Driehoek Cache Traditional Cache
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For the love of the Cederberg.
My wife (Michelle Faria) has been camping in the Cederberg since the age of 6months and our daughter Tatum has been going when she turned 5month. My Father-in-law started the private club in 1988. In the early years of the club, wife and friends found the paintings. The fire of 1999 swept passed the farm and we thought the paintings has been lost until Dawid (farmer) cut out the path to the painting. Not much of the painting remains, but the you able to see a "Bushman" and "Buck".
Park close to the start of hike 880m hike at S32°26.046' E019°10.921'
HISTORY OF THE FARM DRIEHOEK
One of today’s biggest disappointments is the fact that our ancestors left behind very few records and fewer photographs of earlier times. Fortunately some research is being done. One of the Cederberg residents is presently compiling comprehensive book on the history of the earliest land owners.
I have often wondered who the first person was to see the sun set over Tafelberg, ten to eight in the summer – end of the workday in times gone by, or seen Sneeuberg peak under a mantle of snow? There are lone examples of Bushman paintings near Driehoek, but it is unlikely that there were any permanent residents before the arrival of the Europeans.
Driehoek is officially the oldest farm in the Cederberg. We are in possession of the original transfer documents dates 31 January 1832. There were however Europeans living and working here. The first person to live permanently at Driehoek was a Mr.Kok, who was related to the missionary society family at Onderplaas, in the lower Cederberg. The original transfer documents was made out in the name of Bothma, but it’s clear that the du Toit’s were already in the area as well.
It must be remembered that the gravel road from Algeria into the rest of the Cederberg was only built in the 1900’s.The whole valley from the top of Uitkyk Pass down to the border with Dwarsrivier was originally the Driehoek Farm. The name Driehoek is derived from the tri-angle formed by die mountains when viewed from the top of Uitkyk Pass.
The Du Toit’s officially bought the farm from Bothma in 1850.One of the stories that have done the rounds is that Driehoek was exchanged for a span of Afrikaner oxen from someone who went on the Great Trek.
In earlier times Driehoek was known for its Afrikaner cattle and oxen.
The first farm building seems to have been buildt in the vicinity of the camp area. If you look carefully there is a feint row of stones between the ablution block and the river, where there was once a water wheel mill. At the lower camping area, there is a natural stone kraal. The animals must have been kept there from earliest times to protect them from the wild animals. There was later a house between the camp area and present farmhouse. There is a plum tree growing there which bears fruit every year and is thought to be the oldest tree on the farm. The Dutch gabled house that was built later, on the site of the present house, burnt down in the 1960’s.
Because transport was such a big problem, the original farm production was aimed at low volume commodities such as tobacco, dried beans and fruit. Nowadays Driehoek is farming with cattle, sheep and tourism. In 2006 we started putting in vines. The Cederberg is the newest wine area in South Africa and is disease free. The cold climate is ideal for top quality wines. To the best of our knowledge Driehoek will have the highest altitude vineyards in the Cape Province.
HIKES ACCESSABLE FROM THE FARM:
• Driehoek is an ideal base for hiking to well-known landmarks such as Tafelberg, Sneeberg, the Maltese Cross, Welbedacht and Panorama Caves and the Wolfberg Arch. Permits can be obtained at the office.
• Shorter walks are available around the farm area with various natural pools and sights such as waterfall, old stone leopard cage, bushman paintings and bird watch points.
ACTIVITIES ON THE FARM AND AROUND THE AREA:
• Hiking
• Cycling
• Swimming
• Pony rides by arrangement
• Fishing
• One of the farm’s old historical buildings, has been converted into a Treatment Room to be used for Health & Skincare treatments
DO’S AND DON’T ON THE FARM :
• Unfortunately dogs are not allowed on Driehoek Farm
• Please do not litter
• Please do not wander off the hiking trails
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Jnyx cnfg cnvagvatf naq gerr. Ghea evtug; orgjrra 2 uhtr ebpx. Zrgnyobk
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