Ralph Pina
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Fighting the Kogelberg fire

Fighting the Kogelberg fire

by Ralph Pina | Mar 21, 2011 | conservation, firefighting, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve

The latest fire that swept through the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve last week was nothing short of disastrous. Young veld burnt again and all the eleven-year old veld has been destroyed, so that, in the words of a nature conservation official, “everything between...

Paddling up the Steenbras

by Ralph Pina | Feb 14, 2011 | kayaking, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve

There isn’t actually much of the Steenbras River to paddle up, even on a kayak – only about 300 metres. Rather it’s the 13 km round-trip paddle from Gordon’s Bay harbour and the usually benign, but spectacular, rivermouth entrance that is most...

Kayak Rooiels-Pringle Bay, Kogelberg Coast

by Ralph Pina | May 30, 2010 | kayaking, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve

On this crisp morning, Deon and I launched at Rooiels and paddled out to look for the first Southern Right whales of the season, but it seems it’s still too early. So we settled for a paddle down the coast to Pringle Bay and brunch. A fairly heavy swell was...

Hiking in Kogelberg

by Ralph Pina | Mar 22, 2009 | conservation, hiking, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, scenic walks, trails

The Kogelberg Biosphere and Nature Reserve is my playground. When we’re not kayaking here, we are hiking its many routes. Kogelberg is the jewel in the crown of the Cape’s floral kingdom protected areas that make up the World Heritage Site. If the...

Sea kayaking in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve

by Ralph Pina | Jan 12, 2008 | kayaking, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve

On most weekends, Deon and I paddle and sail this coast, spending countless enjoyable hours. Spring is whale season off the South Africa’s Cape coast. The Southern Rights cruise the sanctuaries in their hundreds. On this day Deon and I paddled around to...

Sea kayaking from Hangklip to Gordons Bay

by Ralph Pina | Nov 14, 2004 | kayaking, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve

A 40km paddle along some of the most beautiful coastline in the Cape – Cape Hangklip to Gordons Bay. (“Hangklip” = “Hanging Rock”) [HTML1] Or download the GPS track and open in Google Earth
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Welcome to RalphPina.com

Thank you for visiting my outdoor blog. RalphPina.com documents my experiences over many years of appreciating, and adventuring in, Nature. It celebrates visual beauty, advocates minimal impact, reflects on humans’ relationship with our ecosphere, spans the planet but focuses on the wild diversity of southern Africa. Photos, videos and GPS maps of hiking, cycling, kayaking, abseiling, canoeing and windsurfing..

Recent Posts

  • Schaaprivier Canyon
  • Botmaskop-Saaltjie Traverse
  • Springstygbeugel
  • Helderberg West Peak
  • Botanising trilogy
  • Grootkop
  • Aasvoëlkrans Hiking Trail
  • Perdeberg hike
  • Kasteelkop & Nek
  • Three Sisters hike
  • Up the Cascades
  • Erdvark Trail

Recent Comments

  • Pam Wijnberg on Grootkop
  • Flip van Schalkwyk on Gantouw Pass
  • Joachim Schultz on Witels – what else?
  • Piet Streicher on Hike above Kogelbaai
  • Ralph Pina on Smitswinkel – Simon’s Town Traverse

Navigate

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Friends

  • A friend cycles around the world
  • Peter Groves
  • Santie Gouws Mountain Walking Guide

Good Causes

  • Fire Information System for SA
  • The Cape Leopard Trust

Hiking sites I like

  • Boots and Fins
  • Ian Webb's Great Hikes in the Western Cape
  • Jacques Niemand – interesting hikes
  • Maps – Hike the Cederberg
  • Mountain Club of SA Stellenbosch Section
  • Mountain Meanders

Mountain & Hiking guides

  • Santie Gouws Mountain Walking Guide

Parks

  • Cape Nature
  • SANParks

Archives

Recent Posts

  • Schaaprivier Canyon
  • Botmaskop-Saaltjie Traverse
  • Springstygbeugel
  • Helderberg West Peak
  • Botanising trilogy
  • Grootkop
  • Aasvoëlkrans Hiking Trail
  • Perdeberg hike
  • Kasteelkop & Nek
  • Three Sisters hike
  • Up the Cascades
  • Erdvark Trail
  • Rod’s Trail, Betty’s Bay
  • Spanning the red stone arches
  • Gamkaberg Plan B
  • Fonteintjiesberg
  • Swartberg Pass over the years
  • Cape of Good Hope Trail once again
  • Fairy Glen – Plateau – Kasteelkopnek trail
  • Smitswinkel – Simon’s Town recce
  • Paddling with wild horses
  • Rooielsberg peak
  • Karoo corridor MTB tour
  • A walk on the Wild Coast
  • A northern Kruger cultural safari

Recent Comments

  • Pam Wijnberg on Grootkop
  • Flip van Schalkwyk on Gantouw Pass
  • Joachim Schultz on Witels – what else?
  • Piet Streicher on Hike above Kogelbaai
  • Ralph Pina on Smitswinkel – Simon’s Town Traverse
August 2026
MTWTFSS
 12
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31 
« Jul    

Recent Posts

  • Schaaprivier Canyon
  • Botmaskop-Saaltjie Traverse
  • Springstygbeugel
  • Helderberg West Peak
  • Botanising trilogy

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License except where otherwise indicated for some photos. Kindly attribute by linking to this site or citing “www.ralphpina.com”.

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