Verbatim Books

Our South African adventure is divided into four parts – Cape Town, the Garden Route, Johannesburg, and a safari up near the Botswana border in Madikwe. This week, we kicked off part two with the capital of Cape wine country, Stellenbosch.

Stellenbosch was exactly the pick-me-up we needed – a blur of vineyard tours, languid meals, and mountain views. On our way out of town, we stopped by Verbatim Books (what a great name, right?) an incredibly charming bookstore complete with window seats, curio cabinets full of books, and an Insta-bait bicycle out front. With its Afrikaans sign and laid back business hours – it was open from just 10-2 on the day we visited – this place feels uniquely South African and yet instantly comfortable.

Verbatim has about 300 square feet, several shelves dedicated to African writing, and one owner who looked very bemused to find her shop subjected to an impromptu photo shoot. After browsing longingly, trying to calculate how many books I can buy in this country before going home in a carry-on becomes impossible, I walked out with Alan Paton’s Cry, The Beloved Country.

We’re now on our way to Mossel Bay, to round out our vacation with some sand, surf, and seafood. More to come!