Marine Hotel in Hermanus, and The Drostdy in Graaff-Reinet, purchased Matjiesfontein Village. Extensive renovations were undertaken, and his collection of antiques from around the world are on display at the hotel. David reopened the hotel in 1970, naming it The Lord Milner Hotel. The life of James Logan is portrayed in the Royal Lounge. The Lord Milner Hotel has a ghost called Katie, who was a 19-year-old Boer nurse. James Logan, the founder of the town, has also been seen, and there is a poltergeist called Lucy. The quiet bliss, the warm sunshine, and the sounds of the Karoo are calling. We invite you to make the most of your stay in the quaint village of Matjiesfontein.

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Lover’s walk

carynkaleido — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 09:57:42 +0000

Lover’s Walk is a 500-metre walkway alongside the Keisie River banks just below Kanonkop. It was built by a group of eight local farmers who were imprisoned by the British. They had refused to report the whereabouts of the Boer soldiers in the Montagu district during the Second Boer War. They were sentenced to three months of hard labour together with a fine of £50. Failing to pay the fine would result in an extra month of hard labour. They were put to work on the Lover’s Walk path. The trail, also known as Mayors Walk, forms part of the 1.9-km Badskloof Loop Trail. There are sheer cliffs on one side and the river on the other. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the first part of the walk, but are not allowed on the nature walk at the end of the built-up ledge. Entrance is free Read more about the building of the walkway here Montagu

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Sidney fort at Cogman’s kloof

carynkaleido — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 18:19:15 +0000

The Sidney Fort at Cogman’s Kloof is set high on a rock above the R62 road, it was constructed between 1899 and 1901 on Kalkoenkrans to keep the Boers out of the Cape during the Second Anglo-Boer War. The fort was declared a national monument in 1999. It is situated on top of the tunnel in Cogmanskloof about 4km from Montagu. The building of the fort was overseen by stonemason William Robertson. The walls are 40cn thick and two meters high. A circular mortar stone platform with a drainage channel indicates that there was a water tank there. Water would have been collected from rainfall on the roof. The site had been selected by Lieutenant Colonel Sidney, Commandant of the Royal Field Artillery. During the war, Montagu was home to four small rectangular forts and one circular fort. These forts kept Commandant Gideon Scheepers and his Boer Commando of 300 men from entering the area. The British garrisons stationed in these forts helped ensure the strategic importance of Montagu, making it a difficult target for the Boer forces. The Gordon Highlanders under the command of Lieutenant Forbes were garrisoned at the fort after surviving the battle of Magersfontein. They camped on the original road construction site below Kalkoenkrans (Turkey Crag) the site which is now the parking area below the fort. In spite of the 21 rifle ports, the fort did not see any action. Fort Sidney is one of four built in the Montagu area. which is probably why Commandant Gideon Scheepers and the Commando of 300 avoided Montagu. In 1999, this Old English Fort was declared a national monument – but it dates back as far as October 1899. Cogmanskloof is a mountain that runs through the Langeberg mountains between Ashton and Montagu. It is named after a Khoi chieftain, Cogmans, who lived and ruled his tribe in the region in the 18th century. The pass was designed and built by Thomas Bain. European settlers also used it as a footpath until the first road was developed in 1873, as there were numerous impassable sections for wagons to travel due to high waters and flooding. The new road one drives on today was built in 1953 and was upgraded in 2025. The tunnel is directly under the fort. There is a concrete flood monument on the Montagu side of the tunnel, indicating the dramatic flood levels of 1981, 2003 and 2008. The rocks here have made Montagu a rock climbing mecca with the first traditional climb in 1971 and, later, the home of sports climbing in South Africa starting from the early 1980s. Montagu

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The Cederberg Mountains

carynkaleido — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 18:18:02 +0000

The Cederberg Mountains are named after the Clanwilliam cedar. Other predominant vegetation is Mediterranean fynbos in the wetter south and west, changing to semi-desert scrub in the north and east The mountains are well known for their interesting rock formations. Some fine examples of San rock art are in caves and overhangs throughout the area such as the Stadsaal Cave. The mountains cover 50 km North/South and 20 km East /West. To the North are the Pakhuis Mountains and in the South are the KoueBokkeveld Mountains and the Skurweberge. The highest peaks are Sneeuberg (2026 m) and Tafelberg (1969 m). Well-known landmarks include the Maltese Cross, Wolfberg Arch, and Wolfberg Cracks. The Cederberg is renowned for its quality of rock climbing routes, particularly around the Krakadouw and Tafelberg peaks. These rock formations are Table Mountain Sandstone and tend to be reddish in colour. Within the formations are bands of shale and several important fossils have been found here. These fossils include those of primitive fish which have been dated to 450 million years ago. Boer War Connection .The Cederberg mountains were most likely the southernmost battleground of the Second Boer War. A small band of Boer guerrillas came here from the Boer republics in the north in the hope of gaining popular support amongst the local farmers. The farmers may have had no sympathy for the British, but they knew who was going to win the war. Boer commandos were confronted in the Cederberg by a single Englishman, who ordered them to surrender. They laughed at him because he was alone and there were several of them. They attempted to reason with him, but he would not back down. The place where he fell is called Engelsmanskloof. Hikes in the Cederberg Read more about the Geology of the Western Cape Stargazing Summer here is hot and dry with clear skies, which are ideal for stargazing, and is home to an amateur astronomical observatory 32°30′S 19°0′E

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The Kings blockhouse

carynkaleido — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 14:28:57 +0000

The King’s blockhouse on the Mowbray ridge was built between 1795 and 1803 by the British to defend against any enemy attack. Along with the Prince of Wales and the Queen’s Blockhouses, it formed a line of defense designed to spot ships entering False Bay and signal the Castle of Good Hope. It is located in a prominent part of the mountain. More recently, it was used as a signal station for communications between Table Bay and False Bay. In 1814, a few redoubts were built to strengthen the defence, and at that time, this was considered as the boundary between Cape Town and the “country districts” Story from Saartjie Klipkop The King’s Blockhouse is a well-known landmark on Mowbray Ridge, on the slopes of Devil’s Peak, Table Mountain. It is strategically placed to command views of Table Bay and False Bay, and combined with the York and Prince of Wales Blockhouses, forms a defensive line guarding the land approach to Cape Town and Table Bay. Following the first British occupation of the Cape in 1795, the existing Dutch line of defence, known as the French line, was extended by the addition of three blockhouses up the slopes of Devil’s Peak. These included the Queen’s Blockhouse, on the Zonnebloem Estate, the Prince of Wales, above present-day De Waal Drive, and the King’s Blockhouse further up the mountainside. The first two have since fallen into a state of disrepair, but the King’s Blockhouse, a massive stone structure 7m square, located on a prominent point on the Devil’s Peak, was retained in use as a signal station for communication between Table Bay and False Bay. The line was further strengthened in 1814 when several additional redoubts were built, and at one stage served as the official boundary between Cape Town and the country districts beyond. The King’s Blockhouse was declared a National Monument under old NMC legislation on 4 February 1938. The blockhouse can be reached by hiking or by bike up a steep path from behind the Rhodes Memorial. Follow the contour path running above Newlands Forest up to Skeleton Gorge. Then continue to Kirstenbosch. It is better to hike in groups as muggings have happened on the slopes of the mountain. A forester’s dwelling was built in 1893 below the King’s blockhouse. It was demolished, and now there is just a plaque memorial to the original forester Frank Jarman. The plaque reads ” He found these barren stony slopes treeless, and he left them covered in forest. The early forest cultivation was done with convict labour. The fort was used as a prison. The convicts were housed in the fort from 1893 until the 1920s The King’s Blockhouse was declared a national monument in1936 GPS 33° 56′ 6.1273″, 18° 28′ 13.8018″ Hike to the blockhouse

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The Muizenberg to St James walk

carynkaleido — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 09:34:35 +0000

The Muizenberg to St James walk is a lovely, easy seaside walkway that winds its way along the beach and rock pools in Muizenberg. Time your walk carefully, as the breakers can get quite close at high tide. From Muizenberg station, cross over the tracks, and look out for oncoming trains. Follow the concrete path as it winds along the coast. You are likely to pass fishermen casting their lines out to sea. There are some memorial benches along the way where you can stop for a rest. This is a great route for whale and dolphin watching, the best time is between October and November. Observe the sea creatures in the tidal pools, and you could even see dassies. Also see the Sea shell identification guide Look out for St James Cottage, it was built in 1853. The owner, Abraham Auret, was said to have hidden prisoners of war in the loft during the Anglo-Boer War. He helped stage their escape across the bay. It’s advised to walk during low tide; otherwise, you could risk getting wet. You will pass the famous Victorian bathing huts. You can also walk along Muizenberg Beach till you reach this boardwalk when you reach St. James, or you can continue to Kalk Bay for some interesting shopping and a cup of coffee. Catch the train back or return the way you came. The walk takes about 40 minutes to an hour Check the tides here The historical Muizenberg to St James walk, in pictures Voicemap guided tour

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Wolesley blockhouse

carynkaleido — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 13:19:50 +0000

Wolesley blockhouse is on the R43 is a well-preserved Anglo-Boer War fort guarding the railway line and bridge over a river. Back in 1899-1902, the British Army depended for supplies and troops on the railway line from Cape Town to the Boer Republics in the north. The Boers began to attack railway lines and bridges. The British countered by building blockhouses like this. There were water tanks on the ground floor, living quarters to house up to 20 men on the first floor, and a lookout post on the top floor. Not a single bridge protected by a blockhouse was blown up.

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