Naturally, a stop at the Pledge Nature Reserve would be the highlight of any visit to Knysna. It is well worth following the reserve’s meandering trails to the highest point, where the view over the town and across the water to the Knysna Heads is the breathtaking reward. We meet our very down-to-earth, soft spoken and obviously passionate guide Stanley Grootboom who will take us around the reserve. Above all else Stanley wants to educate visitors about the origins of his people, the Outeniqua San people, their cultural norms and their relationship to some of the plant life on the nature trail. Some of these plants are used for healing purposes, both medicinal and spiritual.

Upon entering the 15 year old nature reserve, Stanley asks for a male volunteer from the group in order to introduce a courtship ritual that young San men took part in to show young women their romantic interest. Three ladies stand a meter or two away from the male volunteer and he pulls and releases an arrow and whomever it falls in front of can pick it up to accept the relationship proposal or ignore it to decline. Unfortunately for our volunteer none of Cupid’s arrows were picked up.

As we walk the trail Stanley educates the group about the history and beliefs of the San people. The San inhabited a great deal of Southern Africa long before the arrival of white settlers at the Cape. Today their migratory movements can be traced through San rock art that adorns the walls of caves and cliffs from the Cape to the Zambezi.

Next we learn about some of the skillfully handmade weapons such as the aloe-stem quiver and arrow. A quiver is made from the root of bark from the quiver tree. Natural poisons are dried and ground into a powder. This powder is then mixed with a gluey substance from the Euphorbia plant, also known as the Spiked Cucumber, to make doughy balls that hunters keep in a sling bag. Of course different poisons are used depending on what is available in the immediate vicinity and some hunters prefer a short spear and a knobkerrie, over bow and arrows. It’s not all hunting: in fact vegetation makes up a significant part of the San’s diet. Though most of the plants the San people eat can’t be found at the Pledge Nature Reserve Stanley touches on these along with the grasses, seeds, berries, insects, fruits and tubers that would be sourced and eaten.

All aspects of traditional San life are closely connected to the natural environment. Clothing is no different. Nothing goes to waste either. All the clothes worn by adults and children are made by the San men from the skins of Springbok, Duiker and other antelope.

Before we come to the end of the trail Stanley is sure to emphasise the rich culture of dance and storytelling in San tradition and day-to-day life. There’s a strong oral history within San communities, something we glean from our own time with Stanley. San history is passed down through storytelling from generation to generation. The stories include historical narratives, tales inspired by legend, myths and San beliefs, and are almost always told by the eldest of the most gifted narrators. If Stanley’s masterful handling of this history is anything to go by then this history is safe for many generations to come. Paradise.