I first laid eyes on Kleinmond two and a half years ago. It was an early morning in September when I drove in on the R44 from Hermanus. To my left, the Kleinmond Lagoon lay flat and still, in stark contrast to the restless waves that broke on the beach beyond. To my right was a large open area with a bowling green and tennis courts. Towering above were the Kogelberg mountains in shades of green.
The town itself is sandwiched between mountain and ocean. Like many Western Cape seaside settlements, it can't get any wider, so it has developed lengthwise, skirting the coast and edging as far as it dares up the mountainside.
On my first visit, I remember thinking: I've never seen so many architectural styles on one street! A wooden A-frame cabin stood next to a sleek glass structure, which was next to a blockish, 70s-style condo...
That was the first thing I noticed. The second thing I noticed, as I turned onto a residential road, was the lack of fencing and burglar guards.
I made the move from Cape Town in 2020 and Kleinmond has been my home for just over a year now...
I'm not the only city dweller who moved to the countryside during the lockdown. In fact, Kleinmond's permanent population is increasing steadily. It's no longer a small town of swallows, but that is how it began.
Kleinmond dates back to the 1800s, when a community of fishermen settled near the present-day Kleinmond Harbour. At the turn of that century, two outspans, one next to the Bot River Lagoon and one beside the Palmiet River, became popular holiday destinations for farmers of the greater Caledon area; some even traveled from as far as Swellendam to enjoy a summer by the sea.
This story is from the April/May 2022 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 April/May 2022 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