cederberg

06 The Cederberg: Mountain Muse

Destination Info: Cederberg Mountains

6. The Cederberg: Mountain Muse

These mountains to the north of Cape Town have inspired man for thousands of years; San rock art, the poetry of C Louis Leipoldt, the paintings of Pierneef. But other more surprising “arts” have also been influenced by the land here; cooking and winemaking and even humble shoe making. The boys treat each other to what they believe the other will like. Paul takes Terence shoe shopping in the rural town of Wupperthal for good old-fashioned practical footwear. Paul is a bit more pleased by his treat as Terence takes him on a game drive and a tour of rock paintings of the same animals.

The land itself offers plenty to inspire the culinary arts; the soil gives life to South Africa’s highest vineyards, as well as aromatic herbs like wild rosemary, buchu and rooibos tea. Once South Africa’s top chef, Floris Smith combines these ingredients with lamb grazed on indigenous grass and waterblommetjies (the flavoursome buds of a plant growing in local ponds) to create his version of the traditional bredie (a slow cooked stew), the result is indeed a masterpiece.

Paul also attempts to coax the more medicinal qualities out of these herbs to concoct a hangover cure, but Terence, despite his throbbing head, is reluctant to drink it.

The boys feel the muses at work as mountains are climbed, poetry is read, wine is drunk and waterblommetjies are eaten under a 300 year-old cedar trees.

Episode Specific Credits:

Appearances by
Floris Smith
Gerhard Thom
Malcolm Baxter
Arina De Jengh
David Nieuwoudt
Hendrik J. Spame

Special thanks to
Bushmans Kloof
Cape Nature
Driehoek Farm
Cederberg Winery
Ronel Kennedy
The Nieuwoudts
Rika Du Plessis

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