It’s August and the landscape around Riversdale is as green as the bakkie parked in front of the Suid-Kaap Verf paint shop. As you drive to town, the scenery next to the N2 is hypnotic: to the north is the hazy blue Langeberg; to the south, green wheat fields undulate towards Still Bay and Vermaaklikheid.
Wheat, barley and lucerne grow green, but the other crop that is easy to discern is John Deere yellow: canola. The fertile soil and relatively high rainfall (the region only experiences drought sporadically) make this area ideal for farming. Merino sheep swarm like khaki-coloured ants; Friesian and Jersey cows mark a dairy farm; and an unexpected camp of ostriches appears, their long necks held high.
How many times have I driven through Riversdale? I usually fill my tank at the Engen or buy a coffee at the Wimpy or at Ou Meul, then I continue my journey.
Not this time. I’ll explore the town for the next few days, but first I want to know the story behind the green Suid-Kaap Verf bakkie…
“We mixed this shade of green ourselves,” says manager Andy Lawerlot. “The more popular paint colours in town are currently shades of grey.”
Must be because there’s enough natural green to go around…
Down the road, a black building catches my eye. Trends Café is aptly named and sets the tone for Riversdale’s coffee shops. From decor to service to the quality of the coffee, they can compete with the coolest coffee shops in any city.
Esta historia es de la edición October/November 2021 de go! - South Africa.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición October/November 2021 de go! - South Africa.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
The wilder shore
The final leg of a 30-day trek across East Africa sees lan Tyrer and the Africa - Wild & Untamed crew explore both shores of Lake Malawi. Get ready for an overloaded ferry, a croc attack and being surrounded by elephants...
A river runs through it
Sabie is onthe Drakensberg escaromentialongMpumalanga’s famous Panorama Route. Want a weekend away surrounded by forests and waterfalls? Here's wnat you need to know.
TAKE A HIKE
Harkerville's mini Otter
Sweet & juicy!
This issue's recipes all include lush seasonal fruit like nectarines, plums and apricots. Enjoy!
Big mountain magic
On a clear day, as you approach the Cathedral Peak Hotel, it happens involuntarily: You start to grin. You'll be standing up there soon, gazing over this valley, and the scuttling of ground-level life will seem irrelevant. Join us on a five-day adventure into the heart of the high Drakensberg
Your next weekend away
A self-catering house in the Tankwa, a campsite next to the Orange River, a guest farm near the Drakensberg... Toast Coetzer travelled a lot last year: Here are six of his favourite places to stay if you're planning a road trip or weekend escape.
A life through binoculars
If the name Hugh Chittenden sounds familiar, it's probably because you see it every time you use your Roberts Bird Guide he's one of the co-authors. He lives in Mtunzini on the KZN coast and birding is as much part of his day as a cup of coffee.
Wanderlust in the park
All great cities have great parks, writes Dara Kell: spaces where you can exhale and slough off the stress and grime of urban life.
The Kalahari remembers
The Kalahari is a place of magic and heartache, where drought is an ever-present threat. Drive a loop from Upington to the Kuruman River and discover soulful landscapes, brilliant skies and resilient people who never give up.
Take a Hike
Hug a baobab in the Bushveld
