Hogsback and Hamburg are two hunky-dory destinations far from the hustle and bustle of modern city life, as Nick van der Leek recently discovered.
Hogsback
Some landscapes are a dime a dozen. One passes through them unaffected, except for a growing urge to be somewhere else. But once in a while one comes across a very special place. It starts gradually, the charm, with glimpses of vivid caterpillars curled around sharp, white acacia thorns growing beside farm fences. Then more and more cows start appearing on the verges of the road, until even the road signs warn of their crossing. Then goats scatter across a crest in the road, and hog families turn up. In the background, dozens of circular huts sprout out of the green earth like multicoloured toadstools to round off the farmyard vibe. Finally, even the hillsides erupt with silver fountains and waterfalls. Where else in South Africa does the countryside come alive with such appeal?
One of the reasons this area has such a distinct way of life is that it is not too easy to get to, located as it is a 224 km drive from Port Elizabeth and about an hour from Grahamstown. Of course, once the effort has been made, the place feels a world apart.
Read more.
