Hendrik van Zyl

Hendrik van Zyl
Hendrik van Zyl
Born	Hendrik Matthys van Zyl; October 19, 1828
Died	June 1880
Nationality	Botswana
Occupation	Politician

Hendrik Matthys van Zyl (van Zijl), the "Laird of Ghanzi"[1][2] (October 19, 1828 – June 1880) was the first Afrikaner settler in Ghanzi, Botswana.

A former politician in Transvaal, he crossed the Kalahari several times and set up a small trading enterprise in Ghanzi, where was known for his flamboyant character and extravagant wealth. He gained a reputation for ruthlessness in his business dealings, and even initially refused water to the Dorsland Trekkers on their way to Angola in 1875.[3] He shot over 400 elephants, and the ivory from the beasts amounted to over 4 tonnes. With a vast ivory fortune, van Zyl built a two-story mansion with stained glass windows and imported furniture from France, the ruins of which still stand today.[3] His hunting prowess was so well known and remarkable in the region, it was recorded in one single day van Zyl and his sons slaughtered 103 elephants.[1] It is alleged that in the Gcwihaba cave, in northwest Botswana, van Zyl stashed a great fortune in the late 19th century.[3] To this day, he is a legendary regional figure, and many tales have been written about him.

References

Main, Michael (2001). African Adventurer's Guide to Botswana. Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-576-2.
De Klerk, Willem Abraham (1977). The Thirstland. Bok Books International. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-947444-02-0.
Lonely Planet; Alan Murphy; Anthony Ham; Trent Holden; Kate Morgan (2013-05-01). Lonely Planet Botswana & Namibia. Lonely Planet. p. 213. ISBN 978-1-74321-648-4.

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[Main2001-1] Main, Michael (2001). African Adventurer's Guide to Botswana. Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-576-2.

[Klerk1977-2] De Klerk, Willem Abraham (1977). The Thirstland. Bok Books International. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-947444-02-0.

[PlanetMurphy2013-3] Lonely Planet; Alan Murphy; Anthony Ham; Trent Holden; Kate Morgan (2013-05-01). Lonely Planet Botswana & Namibia. Lonely Planet. p. 213. ISBN 978-1-74321-648-4.