Navigate

Karoo corridor MTB tour

Mitzi, Marion's sister-in-law, owner of Makadas Adventures, planned this private cycling tour, and I assume, dubbed it the "Karoo corridor" too. In 5 days most of us covered 265 km, climbing through 2942 m and descending 2957 m. Some rode more and some rode less - and...

A walk on the Wild Coast

The Pondo Trail, Pondoland Besides a previous Wild Coast hike from Port St Johns to Coffee Bay, Pondoland, The Wild Coast and the Transkei have constituted a gap in my outdoor experience of South Africa. The beauty and the undeveloped nature of the coast south of Port...

A northern Kruger cultural safari

July 2023 Kruger has been calling since our last visit in 2019 before the nightmare of the pandemic lockdowns. Along with long-time friends, Debbie and Paul Watson, we were happy to decide on a route through the northern sector of the park over about ten days, staying...

Twelve Apostles loop

This is another loop along the Twelve Apostles, ascending via the Diagonal (up the kloof on the left, above) and descending via Oudekraalkloof to return along the Pipe Track - 12.9 km in total and climbing through 1039 m. Santie chose the route, which included a lunch...

Balloch High Rim hike

During April we three MCSA Stellenbosch section members - Sonja, Paul and me - made the long trek to that part of the Eastern Cape that forms the southern border with Lesotho, to participate in the MCSA national mini-camp hosted by the Free State section. Although I...

Helderberg hike

With Clarissa, a fellow mega-hiker, and Patrick I once more headed for Helderberg's Dome. This autumn Saturday was hot and windless. On previous occasions over the years I have not climbed all the way to the top of The Dome and I was determined do it this time. But...

read more

Kayaking in the Karoo

28-29 April 2006: Deon and I decided to paddle on the Gamkaspoort Dam near Prince Albert. Great fun - but we later found out you actually require permission from the waterfiskaal to do this...

read more

Visgat Kloof

21-22 February 2004Visgat. Ever since someone had told about this secret place I had wanted to go there. Finally my chance came - a "probationary" trip with the Stellenbosch branch of the Mountain Club of SA ("probationary" because I have to complete 3 trips before my...

read more

Palmiet River walk

Kogelberg Nature Reserve: December 2002 The Palmiet River winds through the core of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. The nature reserve protects the most pristine and diverse fynbos in the Cape Floral Kingdom. There are a number of hikes of varying length in the...

read more

Whale Trail De Hoop

17 ...err... 18 - 21 July, 2002 Booking the Whale Trail is hard to do - it has become massively popular. So when I got a booking for the 17th, it looked perfect for the last 5 days of the school holidays. The dates would enable my daughters, wife, friends who are...

read more

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..

Navigate

December 2023
MTWTFSS
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Archives

Navigate