Meiringspoort in summer

Travelling south through the Karoo, Meiringspoort suddenly presents momentous contrasts to the endless plains covered in grey Karoobossies.

It is a place to take a break and stretch the legs at the welcoming rest facility. The short walk to the waterfall is a good option for sensing the ambience among the towering rock slopes, where silence heightens the impression of timelessness.

Arriving from the south, from De Rust or the Vlakteplaas side, is a very different viewing experience, but the Swartberg Mountains always convey their command to be silent and observe.

There are places in nature so imposing that instant recognition of a peak experience invariably hits home. A meaningful shift may linger in the receptive mind; a sensation so strong that the mind is awed, attuned afterwards for even the little things from the natural world to impact upon it. Failing to hear this voice at least once in a lifetime leaves the individual ill prepared for savouring natural beauty and contributing to its retention.