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Swaledale Outdoor Club |
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Swaledale Outdoor Club |
| > Home > Newsletter > Walking > South Africa |
South AfricaAs many SOC members joined Maura and I in South Africa I feel it appropriate to write briefly on the 3 trips made. The first holiday was mainly aimed at the Drakensberg, that range of “one sided” mountains which runs parallel to the east coast of South Africa and which are essentially the edge of the Southern African plateau. We firstly visited the Pilansberg National Park, an extinct volcano teeming with wild-life. It was very hot and we saw a tremendous amount of animals and birds - a good entry into Africa! Next the Magaliesberg mountains west of Pretoria but alas we had mediocre weather for much of our visit - we climbed a very fine 80ft chain ladder to gain access to the mountain top but saw very few vultures for which the area is famed. At the Royal Natal Park we enjoyed 2 excellent day walks (with more chain ladders) in wonderful weather. After that the remote camp of Ingasuti in a beautiful valley. One day walk was possible, up a cataract valley navigating through thick mist and lunch in a Bushmans cave. Next day torrential rain! Giants Castle next with more Bushman caves Eland, Mountain Rhebuck etc. Next "Mount Everest" neat Harrismith, in chalets way up a mountainside above thick bush and with herds of animals on the plains below. Before catching the plane back to UK we visited ”Gold Reef City”, a Joberg theme park based on a gold mine. One could walk along old Joberg streets, go down the gold mine, see Africans dancing, etc - probably a fitting finish to the holiday. The next two groups flew into Cape Town and stayed in the old Royal Navy base of Simonstown - penguin colony nearby. Getting used to the heat with a walk around Cape of Good Hope/Cape Point (where the Atlantic meets the Indian Ocean) we saw baboons, eland, various lizards and lots of sea birds. Table Mountain next day, a hard walk up and a long way down. We then moved along the Garden Route to Knysna where we walked round Robbery Peninsular with seals, hammer head sharks and lots of birds. We rode on a famous steam train along the Garden Route also. Addo Elephant Park next with thick bush and large elephant population as well as Black Rhino, buffalo, Kudo, eland etc. (a bit of wild Africa!) At Storms River in the Tsitsikama National Park we enjoyed various grades of day walks from coastal boulder-hopping to cool forest to hot and hard ascents in 30 degrees plus temperature, and stayed in chalets 30 yards away from a wild sea which crashed against a boulder beach and where dolphins played (second trip only). Moving to Gordons Bay near Cape Town we visited a Vineyard, hiked on the Helderberg Nature Reserve (Proteas everywhere and birds galore!) and explored the city and waterfront of Cape Town. The trips were concluded by sailing in Table Bay on a schooner as the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean and the light faded over Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town. I hope all enjoyed themselves - I think they did! John Deighton |