Klein Karoo culture

When trying to describe our outdoor living and eating culture in the Klein Karoo, we tend to use familiar climatic and cultural descriptions that will help people understand what it is like. We sell ourselves short by comparing it with the Mediterranean.

White gable detail against a Klein Karoo sky

We have our own unique climate, people, food, architecture and wine. But still we tend to embrace foreign names and concepts, as if they might be superior to what we have. Why do we think that translating true vernacular farm names into French or English will make it more marketable? The Langeberg becomes ‘Long Mountain’ and in doing so, loses all the charm and character captured in the descriptive Afrikaans name. Our rivers change into ‘creeks’ and speak of a foreign topography, as foreign as the new names we introduce to our landscape.

We need to embrace our uniqueness. Tourists want to experience it because it is a-one-of- a-kind in the world.

Throughout summer, the Towerwater garden becomes an outdoor room. With outdoor dining and lounging; and the sun is captured in the solar lamps that light up the oak tree as a chandelier in the evenings.

In the shade of the oak we share meals and conversations with friends and family by day, and with homemade ingredients, cocktails and snacks in the early evenings where it is stays light till late.

Klein Karoo summers are a wonderful time to be in the garden. It is a time to enjoy all the garden produce from preserves and liqueurs to sorbets and other fare.

Springbok 'rugstring' with fresh garden herbs and vegetables. True Klein Karoo fare

The cool dark house remains a sanctuary to escape from the heat. But the garden will always be our space of choice in summer.

The Karoo soil adds to the inherent goodness of the food and wine produced in the valley. Sitting in the garden, you can take in the sun and taste the terroir in a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or Chenin Blanc. These are accompanied with refreshing salads produced by the same soil and in our garden.

Mediterranean?  I don’t think so. This is uniquely and proudly a Klein Karoo culture.