In South African history, the Great Trek was an eastward and north-eastward migration of the Boers, descendants primarily of immigrants from western mainland Europe. It began in 1835 as an attempt to escape the recently imposed British rule, its Anglicisation policies and the constant border wars.

The British had abolished slavery in 1833 and recognised equality of rights under the law of persons of African and European descent, though most Voortrekkers (the pioneers of the Great Trek) did not own slaves as they were mainly of Trekboer (migrating farmer) descent and engaged in a semi-nomadic, pastoral life on the eastern Cape frontier. The Boers moved Northeast and settled into the two regions of Transvaal and the Orange Free State. The Orange Free State was closer to the Cape, and was also more populated and wealthy than Transvaal.

The word trek has entered the English language as one of few words derived from Afrikaans. It means a long, hard journey, and is derived from the Middle Dutch trecken (meaning to pull or haul). Trekking sometimes refers to the activity of hiking, especially in a mountainous region.

See also: Star Trek, hiking, Trek (bicycle manufacturer)

Further reading

The Great Trek. (http://www.barnesreview.org/greatrek.htm) John Tiffany.