Less than 200 km north of Pretoria, the majestic Waterberg plateau rises behind formidable ramparts that have long discouraged travellers and settlers. Reputedly used by President Kruger as a conveniently remote place to exile troublesome burghers, this rugged and scenic upland remained unknown to most South Africans until its development as an exclusive eco-tourism and hunting destination in the last 25 years. Despite (perhaps because of) its prolonged isolation and sparse population from the earliest times, the Waterberg has experienced a long and vibrant history. Yet until now, this is a history that has never been recounted in comprehensive, factual detail.

Waterberg Echoes tells the stories of the remarkable people who first settled the plateau and its surrounds and their tribulations from disease, agriculture and governmental neglect. It describes conflicts during the difeqane, the South African War and the 1914 rebellion; the stories of mines in the lowlands surrounding the plateau and the arrival of Herero refugees from Namibia in 1906; the spread of religions and education across the region; and the role of politics.