May 17, 2025

Mystery Melody of Kirstenbosch: A Botanist’s Journey Revealed

15 minutes

Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Mystery Melody of Kirstenbosch: A Botanist’s Journey Revealed
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-05-17-22-34-02-af

Story Transcript:

Af: In die koel en kleurvolle herfs van Kirstenbosch Botaniese Tuin staan Pieter, Anika, en Jaco by die ingang.
En: In the cool and colorful autumn of Kirstenbosch Botaniese Tuin, Pieter, Anika, and Jaco stand at the entrance.

Af: Die blare om hulle heen is roesbruin en goud.
En: The leaves around them are reddish-brown and gold.

Af: 'n Sagte windjie wieg deur die takke en dra 'n geheimsinnige melodie met hom saam.
En: A gentle breeze moves through the branches, carrying a mysterious melody with it.

Af: Pieter, 'n toegewydde plantkundige, luister gefassineer.
En: Pieter, a dedicated botanist, listens fascinated.

Af: Hierdie klank is vir hom bekend, maar hy weet nie hoekom nie.
En: This sound is familiar to him, but he does not know why.

Af: Dit het 'n eienaardige manier om hom te laat onthou, om hom te laat voel daar is iets belangrik wat hy moet ontdek.
En: It has a peculiar way of making him remember, making him feel there is something important he must discover.

Af: Die melodie dans deur die lug en dan verdwyn dit.
En: The melody dances through the air and then disappears.

Af: "Kan julle die musiek hoor?
En: "Can you hear the music?"

Af: " vra Pieter, sy stem vol nuuskierigheid en 'n sweem van onrus.
En: asks Pieter, his voice full of curiosity and a hint of unease.

Af: "Ja," antwoord Anika, haar groen oë oplettend.
En: "Yes," answers Anika, her green eyes attentive.

Af: "Dit klink so mooi en ook 'n bietjie vreemd.
En: "It sounds so beautiful and also a bit strange."

Af: "Jaco, wat altyd gereed is vir 'n avontuur, lag.
En: Jaco, who is always ready for an adventure, laughs.

Af: "Kom ons vind uit waar dit vandaan kom!
En: "Let's find out where it comes from!"

Af: " sê hy.
En: he says.

Af: "Ek wed dit is iemand wat versteek speletjies in die tuin speel.
En: "I bet it's someone playing hide-and-seek in the garden."

Af: "Hulle begin stap, elkeen versigtig om die blare op te tel wat in hul pad val.
En: They start walking, each careful to pick up the leaves that fall in their path.

Af: Pieter voel die verlange in hom groei, 'n drang om die bron van die betowerende klank te vind.
En: Pieter feels the longing in him grow, a drive to find the source of the enchanting sound.

Af: Hy weet daar is 'n storie hier, 'n geskiedenis wat hy moet verstaan.
En: He knows there is a story here, a history he must understand.

Af: Hulle volg die toon wat wissel tussen blomme en struike.
En: They follow the tune that wavers between flowers and shrubs.

Af: Later kruip hulle by 'n versteekte paadjie in wat deur jare van verwaarlosing verborge gebly het.
En: Later, they crawl into a hidden path that has remained concealed after years of neglect.

Af: Die pad ly na 'n afgesonderde deel van die tuin wat hulle voorheen nie gesien het nie.
En: The path leads to a secluded part of the garden they haven't seen before.

Af: Die melodie groei luider, trek Pieter nader soos 'n magneet.
En: The melody grows louder, pulling Pieter closer like a magnet.

Af: Anika en Jaco hou 'n ent terug, bemoedigend glimlaggend.
En: Anika and Jaco stay a little back, smiling encouragingly.

Af: Pieter stap verder, vasbeslote al voel hy die ou vrees in sy bors klop.
En: Pieter steps forward, determined even as he feels the old fear beating in his chest.

Af: Hy bereik 'n afgesonderde oopte.
En: He reaches a secluded clearing.

Af: Hier draai hy, en die herrinneringe oorval hom.
En: Here he turns, and the memories overwhelm him.

Af: Die laaste plek waar hy die melodie gehoor het, was met sy oupas en oumas, lank terug voor hulle vertrek het na 'n ander wêreld.
En: The last place he heard the melody was with his grandparents, long ago before they departed to another world.

Af: Die plek waar hy altyd geglo het hulle gelukkig was.
En: The place where he always believed they were happy.

Af: Met die besef kom 'n vrede, en die melodie verander.
En: With the realization comes peace, and the melody changes.

Af: Dit word sagter en vryer, en met een laaste noot, eindig dit in stilte.
En: It becomes softer and freer, and with one final note, it ends in silence.

Af: Pieter weet nou hierdie plek wou hom steeds iets vertel, en daardie iets was sy ouers se liefde.
En: Pieter knows now that this place still wanted to tell him something, and that something was his parents' love.

Af: Daar staan hy, omring deur prag van die tuin en die vrede van 'n opgeloste hart.
En: There he stands, surrounded by the splendor of the garden and the peace of a resolved heart.

Af: Hy draai om en sien sy vriende nader kom, hulle gesigte vol belangstelling en deernis.
En: He turns and sees his friends approaching, their faces full of interest and compassion.

Af: Hy glimlag, opreg, bevryd.
En: He smiles, sincerely, liberated.

Af: Die melodie het hom gewys wat hy nodig gehad het om aan te beweeg.
En: The melody showed him what he needed to move on.

Af: Hulletjie drentel terug, die tuin nog vol misterie, maar een geheime woordeloos vlinder nou tussen hulle, vir altyd hul eie storie.
En: They wander back, the garden still full of mystery, but one secret now flutters between them wordlessly, forever their own story.

Af: En so word ‘n ou herinnering, ‘n nuwe begin.
En: And so, an old memory becomes a new beginning.

Vocabulary Words: