Waterfalls In Paradise

[ Travel ] Piketberg & Porterville, Western Cape.

I’m trying to decide whether my editor is more like Kramer from Seinfeld or some sort of Afrikaans mad glint in his eye and says: “Do you feel like going on a trip?”

The answer to the question is always met with a resounding yes from me.

The trip would take me to the Moravia, Piketberg and Porterville areas to review two riverside campsites, the 22 Waterfalls just outside the town of Porterville.

KLEINE PARADYS

Don’t ever assume that the “pharmacy” will be open when visiting small towns in South Africa on a Sunday. I had to remain Castle Lightless for this very reason on the first night of my stay.

After taking a few wrong turns, I eventually found my way to the reception area at the picturesque Kleine Paradys, which doubles as a shop.

This resort, located in Moravia just 6 km from Piketberg in the Western Cape, is set between large farms lined with vineyards hanging thick with red and white grapes. I was in the area around harvest time and small tractors towing convoys of trailers packed with plastic containers of freshly-picked grapes, weaved their way to and from the vineyards.

I was met by Loretta, the very helpful reception manager; she kindly filled me in as to where my camping stand would be. She also handed me the key to my own private ablutions, and her husband Ferdi, who manages the farm in conjunction with the owners Conrad and Antionette Thiart, led my silver Fortuner 2.4 GD-6 and trailer with his off-road scrambler down to the campsite.

The camping stands are either bricked or grassed and they all overlook the slow-flowing Berg River. The setting is tranquil with the occasional fish jumping out of the water and the abundant bird life makes up the rest of the orchestral melody.