Koeëlkop and the fort
The Anglo-Boer War was fought from October 1899 until May 1902 between the British Empire and the Dutch-speaking independent Boer republics: The South African
Republic (Transvaal Republic) and the Orange Free State. During this war, the English built a fort on the top of a prominent hill just outside Carnarvon.
The fort has been used as a lookout point for guards during the war. Today, it has a birds-eye view of Carnarvon to the north-east, the abattoir in the East, the Schietfontein settlement in the west and the airfield to the south-west.
The remnants of the fort were rebuilt in June 2014 by a tradesman of Carnarvon, Roy Riley. Mr Riley was also responsible for moving a corbelled house from the farm Biesiesputs near Carnarvon to its present location next to the Carnarvon Museum.
Today the hill on which the fort was built is known as Koeëlkop after the English bullets which were often found lying around on top of the hill. The word Koeëlkop, in Afrikaans, means “bullet hill”.
Koeëlkop is also an amazing place to experience the Karoo sunset with the countryside changing colour as the sun sinks in the west.
Another worthwhile stop en-route to Koeëlkop is the Ossewatrek monument which commemorates the ox wagon trek of 1938, another important part of South Africa’s history.
The cache is a micro and show a beautiful view of Carnarvon.
Preferable walking/climbing, if you dare try out your 4x4.