History of South Africa podcast · Desmond Latham
Episode 260 - Touring South Africa pre-1880, the Tangled Tale of Woolworths and Disraeli Gears
January 30, 2026·20 min·1 clip
Before steam trains, oxwagons shaped South Africa's towns by limiting travel to just 20 kilometers a day.
As heard by us
A broad 1879 survey of South African transport, early retail change, standard time, and military danger.
South Africa before 1880 comes through as a place organized by movement. Oxwagons haul wool, food, and mining equipment over rough tracks, while transport riders link farms, military posts, markets, and the interior.
Why you'd press play
You can tour pre-1880 South Africa by oxwagon, then detour through Sanford Fleming's missed train, Woolworth's price tags, and a looming military disaster.
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