Explorer, naturalist, botanist, linguist, cartographer, ethnographer, and more - William Burchell had never slept outside in the bush, sat around a braai, worn veldskoene, or felt the fierce sun on his face. But he landed at the Cape in 1810, and got busy - he learnt Dutch in 6 months, designed his own oxwagon, hitched up 16 oxen, and spent 4 years exploring the wilderness beyond the colonial border, describing over 700 plant specimens for the first time (with 35 named after him), studying the locals, and going home with 63 000 specimens, and over 500 works of art. He wrote up his travels in 2 volumes, which I'll read from.

Come with me to find out more about this extraordinary man, pore over his annotated map (bring your magnifying glass!), gaze in wonder at his original drawings and sketch books, and walk in his footsteps across the Karoo and along the coast on his homeward journey. 

Here are the details: 

• Date: Friday, 31 October 2025
• Time: 9.30am
• Meet: Museum Africa, Newtown (park on the square)
• Duration: 2 hours
• Cost: R350pp

Let me know: lucilledavie@gmail.com

Check out my other tours here: 

https://www.lucilledavie.co.za/jozi-tours