The Great Trek: 175 years later

TASK: Write a 5 000 word non-fiction article

IDEA: Redo the Great Trek

AIM: Find some resemblance of an answer to the question: Who am I?

MISSION: 1175 KM (roughly)

175 years ago over 15 000 semi-nomadic boers packed their jawbone-shaped ox-wagons and headed for the unknown- the interiors of Southern Africa. Similar to these determined trekkers who left their homes in search of new life, I am leaving my home in search of a new beginning.

Following voortrekker leader Piet Retief's route as closely as possible, I will embark from Grahamstown on the 14th of August 2013 (tomorrow) and head for Pietermaritzburg. Driving in my blue Hyundai Getz, Frankie (named after 'ol blue eyes, Frank Sinatra), I will explore the rural Eastern Cape, the Orange Free State, and end my trek in the fertile land of KwaZulu-Natal.

I hope to get some clarity on where I stand on my identity as an Afrikaner and I not only want to try and answer the question, 'who am I' but also, 'am I or am I not an Afrikaner.' I hope that by travelling in the footsteps of my ancestors the answers to these questions will become more clear. My only plan is to get from Grahamstown to Pietermaritzburg in 10 to 12 days. I have not booked any accommodation, and I have no idea what awaits me. Just like my ancestors did not know what awaited them all those years ago.

This project is part of an assignment for my Writing and Editing Course in which I have to write a 5 000 word non-fiction article on any topic of my choice (this is my fourth and final year as a Journalism student at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape). This blog is a digital diary of my trek- what I see, what I discover, what I lose, what I gain, what I hope for, and what I fear.

If you have any comments, advice, or ideas that you would like to share, check the Contact page.