Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Finding Harmony in the Shadows of Cango Caves
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-12-13-08-38-20-af

Story Transcript:

Af: Die heldersonne van die Kaap skyn helder oor die landskap, terwyl die motor van die Van der Merwe-familie deur die kronkelpaadjies slingert.
En: The bright sun of the Kaap shines brightly over the landscape, as the Van der Merwe-family car winds through the twisting roads.

Af: Die windpompie op die dashboard dans saam met elke draai.
En: The windmill on the dashboard dances with every turn.

Af: Die familie is op pad na die Cango-grotte vir 'n Kersfees-avontuur.
En: The family is on their way to the Cango-caves for a Christmas adventure.

Af: Maar binne-in die motor is die spanning tasbaar.
En: But inside the car, the tension is palpable.

Af: Riaan, die oudste broer, sit agter die stuur.
En: Riaan, the eldest brother, sits behind the wheel.

Af: Sy gesig is vasberade; hy wil hê hierdie vakansie moet soepel verloop, veral omdat die laaste paar Kersfeeste in chaos geëindig het.
En: His face is determined; he wants this holiday to go smoothly, especially since the last few Christmases ended in chaos.

Af: Langs hom sit sy ma, Marlise.
En: Next to him sits his mother, Marlise.

Af: Sy frons in spanning, haar senuwees staan dun.
En: She frowns in tension, her nerves are frayed.

Af: Agter in die motor, gesels Anel minagtend op haar selfoon.
En: In the back of the car, Anel talks disdainfully on her cellphone.

Af: Sy is die jonger suster wat voortdurend grense toets.
En: She is the younger sister who constantly tests boundaries.

Af: “Kan ons bietjie stop? Ek wil nie hier wees nie,” kla Anel vanuit die agtersitplek.
En: "Can we stop a bit? I don’t want to be here," complains Anel from the back seat.

Af: Marlise sug.
En: Marlise sighs.

Af: "Anel, ons is al klaar halfpad daar. Probeer geniet dit," sê Marlise gespanne.
En: "Anel, we’re already halfway there. Try to enjoy it," says Marlise tensely.

Af: Anel vou haar arms oor haar bors en staar by die venster uit.
En: Anel folds her arms over her chest and stares out the window.

Af: Uiteindelik besluit Riaan dat 'n stop by 'n skilderagtige uitkykpunt dalk 'n goeie plan is.
En: Finally, Riaan decides that a stop at a scenic viewpoint might be a good plan.

Af: Die gestamp van die motor stop, die lafenis van die natuurskoon belowe 'n oomblik van rus.
En: The bumping of the car stops, the relief of the scenery promises a moment of rest.

Af: Maar onderweg klim Anel uit die motor en begin 'n uitbarsting.
En: But on the way, Anel gets out of the car and starts an outburst.

Af: "Ek is moeg vir al hierdie reëls, altyd moet ek dit of dat doen!" protesteer sy hardop.
En: "I’m tired of all these rules, always having to do this or that!" she protests loudly.

Af: Marlise se gesig verander van moegheid na woede.
En: Marlise's face changes from exhaustion to anger.

Af: “Dis genoeg! Kom ons probeer net hierdie vakansie geniet,” sê Marlise ferm.
En: "That’s enough! Let’s just try to enjoy this holiday," Marlise says firmly.

Af: Die spanning vir Riaan is byna te veel.
En: The tension for Riaan is almost too much.

Af: In daardie oomblik staan hy tussen die twee, die golwe van die son oor sy rug.
En: In that moment, he stands between the two, the waves of the sun over his back.

Af: Hy voel die druk om die gesin bymekaar te hou.
En: He feels the pressure to keep the family together.

Af: Maar hy neem 'n diep asemteug, probeer om die dilemma vanuit Anel se perspektief te sien.
En: But he takes a deep breath, tries to see the dilemma from Anel's perspective.

Af: "Anel, ek verstaan jy voel vasgevang.
En: "Anel, I understand you feel trapped.

Af: Ek glo ons almal stres.
En: I believe we are all stressed.

Af: Maar onthou, ons moet mekaar help.
En: But remember, we have to help each other.

Af: Wat van ons kom saam en geniet die mooi Cango-grotte? Dit is nie elke dag dat ons 'n kans kry om so iets besonders te sien nie," sê hy kalm.
En: What if we come together and enjoy the beautiful Cango-caves? It’s not every day we get a chance to see something so special," he says calmly.

Af: Sy woorde sny deur die gespanne lug.
En: His words cut through the tense air.

Af: Anel glimlag flou, vir die heel eerste keer tydens die trip.
En: Anel smiles faintly, for the very first time during the trip.

Af: "Okay, Miskien kan ek probeer," sê Anel uiteindelik.
En: "Okay, maybe I can try," Anel finally says.

Af: Marlise draai haar kop stadig na Anel en dan Riaan.
En: Marlise slowly turns her head to Anel and then Riaan.

Af: 'n Oomblik van stilte, dan begin almal glimlag.
En: A moment of silence, then everyone begins to smile.

Af: Die reis hervat.
En: The journey resumes.

Af: By die magiese ingang van die Cango-grotte staar die gesin in verwondering.
En: At the magical entrance of the Cango-caves, the family stares in awe.

Af: Die grotte is asemrowend.
En: The caves are breathtaking.

Af: Die deurdringende koelte in die donker rotskamers bring verligting van die somerhitte buite.
En: The penetrating coolness in the dark rock chambers brings relief from the summer heat outside.

Af: Die Van der Merwes staar na die wonder van die stalaktiete wat soos antieke wit drade van die grot se dak hang.
En: The Van der Merwes gaze at the wonder of the stalactites that hang like ancient white threads from the cave's ceiling.

Af: Almal voel die ontsettende kalmte, selfs Anel.
En: Everyone feels the overwhelming calm, even Anel.

Af: Riaan besef dat om beheer te laat gaan, ruimte maak vir begrip.
En: Riaan realizes that letting go of control creates space for understanding.

Af: En soms, is dit al wat 'n gesin nodig het.
En: And sometimes, that’s all a family needs.

Af: Die weg na harmonie is deurdring met empatie, en die somer in sy hart voel ligter.
En: The path to harmony is permeated with empathy, and the summer in his heart feels lighter.


Vocabulary Words:

• bright: helder
• palpable: tasbaar
• determined: vasberade
• frayed: dun
• disdainfully: minagtend
• scenic: skilderagtige
• viewpoint: uitkykpunt
• bumping: gestamp
• outburst: uitbarsting
• trapped: vasgevang
• harmony: harmonie
• empathy: empatie
• entire: heel
• determined: vasberade
• dilemma: dilemma
• understanding: begrip
• penetrating: deurdringende
• coolness: koelte
• relief: verligting
• breathtaking: asemrowend
• stalactites: stalaktiete
• threads: drade
• overwhelming: ontsettende
• control: beheer
• chaos: chaos
• adventure: avontuur
• landscape: landskap
• siblings: broers en susters
• boundaries: grense
• resumes: hervat