Overview:

is a bridge originally constructed in 1913 as part of the British Bechuanaland Railway. This iconic bridge is still one of the most impressive examples of railway architecture in Botswana and is a tourist attraction worth visiting. It is a historic landmark and a reminder of the area’s proud railway past. Located off the main road between Palapye and Lobatse, it was declared a national monument in 1993, and was the former site of the Lobatse Iron Ore Company. The bridge itself is just over half a mile in length and spans the Theba River. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Botswana
Prominent Features:

The Palapye In Botswana bridge monument is an iconic structure located along the Theba River and is regarded as an important engineering feat. It consists of a hand-painted copper relief panel of traditional Botswanan wildlife, depicting a lion, an elephant, a giraffe, and a zebra. The text “Built to the Memory of Dr. Bonacosa Victor Damare” is inscribed on the bridge itself, immortalizing In-culturalist Bonacosa himself. The bridge is a tribute to Dr. Damare, a civil engineer, who was responsible for designing many of Botswana’s infrastructure and was one of the first to use technology to make the country self-sufficient. This bridge monument is an important reminder of Botswana’s economic struggle and the contributions of those who helped pave the way for success. The monument stands as a testament to the significant and inspiring progress that this country has made since gaining independence in 1966 This national monument of Botswana portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

The Theba River Bridge Monument in Palapye, Botswana is a monument to the 1892 bridge built by Cecil John Rhodes’s BSAC to help open up the vast interior of Bechuanaland to European settlement and trade. The building of the bridge, Tswana people crossing it to new possibilities, was an instrument of colonization and subjugation by the British South African Company as they prepared Bechuanaland for their eventual takeover when the territory became part of the then-named British protectorate of Bechuanaland in 1895. The monument, situated at the bridge’s center, serves as a reminder of this history and of the efforts to improve the lives of the Tswana people that the bridge represented. It is a feature of the landscape-linked architecture and engineering of which the BSAC was a leader. Built during a time when the use of technology and engineering to open up the interior of Africa was seen by the colonial powers as a way to both exploit the resources found there and to spread civilization, the Theba River Bridge Monument serves as a reminder of the emphasis placed on technological advancement at a time when engineering efforts were seen as a marker of the conquest and domination of new lands. In 1993, the Theba River Bridge Monument was designated as a National Monument in Botswana as a way of protecting and preserving the bridge’s historical and cultural importance. The monument now stands as a powerful reminder of the bridge’s construction and of the events that surrounded it. It is a reminder both of the advances that technology can bring, as well as a representation of the power and control of the then-colonial powers. You must visit one of these historical places in Botswana on your Botswana tour

Interesting facts:

1. The Theba River Bridge Monument is the sole remaining evidence of the British bridge which successfully crossed the Theba River in Palapye, Botswana. 2. The Theba River Bridge Monument was constructed from steel-reinforced concrete and built in 1916. 3. The bridge was the longest single-span bridge to exist in Botswana before its demolition in 1964. 4. The Theba River Bridge Monument has been declared a national heritage site and a grade 1 symbol in Botswana. 5. The view of the bridge is just stunningly beautiful. The views of the Theba River, the rolling green grasslands, and the distant mountains make the bridge truly majestic. 6. The Theba River Bridge Monument is an important part of Botswana’s colonial history and is seen as a landmark reminder of the past. Visit one of the famous monuments of Botswana with your friends and family.