How it all
started...
Founder, Danie Pieterse, had a dream to one day walk from his grandfather Jan Pieterse’ s grave in the Tankwa Karoo to his other grandfather's grave in Rawsonville. Danie shared this idea with one of his friends, Charl van der Merwe and soon the idea for a similar pilgrimage arose in the form of the Tankwa Camino. The main idea behind the Camino was to introduce people to this beautiful part of our country that connects Calvinia (in the Northern Cape) with Ceres (in the Western Cape) through the Tankwa Karoo. Danie and his wife Rhina are now managing this event along with a number of other routes centred around the town of Calvinia.
Photo crdit: https://www.facebook.com/tankwacamino/ |
The Route
The Tankwa Camino route follows the R354 between the towns
of Calvinia and Ceres. I think it is the nothingness of this world that makes
it so enchanting. Our group was about 60
walkers and yet because of varying starting times and hiking speeds there were
many, many, many hours when we walked alone and as far as the eye could see –
it was only us! When you drive this road
– your thought is wow it is so flat – but just wait till you walk it. There are a few hills waiting to surprise you
along the way. Fortunately, there is a
vehicle that provides water, no need to carry extra water. The rest of our luggage and tent was
transported daily on the Camino lorry to the next camp site. In my thoughts, even now a few years later, it
is the silence and wide open spaces that call me back.
The food
So how does the food work? Breakfast and lunch comes out of your own
black crate. I am not such a fast walker
so Louis and I carried lunch and enjoyed it along the way. Imaging walking 25km in the middle of
no-where and as you walk into camp you get the distinct smell of skuinskoek
wafting to meet you. I think for many
hikers Truida’s tea time treats where the biggest hit. You just can’t imagine what she conjures up
on the plains of the Tankwa Karoo. Each
evening we were treated to a hearty potjie / braai cooked with lots of love.
Bang for your buck
Walking
the Tankwa camino was a privilege for which we saved but we were not
disappointed. A few things have changed
since we walked and so according to the website this is what is included for
the fee.
- Meet-and-greet dinner on the evening before the event (6 pm at Calvinia Moederkerk hall)
- Transport of your belongings along the route
- Support vehicles and team that travel with hikers
- Coffee/tea/milk/sugar in the early morning and after dinner
- Daily fruit of the season
- Snacks upon arrival at base camp each day (Boere high tea)
- Dinner daily of potjiekos or braai, pot bread with kaiings/dripping (if available), syrup & homemade jams
- Hot water will be available on arrival at each overnight camp for washing purposes. You collect your own water out of the heating pots but are limited to 5 litres per day. No showers allowed.
- Daily drinking water allowance
- Closing ceremony with light lunch & drinks at Ceres Museum (http://www.ceresmuseum.co.za)
- Tankwa Camino T-shirt
- Tankwa Camino certificate
My Story
I walked the Tankwa Camino a few years ago. My youngest was about 4 and the oldest 6 and
half. Life gets a bit blurry with two
little people in your life. As a women,
I think I momentarily forgot who I was. I
always said if you want to know if you
can marry someone you should do at least a 5 day hike before you get married
because then all the character traits will be exposed. Well my husband swept me off my feet and
walked me down the aisle before a hike and then life happened. Marriage is hard work at the best of times
but during those early years of children communication is often challenging. I needed to be just me again (just for a few
days) and I needed to connect with my husband...so we decided to do the Tankwa
Camino... and we made it! This photo was taken on day 8 after about 200km.
Photo credit: Louis Fourie |
How fit do you
have to be?
There is so much
more...
Since starting the Tankwa Camion Danie and Rhina have added
a number of routes. Choose a route
according to your fitness, time available and budget. Each route has its own personality and charm
and will open up the beauty of this world I call home. The names to look out for include, Roggeveld
Enduro, Sterrewag enduro and Hantam enduro.