PRICKED BY THE GREEN NEEDLE
If you donʼt know Kampersrus, you might mistake it for a padstal plonked next to the R531. Thatʼs my impression as I turn off into Mare Street, passing the Fueland Filling Station and its magenta bougainvillea flourishing at the entrance to the town.
The long, straight street leads higher up into the village and closer to Mariepskop, the highest point of the Blyde River Canyon, 1 947m above sea level. Iʼm heading to a spot right at the foot of the northern Drakensberg.
On entering Amafu Forest Lodge, I am presented with six hectares of land sloping up the mountain. And cycads, loads and loads of cycads. Iʼm here to meet Steve Trollip and talk about a rare collectible that can see grown men lie, steal, smuggle and bribe.
These prehistoric plants might not be the most aesthetically pleasing –
