Packing for the Fish River Canyon Trail
For backcountry hikers, the Fish River Canyon Trail is an epic hiking trail through one of the deepest canyons in the world. Following the river bed of the Fish River, the trail offers a 3 to 6 days hike off the grid, away from any contact with civilization. As such, you need to pack for the best experience in this arid region of the Namibian … Continue reading Packing for the Fish River Canyon Trail
White Whales of Wilderness
Annual Migration Every year, between May and mid December, Humpback and Southern Right whales migrate northwards from the freezing Antarctic waters to nursery grounds in the warmer coastal waters of the African continent to calve. While the Humpback Whales continue northwards to the tropics, the Southern Right Whales remain along the southern coastline of the western Cape, with aggregations between Cape Agulhas and Plettenberg Bay. … Continue reading White Whales of Wilderness
Into the Earth
‘Use the stepping stones as a pass through’. The muted advice drifted through the pitch black patch at the base of rear of a deep rectangular cave. The approach to the dark patch was a strip of muddy water, punctuated by a series of convenient rocky protrusions, providing a natural array of stepping stones across the wet cave floor. Closer now, the dark feature opened … Continue reading Into the Earth
Sardine Run in South Africa
Into the Blue The horizon is a slim band of pastel peach, the air is cool and rafts of Cape Gannets bob on the deep ocean swell while a few lone individuals flap listlessly above the rippled surface, unsure of which way to fly. Phila, our captain, and I are scanning the morning ocean of the Eastern Cape for a telltale of a sardine baitball … Continue reading Sardine Run in South Africa
Sauntering in the Shadows of the Swellendam Sundial
‘Could it be watching us?’ Saskia asked. ‘It is possible’ I replied, ‘but highly unlikely. It has probably headed towards the kloof for shelter.’ We had just continued walking after inspecting some fresh Cape Leopard spoor on the Plaat Trail in Marloth Nature Reserve in the Langeberg Mountains north of Swellendam. Following the trail eastwards, we encountered two more sets of leopard spoor heading towards … Continue reading Sauntering in the Shadows of the Swellendam Sundial
Garden Route Trail 