This meet was postponed from May to this date because of bad weather in May. The purpose was mainly to familiarise the would-be leaders during the upcoming Minicamp with the different routes in the area. But what would a meet in this lovely area be without exploring a piece of unknown high ground... We were [...]
Bobbejaansberg (994m) lies on the western boundary of Garden Route National Park, while to its west lies the Bergplaas forestry area. While not regarded as a notable mountaineering peak to climb, it is nevertheless a worthwhile hiking destination, and provides an interesting perspective of the surrounding Outeniqua Mountains. The party “ready to go”: Charles Smith, [...]
To Eland or not to Eland – or possibly (To) ring or not (To) ring. Those were the questions that surfaced weeks prior to Sunday’s outing and really started to come sharply into focus 7 days prior. The hike came within a whisker of cancellation on both counts, and I think all who took part [...]
The North Cederberg seems to be slightly less prominently placed on hikers “to do list” than its Central or Southern regions. Perhaps it appears to be further away on the map and hence more out of reach but in fact getting there is comparatively quick and easy as we found last weekend. The Kliphuis campsite [...]
We spent four days in the Swartberg camping near the old shelter on the path to Towerkop. Four members participated, Greg Devine, Cheryl Devine, Johann Schwarz and myself Gillian Forbes. The first day we backpacked up to the shelter and set up camp. The second day we set off up the mountain to the first [...]
The Klein Karoo never stops to surprise you. The Gamkaberg Nature reserve is one of those surprises. From a distance the Gamkaberg doesn't look like a proper mountain. It is almost like the Magaliesberg viewed from the north – not impressive at all. But when you get into it, the deep ravines are just wonderful [...]
Participants: Werner Frei, Gillian Forbes, Stuart Neill, Nelia Parmaklieva and Johann Schwarz The spectacular Garden Route coastline is well known for its pristine beaches and its rugged rocky outcrops. The 10km section from Keurboomstrand to Nature’s Valley is seldom done in its entirety, since there is a section in the middle where the sandy beaches [...]
I have often said that one needs two lifetimes just to explore all the mountains in South Africa (left alone the rest of the world). This hike proved that there is always something unknown to explore. I knew about this gorge, eroded by the Gamka and Gourits Rivers, right through the Gamkaberg/Rooiberg in The Klein [...]
The 11 intrepid explorers assembled at 8:30 am next to the Nautical South Restaurant at Brenton on Sea. Hanna Edge, Avril Fichardt, Gillian Forbes, Janet Moore and Cheryl Devine with Ed Kay-Shuttleworth behind them, Werner Frei, Wolf Schneider and Greg Devine and Dave Edge in deep conversation. Eugene Fichardt took the photograph (and all the [...]
Undertaking a monster peak for the first real hike of the year (real, as measured by the “Mountain Richter” scale) was always going to be a risky venture. At the tail end of Summer in the Klein Swartberg there is a high probability of a “Baptism of Fire” or a “Waterlogged Christening”. 7 days before [...]