by Ralph Pina | Nov 21, 2020 | hiking, Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
With much perseverance and determination Santie had obtained a permit to hike to Shamrock Lodge (it’s really a basic hiking hut) at Landdroskop, What we didn’t know, however, was that the permit was a “special dispensation”. So when I arrived... 
by Ralph Pina | Oct 29, 2020 | hiking
The MCSA Stellenbosch’s first official post-lockdown outing was a weekend hike to Zebra Peak (1458m ASL; Sebrakop on national geo-spatial maps) on Piketberg. It is located on private land on the plateau rim, north-east of most of the cultivated lands. With the... 
by Ralph Pina | Sep 8, 2020 | hiking, Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
Via Assegaaiboschkloof With Santie having proposed another springtime foray into Assegaaiboschkloof to view the blushing brides in bloom, I misguidedly proposed a refinement to the hike: why not start at the Berg River Dam and continue over Bergriviersnek to... 
by Ralph Pina | Sep 2, 2020 | hiking, Table Mountain National Park
I was keen to hike Table Mountain again after an absence of more than two years. The suggestion that we ascend via Blind Gully sounded interesting, but I was simultaneously wary given the name of the route. I was concerned about exposed scrambling and negotiating... 
by Ralph Pina | Aug 16, 2020 | hiking, Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
Hepic Trail for short. The Hepic is a private hiking trail that follows the route of the original Epic cycle trail above the railway line that snakes out of the Helderberg bowl. It is located north-east of the Gantouw Pass below Hanskop. Access has to be arranged... 
by Ralph Pina | Jul 26, 2020 | hiking, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve
Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Kleinmond I was expecting a stroll with a gradual climb to the Perdeberg lookout, something I have done a couple of times. But I was rapidly disabused of this notion when we veered up onto the Three Sisters ridge and proceeded to scale its...
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