A Saturday in North West Province

After being confined to our house during lockdown I decided a day trip would do wonders to recharge our batteries. Just a few kilometres from Pretoria, in Broederstroom is the South African version of an Upside-down house. FEEL FUN * FEEL DIFFERENT * FEEL THE OTHER WAY AROUND Did you know that there are 22 ‘upside-down-houses’ around the world? I visited one in the North West Province. It is a two-story house. It is very disorienting walking through the rooms. We had lots of fun taking some awkward photos. There is also a cafeteria and there is plenty of seating outside with two jumping castles for the kids. Next stop was the Triumphal Arch on Hartbeespoort (Harties) Dam Wall. It has similarities to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

There are two Latin inscriptions on the arch. "Dedi in deserto aquas fulmina in invio" Translated to English: "I shall pour down rain on the thirsty land and showers on the dry ground" (Isaiah 44.3)

"Sine aqua arida ac misera agri cultura" Translated to English: "Without water agriculture is dry and miserable".

My teenage daughter calls this bridge the “Liefling’’- bridge.

In 2010 it was one of the locations of the Afrikaans musical “Liefling” with lead actors Bobbie van Jaarsveld and Lika Berning. (She was 6 when the movie came out, but she still knows all the words to every song).

We obviously then had to drive through the tunnel – It is tradition to hoot.

Our next stop was another movie location: The French toast Coffee café – it was custom build for the movie: French Toast. The atmosphere was great, and the setup is beautiful. There is a small Eiffel tower and you can even buy a lock and engrave it. It is a unique experience.

The place was packed, and we could unfortunately not stay, however we did have the opportunity to take some beautiful pictures whilst strolling around. Next, we went to the Jasmyn Farm Stall. This is no ordinary farm stall. It is a destination shop where you can find a selection of fruit, vegetables, cheeses, freshly baked breads and pies, dried fruit, smoked meat, chicken, biltong, a wide variety of imported products e.g. salty liquorice (we bought some Dutch stroopwafels), flowers, yoghurts, honey and even books etc. Everything is beautifully displayed. I honestly think it is impossible not to buy something when at Jasmyn. There is also a gift shop…. if you have any money left to spend.

We had a late lunch at the Dutch-styled Windmill Restaurant. Sitting outside on the deck overlooking the beautiful gardens. I can recommend the ‘krokette’. The chicken salad and burgers were also great too.

I felt alive being out and about.

There are numerous other activities that one can do: Visit Pretville (fictional town where the movie Pretville was filmed), Hartbeespoort aerial cableway, Maropeng, Sterkfontein caves, Pilanesberg Nature Reserve, Sun City and the Valley of waves, go hot air ballooning, enjoy a boat cruises on the dam, visit The Lion and Safari Park, take an adventurous Magaliesberg canopy tour, go river rafting and abseiling, there are horse trails, visit the Lesedi Cultural Village, visit De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre, and there are also 4 x 4 trails etc.

If you would like to go exploring and perhaps to stay in this region then please get in touch.