Great Trek

The Great Trek was a movement in the early 19th century when Dutch-speaking farmers, called Voortrekkers, migrated from British-controlled South Africa into the interior regions. Motivated by a desire for independence and to escape British rule, they traveled inland in ox-wagons, establishing new settlements. This migration significantly shaped South Africa’s history, leading to the formation of independent Boer republics and affecting local indigenous populations. The Great Trek is a key event illustrating themes of colonization, migration, and resistance in southern African history.