To celebrate die naweek, we go to the Voortrekker Monument after we bought Maud’s bus ticket to Potchefstroom at the railway station. Die voortrekkers are the maburu (white Afrikaners) who travelled inland (1834-1853) because they didn’t combine that well with the English settlers (yeah, this is the much abbreviated, simplistic version).
Botswana legend tells the maburu turned around near Molopolole, where the huge agaves grow. Their scouts encountered the agaves during sunset, thought they were gigantic black warriors, and decided the ox wagons came almost too far.
Die Voortrekker Monument was build during the Second World War, to commemorate the maburu who migrated inland. Both Bram and Maud have never been there, so it’s time we take a look. It’s huge. The museum is quite interesting, especially the beautiful elephant gun & the embroidery (Maud), and the big tapestry with an ox wagon in flames & the huge Statenbijbels (Bram). The whole building has the atmosphere of a mausoleum. According to Bram it is very protestant, and it reminds Maud of Nazi-architecture.
The monument is surrounded by gardens. Long ago someone made a beautiful lay out, and planted succulents with lots of love and knowledge. The original plan is still visible through the additions of an absolute bulb-fanatic, and we get great ideas for draught-resistant gardening in Botswana.
Back home we briefly see Judith, who has a few hours in between coming from Windhoek and going to Oman. It’s nice to at least greet her, and tell her in person we enjoy staying in her Tshwane pied a terre!
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