SOUTH AFRICAN FILM31 JUL 2026In ‘The Trek’, the land speaks for itselfDiscover ‘The Trek’, a powerful South African film arriving in cinemas on July 31. Set in the unforgiving Kgalagadi…Kibo Ngowi7 min read

Boundless and unyielding, caring only for what lies ahead The land, its silent companion, bears the weight of its passage These are the opening words ofThe Trek, arriving in South African cinemas on Friday, 31 July, spoken in the Khoekhoen language of Khoekhoegowab. , arriving in South African cinemas on Friday, 31 July, spoken in the Khoekhoen language of Khoekhoegowab. Delivered by cultural custodian Collin Meyer, they set the tone for a potent blend of western, horror and psychological thriller.

Set in 1846 against the harsh, desolate landscape of the Kgalagadi desert,The Trekfollows four settlers: Afrikaans farmer Karel Uys, his wife Jakoba, their young daughter Karolina and their English benefactor, Henry Blake. Karel and Henry have struck a deal: if Karel can guide Blake through the unforgiving Kgalagadi, he’ll receive 200 hectares of land in return. But the journey quickly begins to unravel when Henry scares off both horses pulling their wagon, then later kills one of them.

More intriguingly, they’re joined by a mysterious Khoen man named Atshumao, who returns the remaining horse and offers to help them find water. Without venturing into spoiler territory, there are forces at