A Road Trip for Inspiration

Over a recent long weekend, we set out on a small road trip in search of inspiration.

Our destination was the Midlands Meander in KwaZulu-Natal, a region once known for its creative spaces, craft workshops, and artists working alongside the road. My sister remembered it well from years ago, a place where you could step into a workshop, speak to the maker, and see craftsmanship come to life.

So off we went, hoping to reconnect with some of that spirit.

Scrap presented as Art.

What we found was different.

Many of the original workshops had moved elsewhere. Rising rents had pushed many makers into more affordable spaces away from the main road. In their place were retail outlets offering similar products to what one might find in many towns or markets.

The creativity had not disappeared, but it had become harder to see.

We had hoped to speak with artists and craftspeople, perhaps even capture a few moments to share on this website. Instead, many of the workshops now operate offsite, where the work happens quietly, away from the public eye.

One unexpected encounter made the trip worthwhile.

At the small bed and breakfast where we stayed on our second night, we met a welder who had once rented a space in one of the roadside markets. The rent had simply become too high to sustain.

He now works independently, recycling old garden tools into furniture and fittings. One piece he showed us was a beautiful chair: rusted chains welded together for the legs, with two old garden forks forming the curved backrest. Carefully finished and varnished smooth, so even knitted clothing brushing past would not catch.

A piece full of imagination, and full of life.

Another inspiring stop was a small gallery displaying local pencil sketches of South African wildlife and sculptural pieces that invited the viewer’s imagination to wander. Yet even here, the artists themselves were not present.

And that is what stayed with us.

Not the absence of creativity, but the absence of connection.

Spaces that once allowed visitors to watch, ask questions, learn, and be inspired have gradually shifted toward retail alone. The making still happens, but often out of sight.

For us, this road trip was both a disappointment and a confirmation.

It reminded us why concepts like Activity Village feel so important.

Places where creating is visible again. Where knowledge is shared. Where generations can sit, learn, and talk. Where older people do not lose their creative space simply because life circumstances change.

A place where simply sitting nearby, watching hands at work, can bring joy.

Because human creativity is not something that should be hidden away.

It is something that should remain part of everyday life.