An Outspan Worthy Of Your Oxen

Driving from Gauteng to the coast? Let Verkykerskop meet you halfway.

- Ian Mcnaught Davis

About 50 km north of Harrismith, just before the tar road diffuses into gravel, you’ll find an assortment of buildings comprising Verkykerskop. Matt Hoffman arrived here from Joburg 13 years ago and walked into a nondescript general store known locally as “die ou Joodse winkel” and bought the most expensive pack of cigarettes of his life. The nicotine had barely begun to mingle with his blood cells when he decided to buy the ragtag posse of buildings, renovate them and make the town home.

Although, to call Verkykerskop a “town” is a bit generous. AB de Villiers could hit a six over the whole thing. “It’s an outspan,” Matt explains. “A watering point for oxen, established in a time when fuelling points were 50 km apart – far enough for a day’s trek.”

Verkykerskop – as the name suggests – boasts views of seemingly endless distance. Grassland spills slowly towards the horizon, occasionally rising into koppies on its steady journey out of sight.