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Groot Trek 175 - Klipbokkop
Nestled in the heart of the Cape Floristic Region, a world class conference centre and off-road academy.
Epic 4x4 -journey to commemorate the Great Trek 175 years ago
A total of eight 4x4 vehicles set off from the Klipbokkop 4x4 Academy near Worcester in the Western Cape on Monday 16 September 2013 to follow the route of the Great Trek leader, Piet Retief, from the Eastern Cape to Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal.
The trip, under the guidance of the Federation of Afrikaner Cultural Organisations (FAK), formed part of the 175th anniversary celebrations of the Great Trek, which took place from 1835 to 1838, when more than 12 000 people left the then Cape Province to settle in what is now known as the Free State Province, Gauteng Province, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal.
The 4x4 “Trek” officially starts at Mooimeisjesfontein, Piet Retief’s original farmstead outside Grahamstown, from where the group of 34 people will follow his ox-wagon route over the Winter Mountains and Drakensberg into KwaZulu-Natal.
Chief executive of the FAK, Dr Danie Langner, said en route that the group will have campfire discussions with historians and descendants of Voortrekker leaders such as Retief, and places of importance on the Great Trek route, such as Post Retief and the grave of Anna Steenkamp (Retief’s cousin), will be visited.
The group passed through Aliwal North en route to Winburg in the Free State before crossing the mountains into KwaZulu-Natal, where they visited the Church of the Vow in Pietermaritzburg before ending off at the Blood River Monument.
Gerhard Groenewald of the Klipbokkop 4x4 Academy was to act as “trek leader” for the group. He said that it would be very interesting to assess the performance of modern 4x4 vehicles and tyres on the route established by the wagon trains of Piet Retief and other “trekkers” 175 years ago.
“While technology will make the journey so much easier, we still expect challenges. The route over the Winter Mountains, the steep slopes of the Drakensberg and the river crossings will for sure test the 4x4 capabilities of our Toyota Hilux vehicles.
“However, compared to the trek groups of yonder who had to rely heavily on their own ingenuity and resourcefulness to overcome obstacles, our group is well prepared with state-of-the-art equipment such as camping and other 4x4 accessories from 4x4 Megaworld, tyres from Goodyear, including support from Hi-Q dealers countrywide, off-road trailers from Jurgens and lighting solutions, as well as fridges from National Luna,” said Groenewald.
A documentary on the epic 4x4 commemorative journey was aired on KykNet. The trip could also be followed online at www.fak.org.za,  www.klipbokkop.co.za, as well as on www.kyknet.co.za, www.weg.co.za, www.wegry.co.za, www.rapportinrat.co.za en www.caravansa.co.za.
For more information about the commemorative 4x4 “trek”, please contact Gerhard Groenewald at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Groot Trek 175 Gallery
Groot Trek Video (Volksblad)
ETV News - 15 Sepetember
Gedenktrekkers rig ’n monument op (Volksblad)
Viering van Groot Trek met 4x4’s (Ditsem Nuus)
Die Groot Trek bakkiestyl (Rapport)
Vrystaat, Vegkop en voorwaarts tot by uKhahlamba (FAK)
In die spore van die voortrekkers (Worcester Standard)
Groot Trek (The Witness)
Die Groot Trek Bakkiestyl
Groot 175 Jaar later met toer onthou (Die Burger)
Trek in alle erns (Volksblad)
Trekkers ry VS deur Caledon binne (Volksblad)
Trek mik na VS (Volkblad)
Span gaan saam op die nuwe trek (Volksblad)
Hulde aan trekkers gebring (Volksblad)
Trekkers steek drakensberg oor
4×4-tog om Groot Trek te gedenk
Voorwaarts die verlede in (Volksblad)
4×4-gedenktrekkers tem die Winterberge (Weg)
Die Groot 4x4 Trek (Beeld)
FAK and Goodyear Tyres – The 4×4 Great Trek
Spore van bloed & trane (Volksblad)
RSG Radio opnames van die Groot Trek
An attempt to follow in the footsteps of the Voortrekker leader, Piet Retief is well under way. This initiative by the Federation for Afrikaans Societies, the FAK, kicked off in Worcester in the Western Cape on Monday. Since then they have visited numerous cultural sites with great historic value and made history by traveling over the Winterberg in the Eastern Cape. Hanri Wondergem went with…
‘n Hoendervleiservaring wat jou stomgeslaan laat in absolute bewondering vir die Voortrekkers. So beskryf diegene wat saam met die FAK in die Voortrekkerleier,Piet Retief se spore reis, dié twee week lange toer wat nou op dag vyf staan. Dit word gedoen om die honderd vyf en sewentigste herdenking van die Groot Trek te vier. Hulle is tans in Bloemfontein in die Vrystaat.
Die viertrek trek in die wa-spore van die Voortrekkerleier Piet Retief het hulle finale bestemming bereik. Bloedrivier in KwaZulu Natal. Waar minstens drie duisend Zoele krygers gesneuwel het.
Die Groot Trek is sinoniem met erfenis as dit by die Afrikaners kom. Dit is juis hierom dat ‘n groep van 34 mense met viertrekvoertuie in die waspore van die Voortrekkerleier, Piet Retief reis. En die afgelope 8 dae sedert hulle weggetrek het was behoorlik ‘n kultuurinspuiting.
‘n Poging om in die wa-spore van die voortrekkerleier, Piet Retief, te ry is volstoom aan die gang. Die poging, wat deur die Federeasie Vir Afrikaanse kultuurverenegings , die FAK, aangepak is, het Maandag begin op Klipbokkop buite Worcester in die Wes-Kaap. Die toergroep is tans by die Retief Barakke aan die voet van die Winterberg , ook bekend as Post Retief. Voordat die toergroep in die pad geval het, is daar ‘n gedenksteen opgerig…
The Great Trek is synonym for heritage for the Afrikaners. This is one of the main reasons why a group of 34 people embarked on a journey in the footsteps of the Voortrekker-leader, Piet Retief. Over the past eight days they have relived and celebrated their heritage. Our colleague, Hanri Wondergem, is travelling with the group and filed this report.
GPS Coordinates: S33 48.280 E19 22.535
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Klipbokkop is located in a security area. If you would like to visit, please contact us for the access code.
Situated in the pristine Fynbos Mountains near Cape Town, Klipbokkop Mountain Reserve welcomes you to a unique nature experience. The ambience is enhanced by our commitment to service and quality. Enjoy our exclusive conference and accommodation facilities in a relaxed, comfortable style with breathtaking views in peaceful surroundings. Klipbokkop was developed and is managed with responsible, sustainable tourism in mind, something which has made it the perfect home for the world renowned General Tire Adventure Academy. Promoting environmentally sensitive off-road driving, the Academy uses our 4x4 routes for training and special events.