Bereaville
The hamlet of Bereaville was originally named Poespasrivier (meaning Higgledy-Piggeldy, Here ‘n There, Deurmekaarspul), referring to the way the river flows from the Riviersonderend Mountains.
During the 1860’s three people from Genadendal moved to Bereaville without the Mission’s permission. The Mission saw this as a way of relieving overpopulation in Genadendal and in 1865 the village was established.
A church house and school were built and by the end of the year Berea had 49 residents. The Berea Primary School started with 12 pupils and now accommodates 300 pupils from Bereaville, the neighbouring village of Voorstekraal and the surrounding farms. Old-fashioned games are still very much in vogue with seasonal changes from marbles (highly competitive) to tops, soccer, etc. On hot days the children play in the leiwater channel and leaf floating races are popular.
Today there are around 500 residents, many of them descendants of the founders of the village.
All the original properties in Berea were granted a quarter hectare of tuinland (arable land) along the river. The leiwater channel has been upgraded over the years but still mostly consists of the original stones and is still extensively used to flood irrigate the tuinlande.
On Sundays the whole village is woken at 8.30 by the church bell calling people to church. Visitors are welcome to attend any of the services. You might even like to visit the main Moravian Church in Genadendal, which is the home of the now internationally known Moravian Brass Band. They are a real treat to listen to and their members always play at the Sunday service there.
A small, (NGO) Library is open from Tuesday to Friday afternoons. Here you will always find lots of children who get homework support and play on the computers loaded with games and intellectual material, an extensive board games section including puzzles or other activities offered by the staff.
Feel free to borrow some books – no charge!
The Greyton Horse Riding Club is a 20 minute walk away and welcomes visitors.
The little Poespas River with its clear mountain water flowing throughout the year is safe for paddling and one often finds children playing under the old oaks next to the river. Swimming is possible in the Riviersonderend River.
Some top class mountain biking trails run via Bereaville and can be accessed very easily for an outing to Greyton or Genadendal. There are also many hiking paths up into the local Riviersonderend Mountains with waterfalls, indigenous fynbos and stunning views over the whole valley. Local guides are happy to accompany you.
A drive on the back roads passes fertile wheat, oat, barley and fruit/vegetable farms with flocks of sheep and Angora goats.
The Overberg is home to South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane, which is common all year round.
Birdlife is abundant along the main river and even in our own garden where 40 different species have been spotted.
Horses and donkeys are local tradition and almost everybody has them, often used to work the land. Bareback riding is the norm and people still use a horse or cart to travel to town to buy groceries.
If you ask nicely you may be allowed to ride or take a cart ride.
Once a year everyone may be found in the
Riviersonderend river and farm dams picking waterblommetjies -
a typical local delicatessen
A winter morning in Kerk Street
The kids wait at the gate before school to help feed the horses
View of the village nestled at the foot of the
Riviersonderend Mountains
Ploughiing is hard work for donkeys. It takes them 3 days to work a tuinland.
2016 - 150 years Bereaville!
The whole community is part of the parade
The old oaks show their autumn glory.
Oom Joos and Bles - the village stallion - now sadly passed away.