Words and Photographs by Chris Marais
Brandvlei lies halfway between Calvinia and Kenhardt on the Great Pans of the Northern Cape. This is a place where the San Bushmen roamed, and where desperadoes once hid from the law and where speed merchants looking to race rocket cars like to come these days.
Driving around the area, you will see farms with some of the most exotically enchanting names around: Verdwaal Vley (Getting Lost Marsh), Varskans (Fresh Chance) and Handelkraal (Market Kraal).
They say Brandvlei (Burning Marsh) got its name this way: a trekboer outspanned overnight here, forgot to extinguish his campfire and set the local bush alight. He was forever known as ‘Ou Brand’ (Old Fire) and the place was called Brandvlei. Either way, you’re not likely to see much marsh or wetland up there these days. It’s as dry as a desert out there.
Nevertheless, the fun of visiting a place like Brandvlei is you get the real Outback feel of the Northern Cape up here, the remote Great Nothing of it all.
Find our new e-Book, 101 Karoo Towns HERE.
4 comments
Andries Reichert
Hi Carmen Strauss my voorouers het blykbaar n tyd daar geboer op die panne voordat hulle Kenhardt toe getrek het . Wat ek kan onthou is n Nels kop daar naby en soos ek hier en daar kom uitvind net voor Brandvlei aan die regterkwnt van die pad . Daar is omtrent nie meer huise nie net murasies maar daar is n begraafplaas waar n hele paar van die Reicherts begrawe is ek neem aan die tyd van die groot griep war ek graag wil besoek en fotos neem as deel van stamboek wat ek opstel van die voorouers , Het jy dalk asseblief inligting waar ek die plek kanopspoor
Baie dankie
Andries
Carmen Strauss
hi my name is Carmen. I am originally from Brandvlei and I must say that I can not imagine myself being from some other town. As far as I may travel or for as long as I may be gone from the place, my heart will always belong in Brandvlei. It is the perfect place to relax and clear your head despite the extreme hot and cold conditions. What inspires me about Brandvlei is the elderly people and their fascinating stories. It is indeed something to listen to.