A Place To Take A Break

Zwakala River

- Richard Van Ryneveld

I guess we all have our favorite campsites. I certainly have a favorite, it’s called the Zwakala River Retreat near Haenertsburg, in Limpopo Province. It’s on a working farm in a small tranquil dell overlooking the Broederstroom River, high up in the misty Magoebaskloof Mountains in Limpopo.

The scenic beauty of this area is incomparable to anything I’ve seen before. Let me take you on a ride down to, what I can only describe as, a magnificent campsite, a place where you can relax and take a break from your everyday stress.

How to get there

It’s quite easy to get to Zwakala. Roughly 4km from the small village of Haenertsburg, heading on the R71 towards Tzaneen, turn left at the Cheerio Road. Follow the signs for approximately another 5km to the entrance gate.

‘Zwakala’ means to come closer. At the gate, a couple of friendly country horses were waiting to meet me. Further along the driveway, on the right, was a large, grey building. The grey-washed walls had large windows with an added small half-moon window detail. Simple, yet ultra-modern, this is the Zwakala Brewery.

You will also find Mina’s Art Café and Farm Venue a short distance down the road. Like so many things at Zwakala, Mina’s grew out of family gatherings, and you can still sense the fun and laughter that took place in what was the old farm homestead back in the day. This “caring and sharing” as Denise Tooley explains, grew from the old farmhouse into the shed and became a gathering place for a quarterly farmers market. This continues today and takes place on the 1st Sunday of March, June, September, and December, every year. I just missed it by a fraction. But, by the number of stalls set up inside and outside, it must be a lively affair! Mina’s is also a well-known venue for weddings and music events.