Kortkloof Cultural Village, North West

A view of the Kortkloof Cultural Village.

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Deep in the Swartruggens hills, near Groot Marico, you will find the Kortkloof Cultural Village, where the community – which has lived here for more than 100 years – is always ready to welcome travellers.

The few thousand villagers who live here can be seen going about their rural way of life, 1 that they’re proud to share with visitors.

The charm of Kortkloof Cultural Village is that life goes on as it has for generations, providing a wonderful opportunity for visitors from other cultures to embrace the Tswana way of life firsthand.

Visits to the village operate on an informal basis and receptions are prepared on request, so it's advisable to make contact with Groot Marico Tourism in advance to advise of your intended visit.

Once they know you're coming, the Kortkloofers will prepare a wonderful welcome programme that includes entertainment in the form of traditional dancing, a traditional Tswana meal, a tour of the village – including traditional Tswana huts – and an overview of various development projects, such as the local crèche.

Although plans are afoot to provide accommodation in the village for visitors, at the moment travellers are housed at the nearby Mokowa Game Farm or at 1 of B&B establishments in Groot Marico.

Set in a deeply rural region, Kortkloof is a mix of brick-and-zinc-roofed homes, as well as recently added low-income government housing.

Here you’ll find donkeys and cows wandering the dirt roads, where children play and chickens forage. There’s an overwhelming atmosphere of tranquillity to be found, described by locals as ‘old Africa’.

Tourism packages to Groot Marico can be customised to suit each group of travellers, depending time available, size of the group and attractions to be visited. Travellers should include a few hours at Kortkloof on a day trip, or an entire day at the village as part of a longer package.

Allied to this cultural adventure are other local attractions, including the Eye of Marico (natural river fountain); a tour of a mampoer (locally produced peach brandy) distillery; a river walk alongside the Groot Marico River – an ideal opportunity to try for a bass; a visit to Tswana jewellers at Tshwarro Crafts to buy beadwork; a reading at the Herman Charles Bosman Living Museum; tasting traditional Tswana food or boerekos (local farmers food); and good birding outings.