Johannesburg to KwaZulu-Natal – Sterkfontein

Shortly before reaching the best-named town in the country, Phuthaditjhaba, we swung a left off the Qwa-Qwa road to head due south. Next time, we’re going to Phuthaditjhaba for ‘Phuza Thursday’! Yes, Phuthaditjhaba. It means meeting place of the tribes. Phuthaditjhaba!

Now for a contrast in linguistics, Sterkfontein Dam was next on the cards. The roads here are exquisite. Scratch that, the views from the road here are really quite exceptional. The road itself, much like acne.

Take it slow (as you should with any good road trip) and your chariot will be just fine. Besides, all the better to take in the panorama. There’s a great picnic spot a little way down, just after the turn-off to the campsite and chalets. Here we found Knowledge. Knowledge and his chum were selling painted clay sculptures at the viewpoint, and these are excellent. Check it out: after a brief haggle, which seemed to involve a Liqui-fruit, we were set, and missioned onward into the great Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Sterkfontein exists where it does largely due to the steep drop in altitude nearby. Here, clever people have set up a pumped storage scheme and also managed to build the largest (by volume) dam wall in the country.

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