Go Ghaap! Route

In 2016, the Karoo Development Foundation (a non-profit Trust) and Habitat Landscape Architects submitted a proposal to the National Lotteries Commission, for funding to create a Heritage Route in the area south of Kuruman. The project has been strongly motivated by the Northern Cape Department of Tourism.

In 2017, we received a sum of R1.8 million from Lotto, and the project began in August 2017.

The Route now included the following towns and municipalities:

1. In Ga-Segonyana LM: Kuruman and Mothibistad
2. In Gamagara LM: Kathu, Deben and Olifantshoek
3. In Tsantsabane LM: Postmasburg and Jenn-haven
4. In Kgatelopele LM: Danielskuil and Lime Acres
5. In Siyancuma LM: Griquatown and Campbell.

There are also important “gateway” sites, for travellers moving towards this region, viz Douglas, Prieska, Groblershoop, and Wildebeestkuil near Barkly West.

The Go Ghaap map shows the numerous points of heritage interest in the Ghaap area.
Download Map

The sheer richness of heritage resources in the area is astonishing. This includes:

1. Early geological history (from 3 billion years ago) –
2. of the mining richness of the area, as well as the caves and “eyes” (fountains)
3. Early mankind – the stone age artefacts at Kathu
4. Khoisan history
5. Tswana (Thlaping and Rolong) history, at least since 1700
6. Griqua history since 1800
7. Explorers, travellers, missionaries – and the Moffat Mission in Kuruman was the main stop on the “highway to the north”, to areas in today’s Botswana, Zambia and Malawi
8. The brigands, outlaws and renegades of the 1800s
9. The wars in the Langberg – 1870s and 1890s
10. The Anglo-Boer War, and the 1914 rebellion, and
11. Recent “struggle history” of the 1980s and 1990s.

This fascinating area is now incorporated into the Forgotten Highway Route (see www.karooforgottenhighway.com).

Together, we can build the Ghaap Region!