koringberg

Nestled amidst winter green and summer gold wheatfields lies the charming little village of Koringberg.Just an easy hour's drive from Cape Town, 15 kilometres from Moorreesburg along the N7 to Piketberg, Koringberg, one of many towns in the area to have its roots in the church, was originally called Warren’s camp. Only when the community broke away from the Dutch Reformed Church in neighbouring Hopefield and Mooreesburg, did it form an identity of its own, becoming 'Koringberg.

Before Jan Van Riebeek came to the Cape, the strandlopers knew about and frequently used a natural spring that lay in what is now Koringberg. Unfortunately, with the large earthquake that occurred in Tulbagh some years back, the fountain was damaged and stopped flowing. It's remains can still be seen in the village.

Koringberg may be one of the lesser known villages in the Swartland, but the Koringberg mountain biking trail is slowly putting the town on the map. This day ride, to a secret destination that rises up from the normally flat Swartland, is a guided bike tour that purports to start with an easy and fast jeep track that prepares you for the hard climb ahead - worth it, no doubt, for the promise of glorious panoramic views. But the ride is enjoyable, taking one through fynbos, wheat fields and klipkoppies, and the descent promises to put hair on your chest with the sharp hairpin bends.

For those who would prefer to do it on foot, there is a 5 kilometre hiking trail to the top of Koringberg, where the vistas include Table Mountain on a good day, the Cederberg and Winterhoek Mountains in the distance. Other activities include water sports at Misverstand Dam and fly-fishing on the Berg River.

The town also boasts the smallest wine-producing vineyard in South AFrica...and very good wine it is too!

Visiting Koringberg is like going back in time, with lovely old buildingsand rambling gardens all around, although the town is in the process of becoming 'discovered' and several of them have been painted in attractive bright colours. What was the old forge is now the Post Office, while the rest of the building houses the most amazing collection of antique tools and machinery, parts of old vehicles and general bric-a-brac.

Visit Hennie 'Trekker' in the main road, who has a collection of old farm machinery, tractors and vehicles, or the guys who make teddy bears out of old fur coats. Dine at Fiama's 'True Love' Restaurant or just take a leisurely stroll through the pretty town, and suck up the peace and tranquility of rural life.