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Top Billing explores the picturesque town of Greyton
Top Billing explores the picturesque town of Greyton
Getting away to little towns around South Africa can be like touching down in another country – without the price of an international airfare. A brilliant example of this is Greyton.
Turn off the N2 at Caledon, head North East and you find Greyton in this valley at the foot of the Riveirsonderend Mountains. The first thing to do is park your car and hire an awesome retro bike as you shouldn’t need four wheels again until you leave. While there are a 150km of mountain biking trails around the town, you could also just stick to the oak lined streets within this Victorian hamlet.
One famous citizen, David Kuijers, took the scenic route to Greyton and to becoming an artist. That David produces pop art instead of landscapes of the surrounding mountains is typical of what makes Greyton such a fascinating town. His work can be both upbeat and more inward looking. Married, with three children, David’s success allows him to paint and live off the beaten track while selling his prints internationally through city and online galleries.
We were fast coming round to the Greyton state of mind and someone who makes that incredibly tempting is the man who gave his name to Von Geusau Handmade Belgian Chocolates. A brand renowned for traditional and ground-breaking flavours. A spirit of innovation sees Richard always trying new tastes, shapes and he recently created chocolate pairings with a world famous wine-maker.
Working in here is sweet torment for chocolate lovers. The air is full of flavours from café-latte and crème brulee to masala chai, hazelnut, toffee crunch and salted caramel. Chocolate makes great fuel on a walk up the Boesmanskloof Trail. Centuries ago, these forested ravines were home to the Hassequas khoikhoi tribe and Colette Kemp showed us how these surrounds are a walk back through natural history.
If hiking or hiring a mountain bike is not your scene then a horse ride with Robyn Hofmeyr is another popular way to see the countryside.
This is a place where within minutes you can go from watering your horse and swimming in a river, to taking coffee at a local roasterie. Or from mountain-biking these ravines to fine dining or vegetarian fare on Main Street. It is a world in a little country town and not to be missed.
