Eat, drink and have fun!
DO, BROWSE AND BUY Roodekrans Likhâ Traders
Es-mari and Talita Stroebel, the daughters of Susan Stroebel from Herbs Infusion, manage this shop in Paul Kruger Street. They sell jams, baked goodies, lovely birthday cakes and Herbs Infusion products, and you can sit down to fish-and-chips or burgers on the large stoep that they share with the Wegbreek Liquor Store and WildeAls Visitor Centre. Roodekrans Likhâ Traders 072 595 8538
Joseph se Winkel
At this shop you can buy anything from a screwdriver and groceries to a new pair of velskoene. “Joseph was behind the counter five owners ago – currently it’s Salim,” Hermien says. “If you can’t find what you’re looking for, just ask Salim; he’ll go and fetch it in the back. And if he doesn’t have it, it will be there by Thursday.” Voortrekker Street.
EAT OUT Aunty Pie
On Fridays and Saturdays, Hannekie Fourie sells her “home-made pies with a twist” on the stoep in front of the Wegbreek Liquor Store. The rabbit and oxtail pies are highly recommended.
072 822 9333
Wag-’n-Biekie Family Restaurant & Bar
The first notice board you see at this restaurant next to the N4 says a lot about the atmosphere and humour of the place: “Warm Beer. Cold Food. Bad Service. Come see for yourself.” But our beer was ice-cold, despite load-shedding, and the chicken-and-bacon salad (R85) we had was truly impressive. 071 696 3124
Wag n Biekie Sportsbar
STAY OVER
You can book accommodation and find out more about the local festivals by contacting Santa or Egbert van Bart. They run the Visitor Information Centre on the 10% commission they make on guest-house bookings. marico.co.za info@marico.co.za 083 272 2958
RiverStill Guest Farm
If the rest of the world were to come to an end while you’re staying at RiverStill, you might not even notice it. This guest farm on the banks of the GrootMarico River offers walking trails along the water as well as a labyrinth – and RiverStill’s dogs love joining visitors on their walks. There are four cottages that sleep four people each in two rooms, as well as a larger house that sleeps eight. Rates start from R350 per person per night. This is one of the venues for the Herman Charles Bosman Festival.
riverstill.co.za 083 272 2958
Angela’s Guest House
Ed La Rose manages and owns a share in this guest house that originally belonged to his late friend Angela Broekmeyer. It is one of only a few of its kind in the town itself. The garden is huge, and the lovely house offers four en-suite bedrooms, a sunroom that serves as the living and dining area, and a stoep. Breakfast costs R60 per person. Ed organises Groot-Marico’s monthly street market – the next one is on 17 June. grootmaricoguesthouse.co.za
076 420 1523
FESTIVALS
Marico Mountain Bike Classic & Spring Festival
On the first Saturday in September 2023, mountain bikers can pedal 45 km, 20 km or 5 km along dirt roads and on private farms in the area. The Spring Festival is held on the same day at the starting point and finish line of the mountain-bike challenge: the NG church and the Herman Charles Bosman Living Museum. Herman Charles Bosman Literary Society & Living Museum - Groot Marico
Herman Charles Bosman Festival
Die HCB Literary Society celebrates its 30th year with this festival, held on the third weekend in October 2023 at and around the Living Museum. Attendance is limited to 150 guests.
Herman Charles Bosman Literary Society & Living Museum – Groot Marico