South Africa Guide
North West Province
Groot Marico
GROOT MARICO, a tiny and dusty but characterful dorp resting contentedly by the banks of the Marico River, just south of the N4 and 90km west of Rustenburg, gained fame through Herman Charles Bosman's short stories based on his time as a teacher here. In mid-October, Groot Marico hosts the literary Bosman Weekend, drawing fans of one of South Africa's best-loved authors from far and wide. The town's handful of attractions include the Art Factory on Paul Kruger Street (daily 9am–5pm), where you can pick up news about what's going on, as well as Tswana cultural artefacts and locally made Afrikaner crafts such as wooden pipes, whips and clocks.
Although prone to stultifying heat, particularly in summer, the hills of the Marico district are good for hiking, and when it all gets too much you can make for the river for cool relief. The water of the Marico Oog ("Marico Eye"), a spring 20km south of town, is particularly clear and refreshing: festooned with water lilies and surrounded by beautiful dolomitic rocks, it makes a tranquil place for a picnic, and can be paradise for bird-watchers, with over four hundred species recorded here. It's also a favoured spot for scuba divers; contact the town's information centre for more information.
The best way of experiencing Groot Marico is to stay on a farm or in a cottage (Price: R101–300): the tourist office provides details and handles bookings, or there's a good selection at 
www.marico.co.za/FarmAccommodation.htm . Particularly recommended are a couple of small self-catering cottages by the river, 3–4km west of town: Casper's Kaya (Price: R101-200) and David's Cottage (Price: R101-200), both in a secluded and heavily forested valley, just perfect for birders; swimming in the river is possible, and there are also canoes for rent and drumming workshops. Should you prefer a more central location, the friendly Angela's Guest House ( 
014 503 0085, 
angela_s@telkomsa.net; Price: R201-300), between the village and the N4 highway, has four comfortable en-suite rooms and a self-catering cottage set in a lovely garden and orchard, and can organize massage and beauty treatments as well as meals.