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An early morning start from
Port Elizabeth takes us to Grahamstown 140 km away. One can
imagine the somewhat bewilderment of the 1820 Settlers, torn
from the green fields of the British Isles, as they find
themselves in a wild and foreign land, to what was to become
their new homes. |
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After a briefing on Signal
Hill, we visit Fort Selwyn, built in 1835 to protect the
Western approach to Grahamstown. Nearby is the 1820 Settlers
Monument, a functional tribute to those early pioneers and
the hub of the annual National Arts Festival. |
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We take in a short tour of
the Settler city with its typical 19th century architecture,
ranging from beautiful churches and cathedrals to quaint
Settler cottages. Renowned for its educational institutions,
Grahamstown is also a regional commercial centre, catering
for business and the local farming community. |
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After refreshments we relive
the Battle of Grahamstown where, in April 1819, 10 000 Xhosa
warriors attacked the village. The small garrison of some
330 British troops and civilians succeeded in repulsing this
onslaught and the Xhosa, led by Makana, retired, leaving
some 2 000 dead on the battlefield. |
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We now head South toward
Bathurst passing through typical Settler country where well
established farms hacked from virgin bush in the early 19th
century still occupied by the descendants of those early
pioneers. |
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Bathurst is a typical Settler
village, little changed since it was founded in 1820. We
visit various places of interest including the little St.
Johns Anglican church where families took refuge against
attacks by Xhosa warriors in three frontier wars. |
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We lunch at the "Pig 'n
Whistle", a rustic English style pub established in 1832 and
known then as the "Widow Hartley's Inn". It was dubbed the
"Pig 'n Whistle" by British and Allied airmen who underwent
training at the nearby air force base during WW II. |
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After lunch we head back to
Port Elizabeth. En route we pass through the popular resort
town of Port Alfred, playground of the wealthy … |
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Along the Sunshine Coast with
its pristine beaches and where, in season, the Southern
Right Whales come to calve and where dolphins are a common
sight. |
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We arrive back in Port
Elizabeth after a memorable battlefield tour through
frontier country. |
