Category: South Africa

adventure, Forest, Fynbos, Garden Route, Guided Nature Trail, Hiking, Knysna, SANParks, South Africa

Giants and Dwarves weaving between Spotted Ghosts on the Outeniqua Trail.

At 108km, the Outeniqua Trail is one of the longest hiking trails in South Africa. Traversing through forest and fynbos along the southern slopes of the Outeniqua Mountain range, the trail is hiked in a west to east direction sleeping in hiking huts with a capacity for 20 hikers. Mountain Wilderness. It is in the true sense, a wilderness hike, a trail that removes you … Continue reading Giants and Dwarves weaving between Spotted Ghosts on the Outeniqua Trail.

Mark Dixon1 Comment
adventure, Coffee, Garden Route, Health, Mossel Bay, Mountain bike, Off road, Outdoors, South Africa

Mountain Biking in the Garden Route : Looping Around Wolvedans Dam.

Confectionery and Coffee after the ride. ‘Banana?’ Amanda answered as she tucked into her slice of cake. We were lounging on the deck with coffee and carrot cake reflecting on our country ride just north of Groot Brak. As we had entered Pepper Boom restaurant in Groot Brak, I had asked the chef what his secret ingredient for his carrot cake was. Sure enough, it … Continue reading Mountain Biking in the Garden Route : Looping Around Wolvedans Dam.

Mark Dixon1 Comment
adventure, camping, Cape Nature, Cape Town, Day walk, Garden Route, Guided Nature Trail, Hiking, Nature, Outdoors, Safety, SANParks, South Africa, Trekking, Wilderness Trail

Be Prepared to be Safe when hiking in South Africa.

After the recent mountain rescue on Table Mountain this weekend, it is important to share some salient safety measures when hiking on any mountain, irrespective of experience. • use official foot paths only • carry more that one operational cellphone in your hiking party • plan your intended route in a way that you are off the mountain before sunset • carry an accurate map … Continue reading Be Prepared to be Safe when hiking in South Africa.

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adventure, Cape Town, Day walk, Hiking, Mountain bike, Nature, SANParks, South Africa

72 Hours in Cape Town.

Google Maps warned of a 9 minute delay on the N2 at the bottom of Sir Lowries Pass. After four hours on the road from the Garden Route, cresting the pass and seeing the gridlock traffic snaking down the pass was the last thing we wanted to see. But then, we did need to get to Cape Town and this was our only option. With … Continue reading 72 Hours in Cape Town.

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Cape Nature, Coastline, Ecology, Garden Route, Marine, Nature, SANParks, Science, Sedgefield, South Africa, Whales, Wilderness

Whale Strandings – the harsh reality of nature.

In the past 6 months there have been over 10 whale carcasses washed up, including a rare Sperm Whale, in the Garden Route. Depending on where they washed up, their handling varied from leaving them in situ to burying them or removing the remains for disposal elsewhere. Where possible, sampling was performed for DNA profiling and parasite collection. Generally, with the carcasses there is a … Continue reading Whale Strandings – the harsh reality of nature.

Mark Dixon5 Comments
Agriculture, Cape Nature, Community, Forest, Fynbos, Garden Route, Global Warming, Hiking, SANParks, South Africa, Wildfire

Flaming Fynbos In the Garden Route

In June 2017 South Africa, and the world, watched in horror as a wildfire swept through the Garden Route destroying over 500 homesteads, farmland and timber plantations. The shear destruction left in the path of the blaze amounted to 22,000 hectares burnt, 7 lives lost and communities traumatized. The fire, like so many international wildfires that occurred in 2017, was the perfect inferno, the result … Continue reading Flaming Fynbos In the Garden Route

Mark Dixon4 Comments
adventure, camping, Eastern Cape, GoPro, Guided Nature Trail, Hiking, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, rock pools, South Africa, Trekking

Leopard Trail – Baviaankloof Hiking

One of the last true wilderness areas in South Africa is undisputedly the Baviaanskloof, a series of folded mountains, canyons and valleys between Willomore and Patensie in the Eastern Cape. It is a botanical wonderland that transforms from Karoo through Fynbos and into pockets of Afro-Montane forest with hints of Spekboom along an east west axis. The Baviaans is a landscape that begs to be … Continue reading Leopard Trail – Baviaankloof Hiking

Mark Dixon4 Comments