From the cache site you have a clear view of the Voortrekker Monument, which is 40 metres high, with a base of 40 metres by 40 metres.
Gerard Moerdijk was the architect of the Voortrekker Monument. He was a supporter of ancient Egyptian architecture. Whilst finalising the design of the Voortrekker Monument in 1936, Moerdijk went on a research trip to Egypt.
The aspect of the sun at mid-noon in Africa, was known as Aten in Egypt. In Egyptian hieroglyphics, Aten was written as a sun dot enclosed by a circle. The Aten-hieroglyph is depicted in the Voortrekker Monument when the sun shines through an aperture in the top dome. The sun ray simulates a connection between the words on the Cenotaph and the heavenly abode above, a communication between God and man.
At the cache site, you also have a good view of other, less prominent, but not less impressive, architectural masterpieces.
Africa is home to the largest structures ever built relative to the size of the builder. Termite mounds found in Africa can rise to heights of over 9 meter. In comparison, man would have to erect a building of 836 meter high.
Termite nests are punctuated by a maze of tunnel like galleries that effectively provide air conditioning and control the internal CO2/O2 balance, as well as allow the termites to move through the nest.
Termite mounds have been an inspiration for humans who want to mimic the fantastic ventilation system used in the termite structures. These mounds are marvels of engineering. Deep inside, the insects farm a fungus, their only food. It must be kept at exactly 30.5 degrees Celsius, while the temperatures on the African veld outside range from 1.6 degrees Celsius at night to 40 degrees Celsius during the day.
They do it by venting breezes at the base of the mound, down into chambers cooled by wet mud carried up from water tables far below, and up through a flue to the peak. They constantly dig new vents and plug old ones to regulate the temperature.
The Eastgate Building, an office complex in Harare, Zimbabwe, has an air conditioning system modeled on the self-cooling mounds of termites. Architect Mick Pearce collaborated with engineers at Arup Associates to design Eastgate, which uses 90% percent less energy for ventilation than conventional buildings of its size, and has already saved the building owners over $3.5 million dollars in air conditioning costs.
Janine Benyus, scientist and author of the book "Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature" wrote: "After 3.8 million years of evolution, nature has learned what works, what is appropriate and what lasts here on earth."