Back Road Karoo Ramblings

BACK ROAD KAROO RAMBLINGS

Chris Marais and Julienne du Toit, photojournalists and independent publishers

Thursday 21–Friday 22 January  3.00 pm  COURSE FEES R230; Staff and students R115

This two-lecture course explores the landscapes, communities and resilience of South Africa’s Karoo through rich visual storytelling and grounded local insight.

In the first lecture, participants are taken on an immersive journey through the vast and evocative Karoo. Through a curated slideshow and narrative reflections, we traverse remote back roads, uncovering the region’s unique character – its striking landscapes, hidden histories and the diverse people who call it home. Along the way, participants encounter compelling stories and intimate portraits that illuminate both the beauty and complexity of life in the Karoo.

Building on this journey, the second lecture examines the role of civil society in sustaining and revitalising small Karoo towns. It highlights how local communities respond to governance challenges to protect cultural heritage, architectural identity and essential infrastructure. Through practical examples, the speakers reflect on grassroots action, collective responsibility, and the lessons the Karoo offers for community-led development and preservation more broadly.

Lecture titles

Back road Karoo ramblings
Saving a small town: lessons from the Karoo

Recommended reading

Marais, C and Du Toit, J. 2018. Moving to the Platteland: Life in Small Town South Africa. South Africa: MLM Publishers.

Marais, C and Du Toit, J. 2020. Karoo Roads: Tales from South Africa’s Heartland, I–IV. South Africa: MLM Publishers.

Marais, C and Du Toit, J. 2026. Klein Karoo Magic. Cradock: Main Line Media. Blogs, news and features which can be found on the Daily Maverick website.

TO BOOK: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/performance.aspx?itemid=1603264919

Chris Marais and Julienne du Toit are award-winning photojournalists and independent publishers who specialise in all matters Karoo. Together, they have published eight books based on their travels and general research in South Africa’s semi-desert heartland region which covers nearly 40% of the country’s land surface.They work in the fields of travel, wildlife, environment, cultural, heritage, lifestyle and human interest, covering more than 100 towns and villages in the Karoo. Both are former newspaper people: Chris was at the Rand Daily Mail and Julienne worked at The Star – both based in Johannesburg. Their latest book series is the popular Karoo Roads 1-4, full of long-form journalism and monochrome photography. They are coming to Cape Town in January 2025 to take their UCT Summer School audience on a long and winding trip (in words and pictures) through their vast home ground.