| When the moon glitters on the first snow of | | | | One night, wearing just a nightgown, Eliza broke |
| winter, a bewitching young woman is said to walk | | | | out of her prison and wandered to the foothills of |
| the Hex River Valley tragically searching for her | | | | the mountains, where Frans had walked |
| lost love. Some say Eliza is South Africas most | | | | previously. There she sat and sobbed, but the |
| famous witch, whilst others know her as the | | | | outcrop crumbled beneath her and she also fell to |
| daughter of a lowly farmhand who became | | | | her death. Some say that her ghost wanders the |
| mentally ill after causing her only love to fall to his | | | | Matroosberg on moonlit lights, crying and wringing |
| death: | | | | her hands. In Afrikaans, they call her the Heks |
| Eliza was a beautiful young woman whose | | | | van Hex Rivier, or the witch of the Hex River. |
| stunning looks ensured that she had numerous | | | | Witches and disas may be one reason to visit the |
| suitors. However, she was also a spoilt and | | | | Hex River Valley, but there is a far better one |
| self-centred girl, and when she fell in love with | | | | wine! The wine-producing region is located just a |
| Frans she was determined that he worked hard | | | | 1.5 hour drive from Cape Town and the small |
| for her affections. In order to marry her he must | | | | town of De Dooms boasts South Africas longest |
| pick her a red disa in the kloofs of the | | | | harvest season. Autumn here is magnificent as |
| Matroosberg; the highest peak in South Africas | | | | the vines change into rich reds and golds providing |
| Hex Valley. | | | | a stunning backdrop against the blue-hued |
| The red disa is a stunning bright red orchid, which | | | | mountains. Wine tasting is a must, and many of |
| is still spotted by lucky walkers in the | | | | the local vineyards provide tours of the chateau, |
| Matroosberg. Spottings are rare though and the | | | | followed by brisk lessons in how to sample the |
| plant has a predilection for growing in inaccessible | | | | goods. |
| places, such as ravines and steep mossy gorges. | | | | One of South Africas most friendly game |
| To pick a disa is near impossible without | | | | reserves is located in the Hex River Valley. The |
| mountaineering equipment, and Frans, unprepared | | | | Aquila Reserve, named after a rare black eagle |
| for the task, slipped and fell with a brilliant red disa | | | | that thrives in the area. Aquila is known for its |
| in his hand. | | | | cheetahs and it highlights the plight of this cat and |
| On hearing that her young lover had died, Eliza | | | | its rapidly diminishing numbers. Aquilas cheetahs |
| was beside herself and became mentally unstable. | | | | were born in captivity and therefore dont form |
| Her parents kept her locked her in her bedroom | | | | part of Aquilas game drive, but a safari around |
| and if you had visited the old farmstead a couple | | | | the reserve lets you spot all of South Africas big |
| of years ago, before it was demolished, you | | | | five from lion to rhinoceros. From lion and cheetah |
| would have spotted Eliza 1868 scratched into the | | | | to witches and wine, a trip to the Hex River |
| old windowsill. | | | | Valley is certain to leave you bewitched. |