SUTHERLAND AND DISTRICTS – Following the wagon routes
Venues visited: De Doorns, Buffelskraal, Karoopoort – before passing through the poort into the Tankwa Karoo, Hangklip – a famous rock formation mentioned by many early travellers, the farm Bizansgat, the crossing at Gousblomhoogte, the Veld Cornet Gerrit Snyman’s “hut” on the farm Windheuwel, where Burchell actually stayed.
A walking tour of Sutherland, Kuilenburg, Eensaamheid – with a corbelled building and a building with its roof made of flat stones, Groenvlei – with two brakdak buildings, the very old farms of Hartbeesfontein and Rheboksfontein, a ruin in the Verlatenkloof Pass, Gunstfontein – home of Afrikaans writer Van Wyk Louw, the old Tuinplaas church built in the early 19thcentury for trekboers, and Matjiesfontein.
Excursion leader Dr Judy Maguire is a mine of information. She is extremely knowledgeable about this part of the Karoo, having visited most of the farms personally.
Notes compiled by Judy Maguire and Pat Kramer