It's one in a mill-ion
Caravan & Outdoor Life|January 2019

[RESORT REVIEW]OLD MILL DRIFT GUEST FARM,FREE STATE.

Richard Van Ryneveld
It's one in a mill-ion

One of the things that I love about working for Caravan & Outdoor Life is discovering caravan and camping sites. On a recent trip through the Eastern Free State near Clarens, I found the Old Mill Drift Guest Farm.

Actually that’s not true. Truthfully I should say I “rediscovered” the Old Mill Drift Guest Farm, because way back in 2002, I’d stayed at one of the old dressed sandstone cottages down on this farm.

Originally, the farm that was surveyed on Paul Kruger’s instruction back in 1860, was known as Beginsel.

The land was then gifted by Queen Victoria as a trading concession to a Colonel Hull, who formed a partnership with Colonel Hattingh and opened the mill and trading store in 1913. The mill was a triple-roller wheat mill made by Turner in England, from where it was imported.

The beautiful Old Mill Drift Guest Farm is situated right on the Caledon River, the border between SA and the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho.

At the time of my first visit, Old Mill Drift was owned by Bruce Weyer. Bruce, a larger than life character, now owns the Lake Clarens Guesthouse in the town.

Back then the Old Mill was still a busy trading store. I’ll never forget the long, fully-enclosed fence running from the Lesotho side of the river to the trading store.

I remember the numerous Basotho ponies tethered on the Lesotho side of the Caledon River… the riders bringing bags of maize to be milled and to buy their supplies from the old sandstone trading post.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 2019 من Caravan & Outdoor Life.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 2019 من Caravan & Outdoor Life.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من CARAVAN & OUTDOOR LIFE مشاهدة الكل
Resorts Of The Month: Kruisrivier Guest Farm
Caravan & Outdoor Life

Resorts Of The Month: Kruisrivier Guest Farm

Off the beaten track and ideal for the off-roading camper

time-read
4 mins  |
June - July 2020
Lagoon And Beachfront Bliss
Caravan & Outdoor Life

Lagoon And Beachfront Bliss

Morgan Bay Campsite, EC

time-read
2 mins  |
June - July 2020
Conservation: The Endangered Vultures
Caravan & Outdoor Life

Conservation: The Endangered Vultures

Rating: The conservation of vultures in Africa is generally regarded as high priority, although limited resources are made available to assist with this important work.

time-read
5 mins  |
June - July 2020
Crisp, Clean Air & Gurgling Streams It Seems
Caravan & Outdoor Life

Crisp, Clean Air & Gurgling Streams It Seems

Old Mac Daddy, WC

time-read
2 mins  |
June - July 2020
Destination Of The Month: Transkei On The Fly
Caravan & Outdoor Life

Destination Of The Month: Transkei On The Fly

When the call came in from a fellow journalist, that his doctor had suggested he not travel due to a recent op, I had about a day to get everything prepared for an adventure to the Transkei Wild Coast.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June - July 2020
13 Top Tips For Outdoor Accessory Maintenance
Caravan & Outdoor Life

13 Top Tips For Outdoor Accessory Maintenance

You certainly don’t want to arrive at your holiday destination only to find your gas bottles are empty, the tent has been chewed to heavenly holiness by marauding mice, and you left grandma napping in the caravan when you put it out to pasture at your local Storage Land for the winter season.

time-read
2 mins  |
June - July 2020
our take on SNAKES
Caravan & Outdoor Life

our take on SNAKES

Caravan & Outdoor Life joins some of South Africa’s leading herpetologists in the Maputaland region to find rare species and teach the local rural residents how to react to snakes. With Opposite Lock on board, we’re all set to strike at a moment’s notice…

time-read
10 mins  |
June - July 2020
Caravan clinic
Caravan & Outdoor Life

Caravan clinic

Our expert answers your technical questions & gives camping advice

time-read
7 mins  |
June - July 2020
Around The Campfire
Caravan & Outdoor Life

Around The Campfire

Readers share their outdoor adventures and air their values

time-read
4 mins  |
April - May 2020
In The Shade Of A Dappled Glade
Caravan & Outdoor Life

In The Shade Of A Dappled Glade

Slanghoek Mountain Resort, WC

time-read
1 min  |
April - May 2020