Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Rediscovering the Lost Secrets of Kirstenbosch
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-06-20-22-34-02-af

Story Transcript:

Af: Die reuk van reën hang in die lug bo Kirstenbosch se pragtige bome.
En: The smell of rain hangs in the air above Kirstenbosch's beautiful trees.

Af: Pieter stap stadig oor die smal paadjies, sy oë skerp en op die uitkyk vir die verrassende verskyning.
En: Pieter walks slowly over the narrow paths, his eyes sharp and on the lookout for the surprising appearance.

Af: 'n Plant, lank reeds as uitgesterf beskou, het moontlik een aand hier gespruit.
En: A plant, long considered extinct, possibly sprouted here one night.

Af: Die winterse briesie kielie sy wange terwyl hy nader aan die plek kom waar die skaars plant kamtig gevind is.
En: The winter breeze tickles his cheeks as he comes closer to the spot where the rare plant was supposedly found.

Af: Langs hom loop Annelize, haar hande diep in haar baadjiesakke.
En: Next to him walks Annelize, her hands deep in her jacket pockets.

Af: Sy gluur skepties na die bossies om hulle, haar voete amper geluidloos op die klam grond.
En: She looks skeptically at the bushes around them, her feet almost silent on the damp ground.

Af: Sy was altyd die een wat nie aan toeval geglo het nie.
En: She was always the one who didn't believe in coincidence.

Af: "Ek is nie seker nie, Pieter," sê sy twyfelend.
En: "I'm not sure, Pieter," she says doubtfully.

Af: "Dinge soos hierdie gebeur nie sommer net nie.
En: "Things like this don't just happen."

Af: "Maar Pieter, met sy liefde vir raaisels en plante, is vasbeslote.
En: But Pieter, with his love of mysteries and plants, is determined.

Af: "Ons moet probeer.
En: "We have to try.

Af: As hierdie plant regtig hier is, is dit belangrik.
En: If this plant is really here, it's important.

Af: Ons moet weet hoekom dit skielik verskyn het.
En: We need to know why it suddenly appeared."

Af: "Teen die aand is die lug donker en stil.
En: By evening, the sky is dark and still.

Af: Die sterre flikkering bo hulle koppe.
En: The stars twinkle above their heads.

Af: Pieter en Annelize sluip deur die tuin.
En: Pieter and Annelize sneak through the garden.

Af: Die klanke van die stad ver dof in die agtergrond.
En: The sounds of the city faint in the background.

Af: Hulle stop voor die plek waar die plant gesien was.
En: They stop in front of the spot where the plant was seen.

Af: Pieter skyn sy flitslig oor die grond en opmerk iets glinsterends.
En: Pieter shines his flashlight over the ground and notices something glinting.

Af: Verbaas buk hy af en vind klein stukkies papier en vreemde tekens in die grond.
En: Amazed, he bends down and finds small pieces of paper and strange markings in the ground.

Af: Annelize buk nader.
En: Annelize bends closer.

Af: "Dit is notas!
En: "These are notes!"

Af: " sê sy, verwonderd.
En: she says, amazed.

Af: Voetstappe begin stadig agter hulle nader kom, die gruis vergruisend onder swaar stewels.
En: Footsteps slowly begin to approach behind them, the gravel crunching under heavy boots.

Af: 'n Groot figuur verskyn uit die skaduwees.
En: A large figure emerges from the shadows.

Af: Hulle hou die keer asem op.
En: They hold their breath this time.

Af: Maar dan, tot hulle verbasing, besef hulle dat dit die ou tuinier is, 'n legende in sy eie reg, iemand wat...