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Burnt dogs, no Englishmen

Burnt dogs, no Englishmen

by Santie Gouws | Dec 31, 2020 | Cederberg Wilderness Area, hiking, wilderness trail

A wilderness hike in the Cederberg in December is not everybody’s cup of tea, so when the weather report predicted the mercury rising to a scorching 40°C on day 3 of the proposed trip, I was quite surprised when there were no last minute cancellations, even from the...
Mad dogs and Englishmen …

Mad dogs and Englishmen …

by Ralph Pina | Dec 24, 2020 | Cederberg Wilderness Area, hiking, wilderness trail

… go out in the midday sun (in the Cederberg in summer) Or so the song goes. Except that the hiking group comprised a Belgian, a German, a half-Dutchman, a half-Greek-Cypriot and a boeremeisie – the instigator. All keen hikers and outdoorspeople. Almost...
A militarised Wolhuter Wilderness Trail

A militarised Wolhuter Wilderness Trail

by Ralph Pina | Aug 26, 2019 | Kruger National Park, safari travel, trails, wilderness trail

Kruger National Park This was my third or fourth Wolhuter Trail since the late nineties, but it was like no other. The anti-poaching ¨war¨ has changed the atmosphere in the park. It is like we are clinging on to a century-old, island model of conservation that is...

Langeberg Traverse – Rim of Africa

by Ralph Pina | Nov 24, 2014 | Boosmansbos Wilderness Area, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, hiking, Marloth Nature Reserve, trails, wilderness trail

“A mountain journey of no ordinary experience” goes the Rim of Africa tagline. It suggests an other-worldly, spiritual journey, or maybe a quest that will test you deeply. If I expected profound epiphanies as I wrestled with career frustration and anger, I...

Fish River Canyon Trail

by Ralph Pina | May 18, 2014 | Ai-Ais/Richtersveld, Fish River Canyon, hiking, Namibia, trails, wilderness trail

“…in  the desert you can’t remember your name / ‘cos there ain’t no one for to give you no pain …” America’s Horse With No Name seemed rather apt as I reviewed the Go Pro video clips from this hike. The Fish River Canyon...

Sweni Wilderness Trail, Kruger NP

by Ralph Pina | Jul 28, 2013 | Kruger National Park, trails, wilderness trail

Almost 10 years to the day after the last occasion at Sweni with my wife and daughters, and late father-in-law, Marion and I returned to immerse ourselves in wild nature once more, with friends Paul and Debbie. As I have written many times elsewhere on this blog about...
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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

  • 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

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

  • 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
  • Twelve Apostles loop

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
July 2026
MTWTFSS
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031 
« Jun    

Recent Posts

  • Botmaskop-Saaltjie Traverse
  • Springstygbeugel
  • Helderberg West Peak
  • Botanising trilogy
  • Grootkop

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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