South Africans, in general, are not very history-minded but they love stories. How to create a history which is attractive for non-history-minded people? Very simple: just create a ‘hi-hi-story’: historical facts interwoven in a real South African story. That is what happens at Soekershof Walkabout in Robertson and visitors ‘eat’ hi-hi-story. In many ways this ‘magical place’ in the Klaas Voogds Valley, 8 km East of Robertson, is a breeding place for stories, hi-hi-stories included. Soekershof itself is a story that has become uncontrollable. What are the (real) facts? After 24 years of neglect the farm Soekershof in Klaas Voogds West in Robertson gets new owners in April 2000. The Dutch couple wants to tighten things up a bit and than to travel for a few years but during one of the first days of their presence they discover a memorial tablet of Marthinus Malherbe (born in 1885 and died in 1976). Since than the Soekershof story took its own course. Malherbe is the (amateur) botanist who introduced cacti and other American succulents in South Africa. Except for the prickly pear, which was introduced in the beginning of the eighteenth century. The first cactus (Pachycereus Weberii) germinated under his hands dates back to 1910 and stands opposite his grave at Soekershof. In 1954 Malherbe decided to commercialize his ‘hobby’ and started cactus nursery SHEILAM next to Soekershof. Alle the large cacti in the garden of this nursery are planted by Malherbe in 1954. 11 Years later, in 1965, the than 80 year old Malherbe decides to retire and sells the nursery to the present owning family. At Soekershof he creates a new garden which was in 1971 reviewed as the most beautiful succulent garden in the Southern Hemisphere by the British Royal Horticultural Society. Fiver years later, however he dies and since than the garden was neglected for 24 years. In the past six years the main succulent garden of Soekershof has been intensively turned upside down; removing diseased plants and replacing these with new ones. Soil mixtures were made which characteristics match those of the native areas of the different plants. This resulted in an unique garden with more than 2400 succulents from different habitats and climate zones and including cacti in the unprotected open air; very much unlike a nursery which has most of its species under cover of a roof or a shade net. Specialist institutes in Germany and Holland scientifically support this part of Soekershof. The name Soekershof was given by Malherbe in 1965 for his wife (who survived him for 18 years with Alzheimer) was always searching for things of which she forgot where she had put them. After restoring the garden the new owners start to think about the ‘filling up the 6 hectares in the back’ and they immediate think of a maze. It’s a quest for life. Without any knowledge of mazes they just make one and than it turns out that this Klaas Voogds Maze is the largest hedge-maze in the world. The total net-surface is 13870 sqm; the total number of hedge-shrubs exceeds 4000 divided over 8 different species of which the 6 Tecoma capensis (Cape honeysuckle) and 26 Hibiscus varieties flower almost year-round. And since the Dutch found out that South Africans love a good story why not integrate those in this giant maze? At several ‘resting-points’ in the maze visitors find objects-with-a-story and since Soekershof is a magical place these objects originate from different continents around the globe. There are also objects without a story; visitors are invited to create their own stories. And who thinks that a maze is a ‘playground’ for children should visit Soekershof to find out that especially adults behave themselves as kids. Almost at last, but not at least: Soekershof is making history. The first preparations have been made for ‘The Maze of the year 4000’. Three Ficus religiosa (Buddha trees) are planted. These trees need a few thousand years to age into wisdom; thus forming a gigantic roof of approximately one hectare with aerial roots through which visitors (aliens maybe?) have to find their way. Indeed; those Dutch may be a bit “weird” but they are also very “passionate” in creating and recreating an unique landscape with more than 4000 different plants, including rare indigenous ones which one can hardly (or not at all) find at ordinary nurseries. No wonder that an slow growing but increasing number of botanists and horticulturists from around the globe are starting to discover the hidden botanical treasure of South Africa. Soekershof WalkaboutMazes & Botanical Gardens Primary Unusual DestinationCertified by Fair Trade in Tourism in South Africa Klaas Voogds West, P.O. Box 291, Robertson 6705, South AfricaTel: +27 (0)23 626 4134Skype: soekershofE-mail: soekershof@lando.co.zaWebsite: http://www.soekershof.com  Mission statement:Soekershof Walkabout is a sacred enterprise, based on an appreciation of nature, humor, play, creation, expression and respect for the land, and the growth and development of the people and plants who participate -employees and visitors alike.