Ou Oewerwagter River Bushwillow (Combretum erythrophyllum) He has stood here longer than most can remember, his roots woven deep into the riverbank like the threads of an old storyteller’s cloak. He has seen the floods rage and the waters retreat, felt the weight of the sun and the whispers of the wind. The river tries to pull him in, year after year, but he holds fast, unmoved, unbroken.

Beneath his branches, weary travelers have rested, fishermen have dreamed, and campers have listened to his rustling leaves tell the secrets of the Vaal. And now, a young warrior stands beside him, Voetsoldaat Vloedvas, a sapling born of his strength. But still, the old one remains, his shadow long, his wisdom deep.

When the Fish Eagle cries and the river swells, listen carefully… You might just hear the voice of Ou Oewerwagter, murmuring the old songs of water, wind, and time.