by Ralph Pina | Apr 27, 2017 | Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve, cycling
The fourth edition of our private MTB tour which always features the Baviaanskloof, one of those places that can only be of Africa and of the eastern Cape of South Africa, has been refined over time to be a compact and leisurely cycling-camping tour along endless dirt... 
by Ralph Pina | Feb 19, 2017 | Groot Winterhoek Wilderness, kloofing
Thirteen years after the last time down Visgat canyon, I had the privilege of another swim down this almost pristine gorge. The permit was arranged via the Cape Town branch of the MCSA by Paul Verhoeven at late notice. We dropped everything to descend it once more and... by Ralph Pina | Jul 26, 2016 | Bontebok National Park, cycling, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Garden Route National Park, Swartberg Nature Reserve, Tsitsikamma National Park
Our mid-winter tour of the Garden Route and Little Karoo ran the gamut of weather from crystal-clear, windless days to fierce storms, from balmy Karoo days to icy nights. We set off to take the roads less travelled and to stay at least two nights in a place to get a... by Ralph Pina | May 28, 2016 | Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
Paul Verhoeven arranged this exclusive adventure for a small group of mountain club members. It involved climbing the Peaks (¨Pieke¨), some of the highest summits in the Jonkershoek area and then 9 abseils down Tierkloof, the cleft that angles down south of the... by Ralph Pina | Jan 30, 2016 | conservation, De Hoop Nature Reserve, hiking, trails
Almost fourteen years after the first time, we elected to sample the slackpacking option for this trail. Slackpacking involves paying R520 per crate/coolbox for transport from hut to hut. It makes for very good meals, meals that can do the “huts” justice....
Recent Comments