Saturday, 2 November 2025
A very comfortable Friday night at Journey Guesthouse rolled seamlessly into Saturday morning — a mix of laughter, reflection, and deep, meaningful conversations that stretched into the early hours. Some of us finally drifted off to sleep to the soothing sounds of rain on the roof, blended with the wake-up call of the local roosters — a perfectly rustic Riversdale lullaby.
With just a few hours of rest, we kicked off the morning with a hearty breakfast at De Doornkraal Vinotel. The friendly staff greeted us with warm smiles, immediately setting the tone for the day. Before breakfast, we enjoyed a guided tour of the charming, thatched homestead on Langstraat 8 — originally built between 1746 and 1770 as part of the historic Doornkraal farmstead. The sense of heritage and history in every brick was simply captivating.
Breakfast was served at Aan’t Vette Country Kitchen, and what an experience it was! Fresh pastries, fruit, cheese, and a delicious full English breakfast created the perfect start to our day. Between the incredible food and a million photo moments, excitement started to build for our Outside Broadcast at the Ou Tronk Restaurant.
Arriving at Ou Tronk, the team was buzzing with energy and anticipation. This building — one of the oldest in Riversdale — was originally constructed in 1838 and later converted into the local prison in 1860. Today, it’s a vibrant hub blending history, art, and community. Set under the shade of lush avo trees, it features a charming café, crafts, antiques, and locally made gifts.
And of course, we couldn’t leave without tasting the restaurant’s famous carrot cake — said to be nationally (and maybe even internationally!) renowned. Let’s just say… I can personally confirm it lives up to the hype!
The Outside Broadcast itself was an absolute blast. We laughed, shared stories, and did our best to tap into our Afrikaans dialects — as the saying goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do!” The locals’ warmth and humour made every moment on air unforgettable.
When we experienced electrical trouble and had to move our outside broadcast, the team at Journey Guesthouse graciously accommodated us and we were able to relocate, set up in no time and continue the show!
Following the broadcast, we made our way back to De Doornkraal Vinotel to unwind and enjoy a relaxing wine-tasting session featuring wines from their very own Aan’t Vette Wine Estate. (Full disclosure — as Elle will happily remind everyone — I went for the kiddies-friendly option, LOL!)
The evening slowed into a beautiful rhythm of laughter, storytelling, and shared reflections with our new friends from Hessequa FM Radio. Day 2 was a reminder of what makes Tour My Province so special — genuine connection, cultural exchange, and discovering the heart of a community through its people, places, and stories.