South African family history, genealogy, heritage and interesting places, past and present. All articles researched and written by Anne Lehmkuhl. COPYRIGHT ANNE LEHMKUHL, no article can be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission. EMAIL ME
Donkey cart tours
Donkey tours are available in Nieu-Bethesda, the village that is home to the famous Owl House and written about in Athol Fugard’s play, Road to Mecca. Eight years ago Jakob van Staden started his donkey tour business, taking tourists through the town. Although the business is seasonal, he now earns enough to see him through the lean times. He also transports brides to their weddings and takes campers on three-day trips into the countryside. Jakob is also the organiser of the the popular annual Donkey Derby in November. When he started business, he borrowed money from his son to buy two donkeys (Grys and Ripper) and an old donkey cart for R150. His wife, Betty, was not impressed. His first job was chopping down overgrown bushes and carting the wood which he sold. A local guesthouse owner, Denise Hope, asked him about taking some of her guests on a donkey cart around the village. He was paid R50 for that trip. Jakob got permission from the municipality to transport people around the village and now he has six donkeys, two horses and three carts.