Riviersonderend today still bubbles
of simplicity. What you see, is what you
get. And "zonderend" (without end) I might add.
In Riviersonderend friendliness overflows and a helping hand always close by because there everything is "zonderend": the majestically endlessly beautiful Sonderend mountain range, the joy after a round of golf on their well maintained course, tasty homemade "boerewors" from the local butcher, great pies from the bakery and a wine shop that boasts with such a wide selection of wines, that if they don't stock it, they will send you in the right direction on where to get it. In the evenings when the sun turns in for the day, it is so quiet that the night steals the show with silence.

A bit of real history - Riviersonderend was established in 1922, when Ms Edith McIntyre sold her farm Tierhoek for 6 000 pounds (R77 940-00 today in SA currency) to the church council, for the establishment of the local Dutch Reformed congregation. The total of the land purchased was 619 morgen (1 morgen is about 2 acres, so that's about 1238 acres) at 6 470 pounds (R84045-30 today). At first they wanted to name Riviersonderend "Nuwedorp" (New Town), but the older residents wanted the name "Rivier Zonder End" (water, never ending water).

The church decided to loan 4000/ 5000 pound (R51960-00/R64950-00) from Theron (the attorney who handled everything). J.T. Mossop, land surveyor, was appointed to survey the plots of the town.

On 27 September 1923 the first auction was held to sell the plots. People who bought these plots were allowed to keep a cow (for milk) and two oxen. Only butchers were allowed to keep sheep. Buyers of these properties were allowed 4 months for down payment without interest. There were 200 plots on the auction and 123 were sold for the amount of 6 230 pound (R80 927-70 today). The plots were sold for about 50 pound (R649-50 today) each. Property is still very affordable in Riviersonderend with your own piece of land to grow your own vegetables and be part of the Overberg's old history.

So think again when you drive into Riviersonderend, a place to explore and stay overnight with a couple of good choices for accommodation, from guest rooms to farm cottages and tented camps. It also offers mountain biking and 4x4 trails or just leisurely read your book, play cards or sit next to the braai with a lekker sonderend "dop" (drink).