This was a slack-packing trip to “Kleinrivier Mountain Escapes”, in the eastern end of the Grootwinterhoek range, near Uitenhage. It borders on the Groendal Wilderness Area (the oldest Wilderness Area in South Africa!). There were two privileged ones who were driven up.
We gathered in dribs and drabs at “Pepper Tree Cottage” on the Karoo vlaktes on the afternoon of the 19th, and discovered a homeless man sleeping under the Pepper Tree the next morning!
It was a 7 hour walk at a leisurely pace along Kleinrivier gorge up to Stone Mountain Lodge the next day, with a swim or two: luckily the rivers were flowing strongly after good rains; and a stop to view rock art.
Stone Mountain Lodge is a unique structure nestled against a huge boulder at 920 m elevation, with spectacular
views over the Karoo and surrounding mountains. We all lapped it all up.
On the following days various subgroups did a number of easy to moderate walks on trails in the area. A Peak was bagged: Strydomsberg, requiring two attempts! Five of us did a two-night trip carrying full packs, sleeping in magnificent Gallery Cave, complete with built-in waterfall shower, and enjoying a number of swims in beautiful crystal clear mountain pools; the river was in flood condition.
The trip down was a six hour walk, with more swims en route. No-one got lost.
The group enjoyed the stunning vegetation that is so different to south cape fynbos. And because we were in the area for seven days, we were immersed in a total experience of the mountain in all its moods, from hot bergwind to misty and windy cold fronts, and delightful weather in between.
We were kindly given a special Mountain Club rate for staying at Stone Lodge; please can you “like” their Facebook page as a token of appreciation: https://www.facebook.com/kleinriviermountainescapes/
Participants: Bill & Di Turner, Greg & Cheryl Devine, Tony & Evie Bowen, Ed & Mimi Shuttleworth, Clive Louw,
Gonny Houtsma, Charles Smith, Werner Illenberger & Zeta Michau
