A life rooted in nature

Few things are as enjoyable as joining a farmer for a drive on his farm, to look at things that he values. Willem Frost’s farm, Matlabas Game Lodge, is north of Sentrum (a dot on the map, nothing more), next to the Matlabas River not far from where it joins up with the Limpopo. There are wild animals to see here, but it’s the trees that Willem loves most.

We drive to a certain point, get out of the bakkie and walk a short distance to a high fence – the border of his farm. He points to a big leadwood tree on the other side. It towers over the other trees on the banks of the Matlabas, which is dry at the time of my visit.

“Now a leadwood tree – it must be seventeen metres or taller,” Willem says. His eyes shine with wonder. “If