Voortrekker Monument and Nature Reserve

The Voortrekker Monument and Nature Reserve occupies a hilltop on Eeufees Road in Groenkloof, Pretoria, Gauteng province, South Africa. The granite monument, completed in 1949, commemorates the Voortrekkers, Afrikaner settlers who travelled inland from the Cape Colony in the 1830s and 1840s. It is a controversial site because of its links to Afrikaner nationalism and the apartheid era, and the visitor experience now includes interpretation that places it in wider historical context. The building is a large cube with a central hall. Inside, a marble frieze of 27 panels depicts scenes from the Great Trek, and a Cenotaph in the lower level is illuminated by a ray of sunlight through an opening in the dome at noon on 16 December, the anniversary of the Battle of Blood River. An adjoining museum covers the history of the Trek, cultural artefacts, and the monument's construction. A lift and stairs lead to the roof terrace, which gives panoramic views over Pretoria and the surrounding hills. Outside, a wall of stone wagons encircles the monument and the surrounding nature reserve has walking and mountain-biking trails, plains game, and picnic spots. A visit usually takes around two hours, and longer if walking in the reserve. Midday is a good time to see the Cenotaph light effect, although it is at its most spectacular on 16 December, when the site is busy. Weekday mornings are quiet. The best photographs are from the wagon wall looking up at the monument and from the terrace at sunset, when the reserve is open. A restaurant and shop are on site. Photography is generally allowed, though flash may be restricted in the hall. Uber or Bolt from central Pretoria is the simplest transport.