IN PICTURES: Engineer heads to the wilderness to relive bygone days

Inspired by history books he read as a child, Bloemfontein engineer MC Heunis heads for the wilderness every year to relive bygone days.

Every year MC Heunis heads to a farm in Thabazimbi, Limpopo, to live like his Boer ancestors did in the 19th century.

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"We try to be as authentic as possible. Plastics, battery-operated torches and sleeping bags are a big no-no," Heunis said.

A Bloemfontein resident, Heunis loves his ancestors' way of living so much that he and his wife even got married like they did.

"My wife, Vicky, and my children, Retha, 8, and Christoff, 5, don't come with me but they take part in other re-enactments.

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"My wife and I met at a historical society meeting at Fort Schanskop in Pretoria. We also got married in the same fort a few years later.

"Our wedding was in a Victorian style, set in the Boer republics. Most of our guests dressed up for the event, which was huge fun."

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Heunis's wife is completing a doctorate in history and works for the War Museum of the Boer Republics in Bloemfontein.

"Her job is my hobby."

Heunis's love of the Boer lifestyle stems from the history books he read as a child.

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It is important to him that he and his friends spend their spell in the wilderness with as much historical accuracy as possible.

"We strive to re-enact a hunting excursion from the 1880s, therefore our clothing, rifles and camp gear must all conform to this period or earlier.

"All modern items and products that are required for medical or other reasons have to be stored in old containers or bottles.

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"One can only really understand many of the things you read about in books once you actually go out and do it, experience it and struggle with it - even if it is just for a few days.

"Hunting on foot with black-powder firearms is an art and skill that has to be practised. This is real hunting."