Natural history Archives

A Pole under the Southern Cross – Antoni Rehman’s Journey through South Africa, 1875-1877

A Pole under the Southern Cross – Antoni Rehman’s Journey through South Africa, 1875-1877

Danie De Villiers2025-12-15T16:52:34+00:00December 14th, 2025|

This volume, A Pole under the Southern Cross, offers a compelling account of the travels and scientific observations of Antoni Rehman, a Polish botanist and geographer who journeyed through South Africa during the 1870s, a period of profound political and social change. His memoir, originally published in Polish and here presented in an abridged English translation, records both his scientific pursuits and his reflections on the colonial societies he encountered. Antoni Rehman [...]

Francois le Vaillant: Travels into the interior of Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. Vol II

Francois le Vaillant: Travels into the interior of Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. Vol II

Danie De Villiers2026-01-05T13:07:50+00:00August 20th, 2021|

In 1780 the young Francois Vaillant set out from Holland for the Cape to collect specimens of birds and animals. His account of his travels, which was published widely during the revolutionary period, became an influential piece of writing about South Africa, popular throughout Europe and reflected many Enlightenment attitudes.I t was the first highly critical account of Dutch colonialism and the brutality of settler expansion.

Francois le Vaillant: Travels into the interior of Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. Vol I

Francois le Vaillant: Travels into the interior of Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. Vol I

admin2021-10-06T09:41:43+00:00July 24th, 2007|

In 1780 the young Francois Vaillant set out from Holland for the Cape to collect specimens of birds and animals. His account of his travels, which was published widely during the revolutionary period, became an influential piece of writing about South Africa, popular throughout Europe and reflected many Enlightenment attitudes.I t was the first highly critical account of Dutch colonialism and the brutality of settler expansion.

The Journal of Gustav de Vylder, naturalist in South-Western Africa 1873-1875

The Journal of Gustav de Vylder, naturalist in South-Western Africa 1873-1875

admin2021-02-23T21:38:02+00:00July 24th, 1997|

Gustav de Vylder, a Swedish naturalist, journeyed through Namibia from 1873 to 1875, collecting insects and other natural-history specimens for institutions in his home country. His travels were undertaken some years before the German colonial occupation when the European presence was slight. De Vylder's journal is a record of an adventurous journey, personal encounters and conditions in what was then considered to be a remote region. He was a man of his age, but had some advanced and provocative views.

Johan August Wahlberg: Travel Journals and from letters, South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, 1838-1856

Johan August Wahlberg: Travel Journals and from letters, South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, 1838-1856

admin2021-02-24T10:03:10+00:00July 24th, 1992|

Johan August Wahlberg (1810-1856), a Swedish naturalist, travelled through much of southern Africa, including Natal and Namibia, before the mid-19th century. He had been chosen by the Swedish Academy of Sciences to collect plants and animals in southern Africa for the Natural History Museum in Stockholm. His account of his travels is often terse and businesslike but his accounts of the people he encountered are usually fair and open-minded.

Carl Peter Thunberg. Travels at the Cape of Good Hope 1772-1775

Carl Peter Thunberg. Travels at the Cape of Good Hope 1772-1775

admin2021-02-07T10:53:04+00:00July 24th, 1986|

Carl Peter Thunberg (1743), a Swede and disciple of the renowned botanist, Linnaeus the elder, was the first university graduate to travel extensively in the Cape interior, preceding the expedition of his compatriot, Anders Sparrman. Apart from recounting his three journeys - two to the Eastern Cape as far as the Sundays River, and one to the Roggeveld - he spent some time in the vicinity of Cape Town, describing the social life and customs of the inhabitants, colonial, slave and indigene.

William Somerville’s narrative of his journeys to the Eastern Cape frontier and to Lattakoe 1799-1802

William Somerville’s narrative of his journeys to the Eastern Cape frontier and to Lattakoe 1799-1802

admin2022-08-26T15:56:39+00:00July 24th, 1979|

William Somerville, an Edinburgh doctor, accompanied the invading forces of Major-General Craig when the British took the Cape in 1795. He remained at the Cape for some years, accompanying Major-General Dundas to the eastern districts during the height of conflict on the frontier. Subsequently he accompanied an expedition to the Orange River. On both occasions he recorded the cultures of the indigenous people whom he met, and the flora and fauna.

Anders Sparrman. Travels in the Cape 1772-1776: Vol. II

Anders Sparrman. Travels in the Cape 1772-1776: Vol. II

admin2021-02-07T11:06:44+00:00July 24th, 1976|

This second volume of Sparrman's travels concerns his account of his journey to the Eastern Cape including a stay at Agter Bruintjies Hoogte. It includes comments on the practices of the Khoi of the eastern districts and of local flora and fauna.

Anders Sparrman. Travels in the Cape 1772-1776; Vol. I

Anders Sparrman. Travels in the Cape 1772-1776; Vol. I

admin2021-02-07T10:59:49+00:00July 24th, 1975|

Anders Sparrman (1748-1820), a young Swedish doctor, is noteworthy for his visit to parts of the Cape which were little known at that time. This first volume describes his journey past Mossel Bay and through the Langkloof.

Beschryvinge van Kaap der Goede Hoope, met de zaaken daar toe behoorende, door François Valentyn, 1726. Dl. II.

Beschryvinge van Kaap der Goede Hoope, met de zaaken daar toe behoorende, door François Valentyn, 1726. Dl. II.

admin2022-08-16T21:06:19+00:00July 24th, 1973|

This second part of Valentyn's travels continues with the account of his visit in 1702 and a later visit of 1714. It includes a lengthy account of the customs of the Khoi and their language, the fauna to be encountered and the early history of the settlement.

A Pole under the Southern Cross – Antoni Rehman’s Journey through South Africa, 1875-1877

Francois le Vaillant: Travels into the interior of Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. Vol II

Francois le Vaillant: Travels into the interior of Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. Vol I

The Journal of Gustav de Vylder, naturalist in South-Western Africa 1873-1875

Johan August Wahlberg: Travel Journals and from letters, South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, 1838-1856

Carl Peter Thunberg. Travels at the Cape of Good Hope 1772-1775

William Somerville’s narrative of his journeys to the Eastern Cape frontier and to Lattakoe 1799-1802

Anders Sparrman. Travels in the Cape 1772-1776: Vol. II

Anders Sparrman. Travels in the Cape 1772-1776; Vol. I

Beschryvinge van Kaap der Goede Hoope, met de zaaken daar toe behoorende, door François Valentyn, 1726. Dl. II.

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