LOCAL TRAVEL
Forget the GPS for a moment. The real stars of the Quiver Tree Route aren’ t marked by pins on Google Maps. They’ re the women waiting to welcome you along the way.
During a recent five-day road trip through the Northern Cape, Inbound discovered that, while the quiver trees may have put this route on the map, it’ s the women who give it its heart. From leather crafters and nursery owners to bakers, artists, guides, and hoteliers, these remarkable women have turned ordinary roadside stops into destinations worth writing home about.
This Women’ s Month, instead of simply telling you where to stop, we’ d like to introduce you to the women you’ ll meet when you get there.
CHRISTA STADLER: THE LEATHER WHISPERER Every road trip deserves a souvenir you’ ll still be using years later. Christa makes exactly those kinds of keepsakes. At Boertjie Kalahari Kontreij Winkel in Upington, she handcrafts beautiful leather veldskoene, handbags, and wallets that improve with age, much like a good bottle of Northern Cape wine. Named after her beloved dog, Boertjie, the shop is packed with local treasures, but it’ s Christa’ s passion for traditional craftsmanship that keeps travellers lingering a little longer. Contact: 078 948 2346.
MARELIE LOUW: QUEEN OF THE PADSTAL Some people leave corporate life for early retirement. Marlies left hers to create one of the happiest roadside stops in the Northern Cape. Stop 22 Padstal is where children disappear into a giant playground, parents suddenly decide they’ re not in a rush anymore, and everyone somehow ends up ordering homemade gelato. Her philosophy is beautifully simple: road trips should include laughter, good food, and a reason to stay longer than planned. Contact: 084 041 4491.
SONETTE AND GRIET: THE GUARDIANS OF TRADITION Just outside Augrabies Falls, Sonette keeps the nursery flourishing while Griet ensures the aroma of freshly baked roosterkoek drifts across the garden. Between the towering fig tree, indigenous plants, and coffee that seems to taste better under Northern Cape skies, Jaap se Tuin is exactly the kind of place where half an hour mysteriously turns into two. Contact: 063 697 7016.
CLARISSA DAMARA: THE GATEWAY TO RIEMVASMAAK Every great adventure needs someone who knows the way. For Riemvasmaak, that person is Clarissa. After nearly two decades of welcoming visitors, she knows the trails, canyons, and hot springs worth exploring. Spend five minutes chatting to her and you’ ll leave convinced you should have booked another night. Contact: 073 383 8812.
THERESIA HAMPIRA: HERITAGE ON A PLATE The quickest way to understand a place is often through its cooking. Theresia does exactly that with traditional Nama meals prepared for visitors exploring Riemvasmaak. Her slow-cooked dishes do more than fill empty stomachs. They tell stories of culture, community, and recipes passed from one generation to the next. Contact: 073 781 5628.
ANNE-MARI BARNARD: PRETTY IN PINK If roadside attractions had personalities, Die Pienk Padstal would be the life of the party. Annemari has filled her famous pink landmark with colour, creativity, and enough quirky treasures to justify rearranging your luggage before heading home. The padstal has survived floods, changing times, and countless curious travellers, emerging brighter each time. Contact: 083 381 9272.
MARINA BOTHMA: QUIVER-TREE QUEEN If quiver trees could choose a favourite person, it would almost certainly be Marina. For two decades, she has nurtured these iconic desert giants from tiny seedlings while teaching visitors why they’ re worth protecting. Fair warning: popping into Koms Quiver Tree Nursery for“ just five minutes” usually turns into an hour of fascinating conversation and, quite possibly, a new plant for the garden. Contact: 072 374 9432.
PHILIPPA VAN ZYL: RIVER LIFE At Khamkirri, Philippa and her six dachshunds prove that slowing down is sometimes the greatest luxury of all. Whether you’ re rafting on the Orange River, watching the sunset from your cabin, or simply enjoying the silence, she has created a place where adventure and relaxation happily share the same address. Contact: 084 244 4408.
AUGUST 2026 / INBOUND SA 39