Travel Adviser : The wagon maker with Woema – tracking Gerrit Maritz’ life story

WHERE TO STAY

$ Groenvlei is a working sheep farm in the Nieu Bethesda district about 64 km from Graaff-Reinet. There’s good walking, mountain biking and it’s a great place to just kick back if you’re doing the Gauteng-to-coast trek. It costs R140 a person a night, continental breakfast is R20 extra and a hearty Karoo dinner is R50. To book, tel 049-845-0305, e-mail groenvlei@groenvlei.co.za or visit http://www.groenvlei.co.za.

$$ Henderson’s Country Lodge in Senekal offers comfortable overnight accommodation (no meals are included, but there are kettles, coffee and tea in the rooms). Rates for a single room are R175 a person a night and R250 for a double. To book, tel 058-481-3652 or e-mail hendersons@lantic.net.

$$ The Nook is a homely B&B in Burgersdorp. B&B costs R180 a person travelling alone and R150 a person if sharing. Without breakfast is R20 less. To book, tel 051-653-1318, e-mail joubnook@xsinet.co.za.

$$$ Blue Haze Country Lodge is a lovely weekend and holiday spot on a hill high above Wagondrift Dam, 6 km outside Estcourt. Dam-facing suites range from R295 a person sharing to R495, B&B. The lodge also has a bar and a restaurant offering dinners. To book, tel 036-352-5772, e-mail reservations@bluehaze.co.za or visit http://www.bluehaze.co.za.

Important contacts For cultural-historical tours of the Great Karoo region contact Karoo Connections on tel 049-892-3978, e-mail info@karooconnections.co.za or visit the website http://www.karooconnections.co.za.

The Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria gives good insight into the chronology of Great Trek events, offers graphic displays of what happened and is home to authentic artefacts. Entrance is R20 a vehicle plus R20 an adult and R8 for scholars. For more information tel 012-326- 6770/325-7885/325-0477 or visit http://www.voortrekkermon.org.za.

THE VEHCILE WE USED

Getaway trekked with the Nissan Patrol 3.0 TD GL 4×4. It’s a head-turning vehicle if not only for its imposing size, then for the rumble of the diesel engine (juiced from two fuel tanks, a main and auxiliary – to give you long range). It’s a powerhouse that even a Afrikander bull would approve of. The Patrol costs from R442 000. For more info tel 012-529-6000 or visit http://www.nissan.co.za.

IMPORTANT CONTACTS

For cultural-historical tours of the Great Karoo region contact Karoo Connections on tel 049-892-3978, e-mail info@karooconnections.co.za or visit the website http://www.karooconnections.co.za.

The Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria gives good insight into the chronology of Great Trek events, offers graphic displays of what happened and is home to authentic artefacts. Entrance is R20 a vehicle plus R20 an adult and R8 for scholars. For more information tel 012-326- 6770/325-7885/325-0477 or visit http://www.voortrekkermon.org.za.