Groot Marico

Groot Marico, resting contentedlyon the banks of the Marico River, just south of the N4 and 90km west of Rustenberg, gained fame through Herman Charles Bosman's short stories based on his time as a teacher here. The town's handful of attractions include the Art Factory on the main street, where you can pick up local Tswana artefacts, along with any local news worth knowing about what;s going on. Also worth a visit are the remains of Tshwenyane and Karechuenya, two Tswana towns built in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. - The Rough Guide South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland

Also well worth a visit is the Marico Bosveld Dam and Bird Reserve, where Louis and I toasted the setting sun and loved a handsome ridgeback and a cutesy jack russel.

Now, as I sink into a bath I can hear rain slapping the thatch, quite unusual for this time of the year. We're staying in a guest house on the farm Kleinplasie, which can accommodate 10. We're here all alone, absolutely and pleasantly amazed that it's only costing us R130 each per night. What extraordinarily good value for an exceptional venue. I smell of fire smoke and 'braaied' meat.