The Lekkerbek farm stall is next to the R54/R500 intersection, west of Vanderbijlpark, on the ragged fringe of Gauteng. It’s not a fancy farm stall where you can order a coffee with almond milk. No, it’s just Steve Albertus’s bakkie, his Venter trailer, a beach umbrella and some mielie plants. It’s Sunday and Overvaal Stereo comes through loud and clear on the radio; the preacher’s voice wrathful. I pull over to ask for directions, and because I’m curious.
Steve sells watermelons, honey, jam and mielies. He worked underground mining platinum and gold for 36 years. Trying to make small talk, I ask him how far we are from Potchefstroom. “Sixty-four kilometres,” he says, not really concentrating. His attention is on the sermon.
“I have to get to Kimberley,” I say and get back in my car without the customary handshake.
Don’t touch people if you can help it, they have warned us all.
Plans cancelled
I live in the Strand, near Cape Town, and I was in Gauteng to travel to Botswana with adventurer Anton Poplett and optometrist Karl Danneberg, who do charity work giving children free eye tests in remote parts of that country.
The pandemic derailed our plans. Now I’m stranded with a Hyundai Tucson, a roof tent and an order from the president to avoid other people as far as possible. The responsible thing would be to drive home along back roads, through the least populated areas of the country, right?
This story is from the September 2020 edition of go! - South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2020 edition of go! - South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Rolling out the big guns
If you're still scanning the horizon for a Chinese automotive invasion you're looking the wrong way. It's already happening, and the new GWM Tank is the off-road spearhead into the highly lucrative and hotly contested lifestyle market.
TAKE A HIKE
The beautiful agony of Tienuurkop
Time out in Dullies
A long weekend in Dullstroom is just long enough to make you realise you need to spend several more weekends here! There's food, drink, art and action in abundance. Here's your guide.
Gallivanting in the Galápagos!
The Galápagos Islands are on many a traveller's wish list. They were on Hanlie and Vivian Gericke's too, even though the price of visiting made their eyes water. Was it worth it? Read on...
BURCHELL AND THE COUNTRY OF THE BUSHMEN
How many times have you driven through a landscape and wished you could have seen it centuries ago? In 1811, the English artist and explorer, William John Burchell, travelled through South Africa. Join us as we follow in his footsteps.
Long live the Hibiscus Coast
The KZN South Coast is a national treasure. It's still the place to go if you want a classic seaside holiday complete with warm waves, cold beer, soft serve and good vibes. Here's your guide.
The island at the end of the earth
Imagine adlace-with the cleanest air arid:the clearest seawater, where_no human.oranimabwants to:harm you: A placewhere the climates balmy. year-round:-with a sekrhistory ahd wwild scenery. A place like this:exist8” and it’s called St Helena.
A day on the road
You never know what the road will bring. Toast Coetzer heads south on the N1 and discovers South Africa.
The wilder shore
The final leg of a 30-day trek across East Africa sees lan Tyrer and the Africa - Wild & Untamed crew explore both shores of Lake Malawi. Get ready for an overloaded ferry, a croc attack and being surrounded by elephants...
A river runs through it
Sabie is onthe Drakensberg escaromentialongMpumalanga’s famous Panorama Route. Want a weekend away surrounded by forests and waterfalls? Here's wnat you need to know.
