Voortrekker Monument

The Voortrekker Monument stands on top of a hill outside the city of Pretoria and can be seen from all directions as one approaches it. The monument was opened in 1949 and stands 40 meters long, 40 meters wide and 40 meters high. This massive granite structure was built in honour of the Voortrekkers who left the Cape Colony between 1835 and 1853 to get away from British rule and find land to call their own.

Surrounding the monument building is a circular wall of decorative granite and engraved with wagons. This represents the historical Trekker practice of “circling the wagons” to defend themselves when under attack. The wall consist of 64 ox-wagons which is the number of wagons used to form the laager at the Battle of Blood River.
At the foot of the Monument stands a bronze sculpture of a Voortrekker woman and her two children by the well know South African sculptor Anton van Wouw. It pays homage to the strength and courage of the Voortrekker women who played as big a part in this historic event as the men.
Inside the monument are three levels. On the entrance level (middle level) visitors will find the historical wall frieze. It represents the history of the Voortrekkers and depicts scenes that played itself off during the trek. Another feature of the monument is the Cenotaph on the bottom level of the monument and engraved with the words: “WE FOR YOU SOUTH-AFRICA”. Once a year, at mid-day on the 16th of December, a ray of the sun shines through a hole in the dome to illuminate these words.
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For more information on the monument, visit Wikipedia.

This Post Has 6 Comments

  1. Gaelyn

    I visited here with Joan but we didn't go inside. Thanks for the great post Jonker.

  2. If this means that you were in PTA and you did not contact me so I could buy you lunch then you are in BIG trouble Jonker. 🙂

  3. I forgot to add that these are great shots but I wonder how you managed to get no people in them. When Gaelyn and I were there, there were so many people it was hard to get anything decent. 🙂

  4. Marcelle

    Another place in South Africa I have never visited but learned all about at school…terrible to think that I've not a lot of my own country ~ was too busy being a mommy and working to put food on the table, travelling was not something I ever thought of.

  5. Zane

    Masses of history lessons for the kids to be learnt at the Voortrekker Monument.So many people think it is just a monument, but it is quite a work of art and an architectural marvel.

  6. Marka

    An interesting and powerful monument to your country's history.And no, the pumpkins are not early for Halloween. They're from Halloween last year and I'm just getting around to posting them.Cheers!

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