Breede River
The Breede rises in the Hex River Mountains, in a deep and dark gorge behind Michell's Pass that takes three days to descend, starting behind Waaihoek Peak.
From there it flows between the jagged Hex River and Slanghoek ranges, sneaks one way around the Du Toitskloof Mountains past Worcester (where it is temporarily held up in Brandvlei Dam), and then slinks the other way around the Langeberg and through the superlative wine region of Robertson. From there it's pretty much opening sailing to the sea at Cape Infanta.
Once upon a time it was an important shipping lane, helping to open up the Overberg economically. The Barry family, after whom Barrydale is named, controlled the river and wagon route into the interior. It is still navigable by motorboat about 30 km inland, from its mouth to the Malgas ferry.
In 2009 the estuary hit the news when a 4-m Zambezi shark was caught and tagged some 10 km upriver - it was not only the largest recorded of its kind but was also the furthest south. Duly named Nyami Nyami after the mythical Zambezi River serpent, it was later tracked 30 km upstream.
Berg River
The last remaining place where the very rare blushing bride Proteaceae is found naturally, Assegaaibos Kloof, in the mountains behind Franschhoek, is also where the Berg River rises.
In the greater interests of the region's human inhabitants, not one but two dams have been built on the river's uppermost reaches and as such the 'pride of Franschhoek' might in the future be somewhat more concrete than floral.
Where the Breede rises north of here and flows southwards to the Indian Ocean, the Berg flows northwards to the Atlantic; at one point, in line with the town of Wolseley, they pass within 20 km of each other, on either side of the Limietberg. The Berg disgorges into St Helena Bay at Velddrif, a colourful fishing town.
This is where it all seems to hang together - the vines, the oak trees, the whitewashed houses and even the red and white roses planted next...