Kerkenberg

Kerkenberg
Geography

Kerkenberg is a mountain in a location in the Oliviershoek Pass Area in Free State, South Africa. Its located 32 km South of Harrismith.

Background

The Voortrekkers camped there from mid-October to mid-November 1837 and from there sent out parties to find ways down the escarpment. Erasmus Smit conduct church services at the site for the treks and named Kerkenberg (Church Mountain).[1] On 12 November Piet Retief’s daughter Debora painted his name on a rock to mark his 57th birthday.[1]

On 10 October 1899, members of the Bethlehem commando also recorded their names here, when they arrived to guard a pass on the Free State border at the start of the Boer War.[1]

The site is open to the public.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Potgieter, Dirk J., ed. (1972). "Kerkenberg". Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa. Vol. 6. Cape Town: Nasou. p. 368. ISBN 978-0-625-00322-8.
  2. ^ "Kerkenberg | Battlefields Region Guides".

28°30′14″S 29°06′29″E / 28.504°S 29.108°E / -28.504; 29.108


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