The Lekkerbek farm stall is next to the R54/R500 intersection, west of Vanderbijlpark, on the ragged fringe of Gauteng. It’s not a fancy farm stall where you can order a coffee with almond milk. No, it’s just Steve Albertus’s bakkie, his Venter trailer, a beach umbrella and some mielie plants. It’s Sunday and Overvaal Stereo comes through loud and clear on the radio; the preacher’s voice wrathful. I pull over to ask for directions, and because I’m curious.
Steve sells watermelons, honey, jam and mielies. He worked underground mining platinum and gold for 36 years. Trying to make small talk, I ask him how far we are from Potchefstroom. “Sixty-four kilometres,” he says, not really concentrating. His attention is on the sermon.
“I have to get to Kimberley,” I say and get back in my car without the customary handshake.
Don’t touch people if you can help it, they have warned us all.
Plans cancelled
I live in the Strand, near Cape Town, and I was in Gauteng to travel to Botswana with adventurer Anton Poplett and optometrist Karl Danneberg, who do charity work giving children free eye tests in remote parts of that country.
The pandemic derailed our plans. Now I’m stranded with a Hyundai Tucson, a roof tent and an order from the president to avoid other people as far as possible. The responsible thing would be to drive home along back roads, through the least populated areas of the country, right?
This story is from the September 2020 edition of go! - South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2020 edition of go! - South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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