A place of silence ... A place where time stands still so that you can regain your spiritual and emotional balance ... Drooge Rivier Mountain has gorgeous kloofs to walk in, fascinating mountains to climb, rich bird and animal life, an incredible variety of vegetation, easy access (no 4x4 needed!) and beautiful views on the surrounding Boland, Hex and Riviersonderend mountain ranges. Part of the Boland, it is close enough for a day trip (less than 140 km from Cape Town), seemingly unending (about 950 hectares i.e. 9.5 square km) and completely unspoiled. It is also an ideal base to explore many interesting spots as it lies exactlly halfway between Franschhoek and Robertson, or Goudini and McGregor: wine estates, sleepy villages, meandering dirt roads, mountain walks - and the Brandvlei dam are all a few minutes' drive away.
Where the silence sings:
silence echoing between sandstone cliffs
embracing riverbeds that curl their ancient paths
down lonely mountainslopes.
And silently the rains fell
and the thirsty soil drank deep
and brought forth glory:
the riotous joy of blazing vygies
the shy blooming of an orchid
the stately white of arum
and oh, a thousand more!
The air was filled with buchu-breeze
and the silence laden with birdsong.
Eva Van Belle
You can see some more pictures in our Drooge Riviers Mountain Retreat picture album.