The thing about African wilderness trails
Walking on a wilderness trail is the only way to feel the pulse of the African "bush". That is what I believe anyway. I have experienced my fair share of the African safari concept: vehicle-based photographic safaris, game drives and stays in high-end and exotic game...
Machampane Wilderness Trail
Limpopo National Park, Mozambique: September 2007 Circles in the Bush (With apologies to Dalene Matthee...) Machampane Wilderness Camp shares the western bank of the Machampane River with tall fever trees at a pool called Xisivene - which apparently means "deep pool"....
Impressions of The Great Walk in Tsavo
A 153km walking safari following the courses of the Tsavo and Galana rivers through Tsavo National Park, Kenya: June 2007. Download the Google Earth track of this walk and view in Google Earth Ghosts Tsavo. A place of ghosts. The ghosts of thousands of elephant,...
Walking in Fernkloof
Fernkloof is a gem of a botanical reserve above the coastal town of Hermanus. Barely 1800 ha in area, it harbours upwards of 1474 botanical species. There are many paths and spectacular lookouts for all manner of fitness levels. The sensory returns are high for...
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...
Sea kayaking and hiking around Robberg
Plettenberg Bay: 17 & 19 December 2006: The Robberg peninsula is a nature reserve and marine protected area at the southern extremity of Plettenberg Bay, South Africa (the Eden to Addo Mega-hike jump-off point is close by). Humans have occupied the rocky...
Reflections on corridors
After the Eden to Addo Mega-Hike, the participants were asked to reflect on the concept of "corridors", as Eden to Addo is a conservation corridor initiative. Here is my effort... If Earth is a self-regulating organism - Gaia to some - then ecosystems represent the...
Eden to Addo Mega-Hike 2006
400kms, 17 days, 6 mountain ranges, many rivers, numerous veld types: 11 - 27 August 2006 The first time I saw the phrase "Eden to Addo" it spoke to me. Then when I saw it juxtaposed with "mega-hike" the synapses fired in my brain. The concept was so evocative I had...
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...
A Kruger safari
December 2005: Marion and I drove in at Pafuri, stayed at Pafuri Camp and then drove all the way from north to south to exit at Malelane, enjoying Rhino Walking Safaris - one of our favourite safari products - along the way... Book Rhino Walking...
Whale Trail De Hoop Nature Reserve
7-12 July 2005 This post is a photo journey down the Whale Trail. It was the second time that I walked this wonderful trail.
Sea kayaking from Hangklip to Gordons Bay
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
Namibian landscapes
Family, overland safari; 6000+km; 2 - 20 July 2004 Namibia is one of the easiest and safest African countries to tour by road, given its excellent dirt road network. Here's a photo essay of such a road trip...[gallery link="file"...
Kayaking at Kraalbaai and Langebaan
Well, it's not quite hardcore kayaking. Sometime in 2002 I had tired of waiting for wind that sometimes never comes during twenty-nine or more years of windsurfing. Now there was an alternative. Kraalbaai is also one of my favourite places. It is located in the West...
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...
Sweni Wilderness Trail
Eastern Kruger Park: 13 to 16 July 2003 The Sweni is one of the most sought-after wilderness trails in Kruger, primarily because of the likelihood of running into the Sweni lions. According to James, the trails ranger, Sweni has the highest concentration of lion per...
Mont Rochelle Trail
Franschhoek: 29 June 2003 Here's a very short walk for great returns. From the top of Franschhoek Pass, walk to the viewpoint above the Wemmershoek Valley. A mere 6km of easy gradients reveals stunning views. Permits are obtainable from the Franschhoek tourist...
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...
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...
Metsi-Metsi Wilderness Trail
Eastern Kruger Park: 3 to 6 July 2002 Metsi-Metsi trails camp - it apparently means "water water" in Sotho - is located 6 km from the Mozambique border in rhyolite bushveld on the eastern aspect of N'wamuriwa mountain. Day 1: Led by Rudi & Abel, the rangers, this...
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