Suid-Afrika 2

The journey begins in the northeastern corner of South Africa at the confluence of the Limpopo and Levuvhu rivers. After a visit to the Kruger National Park, the team heads for Makuya to do the Levuvhu 4x4 route. They then visit the Ivory Route camps at Baleni and Letaba Ranch.

Leydsdorp is a fascinating town that experienced a gold rush more than 130 years ago. After a visit to the ghost town, the team is entertained by the Vorsters of Letsitele – mega farmers of the Lowveld. Then a visit to an old favourite – the Wolkberge. The week is concluded with a visit to the Klaserie Nature Reserve.

This week starts on the escarpment at Mariepskop, continues for a few days in the beautiful Blyde River Canyon, visit the Echo Caves and then concludes with trout fishing at Dullstroom. It is winter and bitterly cold.

A week in the Waterberg – at first the Lapalala Wilderness, then following the journey of Eugene Marais in the Limpopo province and concludes with a 4x4 route in the sometimes-underestimated Marakele National Park.

At Witkoppen in the southeastern Free State, the team is introduced to the nutritional wonders of venison. They then head off to the Drakensberg and go hiking with one of the best mountain guides to the second-highest waterfall in the world. The journey through the Brandwaterkom is concluded on a beautiful farm with more than 200 horses and an excellent 4x4 trail.

At Garingboom the team experience a working Karoo farm. At Bethulie they see some of the devastation caused by The Anglo-Boer War at the Concentration Camp cemetery. At Pou Pan, they help with the ringing of an African black eagle chic and conclude the week on the farm of Afrikaans author, Etienne le Roux, near Koffiefontein.

Orania on the banks of the Gariep is seen by many as a social experiment. The team investigates. After a visit to the battlefield of Magersfontein, they visit the jewel in the crown of the northern Cape – the Mokala National Park. The week is concluded at the roaring sands of Witsand.

The journey takes the team through the Karoo, from Witsand, past Griekwastad to the confluence of the Vaal and Orange rivers. After a visit to Karreekloof they go and watch a movie at the Apollo Theatre in Victoria West and conclude the week at the challenging 4x4 route at Badshoek near Beaufort West.

This week the team visits a castle outside Loxton, camp on Verneukpan, spend a day in one of the fascinating corbel houses of the Northern Cape at Stuurmansfontein, and visit the Windmill Museum at Loeriesfontein and then settles at the biggest quiver tree forest in the world at Gannabos.

The focus falls on the Cederberg. At first the unique vineyards of Dwarsrivier. Then a challenging hike to the breathtaking Maltese Cross. The team visit the capital of the region – Clanwilliam, before settling at Marcuskraal where they do the 4x4 route and enjoy a house concert.

The Baths near Citrusdal is a popular hot spring. This is where the team starts the eleventh week. From there they tackle the Klein Tafelberg 4x4 route, visit an abalone factory on the West Coast, set up camp at Tieties Bay, visit the port of Laaiplek and conclude the week at Allesverloren near Riebeek West.

Kalmoesfontein is a unique wine farm on the slopes of the Perdeberg. This is where then penultimate week begins. From there they drive past Ceres up the Matroosberg to build a snowman. They go on a tractor excursion near Montagu and visit several artists at the hamlet McGregor.

The team takes the Gantouw Pass to cross the Hottentot Holland Mountain range to Grabouw and visits the Moravian Mission at Genadendal. They attend a bread baking course at Baardeskeersbos. From there the team travels to Waenhuiskrans and concludes Voetspore in South Africa (2) at the southernmost point on the African continent – Cape Agulhas.