Marico Matters: River of Glee

" A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself'.

Laura Gilpin

As temperatures reach 45 degrees celsius daily at midday (in the shade) all sorts of creative techniques are needed to cool down. For those of us not near to the river a spray bottle filled with water and a few drops of naartjie essential oil brings relief. Of course if you are able to the best thing in the world when you are melting is an unrestrained leap in to the cool waters of the stretch of the river known as the Upper Groot Marico. It doesn't matter if you swallow a litre or two as you frolic, gambol and cavort because the Upper Groot Marico is one of the few remaining rivers in South Africa where the water is so clean it is safe to drink directly from the river. In fact it is the last free flowing river in North West Province and Gauteng and is also the only source of surface flowing fresh water in the entire area.