There are so many activities to choose from it becomes difficult to decide which to do. To help you make your decision, here is a list of different nature related activities that are available around Southern Africa.

Birdwatching

Black-eyed Bulbul

Birdwatching is a recreational activity to observe and/or study various bird species. This can be done by spotting birds with the naked eye or using a device that can enhance your view, such as binoculars. The activity often involves identifying birds by ear as many species are hard to spot and are thus easier to identify by their calls. Many birds have very distinctive calls, such as the Grey Loerie or Kwêvoël.

Big Five Game

Lions

According to hunters, the Big Five, refer to the five most difficult animals to hunt on foot in Africa. Today the term is widely used by tourists who want to see these magnificent animals. The Big five include the Lion (Panthera leo), African Elephant (Loxodonta africana), African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer), Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicomis), and the Leopard (Panthera pardus)

Canopy Tours / Treetopping
Discover an entire new world in the forest canopy by sliding on a zipline between platforms high up in the forest. It is very safe (as long as it is done with a reputable provider), educational and breathtaking. Guides strap you in a full body harness and other safety equipment then attach you to a cable with a pulley which gently glides you between platforms. This experience can take up to three hours.

Elephant Back Riding & Safaris
What better way to experience wildlife than to get up close and personal? Elephant encounters and elephant back riding is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about these majestic animals. Touch, interact, feed and take a walk with them in the bush. Learn about their daily routines, anatomy, and personalities. For an added experience, ride on an African elephant. Seated on a canvas-covered saddle mounted behind an experienced elephant handler, this is a twist to the general game watching as the elephant moves through the bush

Fly fishing
An ancient method of fishing, mostly focused on catching trout or salmon. Artificial flies are cast with a fly rod and a fly line. Artificial flies are created by tying hair, fur, feathers, and other natural or synthetic materials onto a hook with a thread. Imitative flies resemble natural food items. Attractive flies trigger instinctive strikes by employing a range of characteristics that do not necessarily mimic prey items. Proper casting, regardless of technique, requires pauses in both directions (forward and backward) to allow the entirety of the line to unfurl parallel to the water’s surface.

Game Capture Tours
Do you want an exhilirating conservation adventure? Game capture is a thrilling experience and involves the tracking of, darting and relocation of many types of game, including the Big 5. It can include supporting the team with the game capture, setting up enclosures for holding wildlife, camping in the bush, observing the specialized activity of darting wildlife, and release of captured game to new reserves.

Horse Riding

Horses

Horse riding trails in South Africa are as diverse as the terrain. If you are comfortable on a horse, you can ride among some big game in a game reserve, if not then take a brisk canter along a beach, through
vineyards, or through magnificent mountains. Horse rides range from an hour to multi-day treks, depending on how much time you have available.

Hunting

Nyala

The practice of pursuing animals for food, recreation, or trade. In modern use, the term refers to regulated and legal hunting. Hunted animals are referred to as game animals, and are usually large or small mammals or gamebirds. Guns are generally used for hunting, but the use of compound bows have also become quite popular as a recreational hunting activity. Although recreational hunters may choose to be selective hunters, many people hunt to enjoy the outdoors, as well as the thrill of tracking an animal.

Shark Cage diving – Great Whites
Unquestionably one of the major attractions for adventure and adrenaline seekers to the Cape. Sharks are one of the most feared creatures by man. Is it just because people do not understand sharks and their role in this world? Globally, every year there are thousands of people who travel to see sharks and return educated, fascinated, and respecting these creatures. It is a thrilling experience to come so close to one of the most powerful creatures on this planet (as well as to their extremely sharp rows of teeth and strong jaws!)

Shark Diving
Who said anything about cages? Aliwal Shoal in KZN is the popular location for diving with the Spotted Raggedtooth Shark. The best time for diving with these sharks are from the end of June until the end of November each year, where numbers of between five and up to 30 could be sighted, each at least 1.8m in length. It is an incredible diving experience when one is accepted by the raggies and allowed to quietly witness their natural behaviour.

Star Gazing
Unquestionably the oldest scientific hobby on earth. It is a scientific trend dating back to the ancient philosopher, Plato. Prior to the invention of the telescope (in the 17th century), stargazers required no special equipment but their own eyes and a clear view of the sky to appreciate the magnificence of the infinity. Many star gazers don’t just stop at star gazing, they continue to learn in great detail the working principles of the universe and its elements. Astronomy is not just about gazing at stars and planets at night. There are also solar or lunar eclipses, viewing the occasional comet, identifying the constellations, spotting meteors, viewing the sun at daytime and much more.

Turtle Tours
Turtles are generally secretive animals and are therefore not regularly sighted. Turtle tours will provide you with this rare opportunity to gain a greater understanding of these fascinating creatures. The Elephant coast is known as “turtle country” where different turtles can be found, including the Leatherback, Loggerhead, Olive Ridley, Green Turtle, and the Hawkbill. Only the Leatherback and Loggerhead breed in these waters, and during January and February the baby turtles hatch and head back to sea.

Wildlife Safaris

Giraffe

Africa is well known for its remarkable wildlife and magnificent natural areas and eco-systems. Game drives are the most widely used methods of viewing game, but other options include watching game by horseback or being guided through the bush on foot. Wildlife safaris provide wonderful opportunities for photos or videos as you watch the animals and birds.

More nature activity descriptions to come soon:
Aquarium Diving & Snorkeling
Birds Of Prey Encounters
Camel Rides
Crayfishing
Eco Adventures
Fishing
Foot Safaris
Game Trekking
Marine Mammal Encounters
Pelagic Bird Tours

There are so many activities to choose from it becomes difficult to decide which to do. To help you make your decision, here is a list of different water based activities that are available around Southern Africa.

Barefoot water skiing
This sport began in 1947 in Florida, USA. Barefoot skiers soon adapted many of the freestyle moves of traditional waterskiers – spins, backward maneuvers, body drags, and other tricks made barefooting an exciting new discipline. Due to the speeds required to barefoot, the tricks are especially difficult, and dangrous, since the water becomes very hard in a high-speed impact.

Boogieboarding / Riverboarding
The boogieboard, or riverboard, a device fist developed to ride beach surf while lying down, is a new entry into the whitewater-running category. While easier to stay on top of and right after rolling over, the riverboard is far more extreme than rafting or canoeing. The rider is completely exposed to the elements without the protection of a boat’s hull to ward off jagged rocks and absorb some of the shock the rapids can hand out.

Canoeing / Kayaking

Kayaking

Confusion easily and regularly occurs between what a kayak and a canoe is. A kayak is generally a closed-decked paddle boat with a spraydeck, while canoes are usually open boats. Both kayaks and canoes are propelled by human muscle power. In kayaking the boat is propelled using a paddle with two blades. The paddler sits with his/her legs in front of them. With canoeing the boat is propelled using a single-bladed or double-bladed paddle, where the paddler is kneeling or sitting. Both kayaking and canoeing fall under the term ‘paddle sports’.

Cliff Diving
Easily the cheapest extreme sport to try, because there is no need for specialized equipment, but it is one of the most dangerous. Sharp rocks, shallow water, and a wrong landing can provide serious injury. Most of the professional divers are trained Olympic athletes looking for challenges outside their regular regime, thus competition is fierce. Because of the highly skilled nature of the sport and the inherent risk of injuries or even death, there are only a handful of cliff divers on earth capable of attempting the most difficult jumps.

Jetskiing 

Jetski

The first stand-up personal watercraft was introduced in 1973, known as the jet ski. The jet ski design uses an internal water-jet motor for thrust. The motor draws water into itself and shoots a stream out again to generate thrust, without exposing potentially hazardous blades that can injure a rider. Although generally used for recreational purposes, it has become a very competitive sport which includes closed-course racing and freestyle riding.

Although sea kayaking is pursued by many as a recreational sport, it also hold a great opportunity to experience nature from a different perspective. Sightings of marine mammals, birds and other wildlife makes it as much a close encounter with nature as it does a physical sporting experience. Sea kayaks are less manoeuverable than whitewater kayaks, but they are designed with improved cargo carrying capacity, comfort for long paddling journeys, and for ease of straight-line paddling into the ocean. 

Snorkeling

4x4 Driving

 Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 (”four by four”) is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously. These specialized all-terrain vehicles are used on unpaved, and often even unmarked roads. This includes driving on sand, gravel, mud, snow, rocks and other natural terrain where a normal vehicle will not be able to drive. These vehicles are designed specifically to be driven on difficult terrain and can easily creep up 35o – 40o steep slopes and in some cases even up to 45o slopes. This is with the help of traction control (such as, locking differential, limited slip differential, four-wheel drive, or airing down).

Abseiling     

Abseiling

What goes up, must come down! Abseiling, also known by some as rappelling, abbing, roping down or seiling is used for different purposes. Descending from a mountain face after climbing to the top, descending from an ice climb, rescue procedures, high ropes rigging and of course as a recreational activity. Abseiling is generally done backwards – you facing the wall, but can also be done with your body horizontal to the wall as you face directly down as you literally walk down the wall. Safety is extremely important in this activity so ensure you are fully qualified to perform the activity or do it with a qualified guide.

Adventure Racing
Adventure racing has the same concept as a triathlon but draws from many different extreme sports: climbing, whitewater kayaking and mountain biking for example. Races take teams up and down mountains, through swamps and down rivers, taking a massive toll on the team members, both physically and mentally. Adventure races can take a few days to complete, depending on the distance, or you can do an adventure sprint which should take a few hours.

Aggressive Inline skating
Like skateboarding, “street” inline skaters seek to jump over and grind across just about any obstacle imaginable. In “vert” skating skater’s feet are free to move independently and create a number of moves and maneuvers. Smart skaters, whether skating for fitness or trick skating, have all found that wearing proper projection gear works well when needed.

Archery

Archery

Thinking about Robin Hood and shooting apples off someone’s head? Archery is about more than just aiming and shooting - it teaches control, patience, strenght, endurance and focus among other things.

The aim is to reach a target (aiming for the center) with an arrow by using a bow from a specific distance. The International Archery Federation recognize the following disciplines - outdoor archery, indoor archery, field archery, ski archery, 3D archery, run archery, flight archery and clout archery. There are different types of bows, including crossbows, longbows, shortbows, recurvebows, flatbows, and compound-bows.

Bmxing
During the late Seventies and early Eighties, BMXing became the fastest-growing youth-sport in the world. From trail riding which includes some jumps, to flatland riding, where riders stand and step over and around their bike frames while the bike is moving, to vert and street riders who do tricks on half-pipes, hand rails and ledges, it is clear that this is an exciting but mentally and physically challenging sport.

Bouldering on the beach

 Bouldering is a variation on the more known sport of rock-climbing. Routes are short and none of the traditional ropes or safety equipment is used. The focus is more on practicing or testing technique, and is a great method of strength training as overhangs can form part of the route (which means you look like spiderman!). A spotter/s is present for added safety; not to catch the climber in case of a fall, but to break their fall and ensure the climber lands safely. A crash mat or crash pad is also used for a softer landing, especially if the landing area is rocky.

 Camping

Camping

Canyoning / Kloofing
It takes place in a relatively high risk area such as a river gorge,  and involves following a mountain stream down its course by floating, jumping of short cliffs, or swimming. Some trails may include an abseil, scrambling, climbing, and of course a few high jumps! Getting wet is an integral part of kloofing, so it is more fun to do it in summer. A wide variety of canyoning routes are found throughout the world, and canyoning is enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels.

Camping may be referred to colloquially as roughing it. It is a recreational outdoor activity where campers get away from the city to enjoy the natural environment. Camping generally involves the use of a tent, which is set up in the campsite, and can be as basic, hard-core or as leisurely as you want to make it. Anything from a patch of dirt to a level, paved pad with ablution blocks and electricity is available. Camping is often done with activities such as hiking, fishing, kayaking, and rock-climbing. It is an affordable, and easy form of accommodation and shelter from the elements.

Caving

Caving

Wet, dark, and dangerous if you don’t stay level-minded. Cavers are generally as interested in the historical and geological make up of caves they trek as they are the thrill of traveling down into the damp darkness. Caving requires most of the same technical skill that outdoor climbers use in the daylight, having to be able to abseil into the depths below, or climb back up. Because of the damage caused by cavers (either intentionally or unintentionally), cavers are prohibited in many caves to protect the areas from further deterioration.

Extreme Motocross
The machinery and technology of modern bikes has produced unparalleled opportunities to push the limits. The only limitation of what can be ridden and how is defined by who’s riding it. Obstacles include weaving through a series of turns and over jumps, ranging from fairly easy to difficult and technically challenging. The jumps are designed to challenge a rider’s ability to the fullest, and in many cases, they have extreme hang time providing opportunities to perform stylish trick maneuvers.

Indoor Climbing
Initially used as a method of climbing training in European and other colder countries where outdoor climbing isn’t possible during winter months. It is now a recognized form of climbing and provides the opportunity to climbers to practice, climb, and enjoy themselves no matter what the weather conditions. The basic equipment required includes; climbing shoes, harness, helmet, climbing rope, quickdraws, belay device, karabiners, slings, and a chalkbag. Indoor climbing includes toproping, lead climbing, and bouldering caves.

Land Yachting
Land sailing began hundreds of years ago in China when it was discovered that the power of the wind could be harnessed to make tasks like plowing and moving objects easier – but now it is a fun sport! Modern land yachts are capable of reaching speeds up to 160 km/h. Landsailing can be practiced on a broad range of surfaces such as dry lake beds, pans, abandoned airfields, or even the beach.

Mountain Boarding
Until the mountainboard the only way to travel downhill at speed on a mountain road, over rocks, or gravel was on a mountain bike. The mountainboard was developed that allowed aspects of skateboards or snowboards to be used on terrain where neither can be practiced. Call it skateboarding on steroids!

Mountain biking
Mountain bikes have opened up an entire range of remote wilderness and landscapes for recreational riding. Different disciplines exist: cross country racing (an Olympic medal sport where competitors race against  each other and the clock for best overall finished over technical terrain); downhill racing (riding against the clock for best descent through a closed and gated course – speeds often exceed 97 km/h); dual slalom (rider against rider on a closed gated course that requires riders to execute a number of tight turns); and observed trails (completing a course consisting of obstacles and hazards)

Rock Climbing

Rock Climbing

Rock climbing uses your own power to ascend a mountain or cliff face. There are different types of climbing styles: toproping (good for beginners – the rope is at all times attached to anchors at the top of the route); sport/lead climbing (quickdraws and the rope are clipped into bolts along the route as you climb to keep you safe); traditional climbing (cams, hexes and nuts are placed into cracks along the route, which is connected to the rope); bouldering (more focused on technique – very short climbing areas without the use of rope). Climbing is classified as an extreme sport, but it is very safe as long as you keep to the safety rules. There are various degrees of difficulty to suit every climber’s ability.

Sand Boarding / Dune Boarding
Similar to snowboarding, the only difference is that the snow is replaced with sand. Sand dunes, old unused quarry sites and large enough beach dunes are great locations for sand boarding.

Skateboarding
A hugely creative sport and without doubt one of the most technically difficult sports to master. Ramp skateboarding takes place on transitions, the basic idea is to roll backwards and forwards in the U-shaped pipe using your legs to pump and maintain speed. Street skating takes place on the streets and all you need is a board, a curb and your imagination. Skate parks can take almost any form depending on what they are made out of , whether they are indoors or outdoors, designed by skaters or BMXers.

Snow Skiing / Extreme Skiing
Skiing is generally considered as a relaxing recreational activity that tests your personal ability, courage and stamina. By use of skiis, you ascend a steep mountain slope and by use of different tecniques safely reach the bottom of the slope – only to go back up and do it all over again! Skiing has become a more extreme sport for those seeking greater challenge. “Going big” means skiing the steepest terrain, dropping off large cliffs, and flying through the air.

Snowboarding
This sport stems from the general style of skiing and was only accepted by the skiing community in the mid-Nineties. Instead of having two skiis (one on each foot), snowboards were designed to have both feet on one board – similar to surfing or skateboarding. Tricks used by skateboarders were, and still are, being applied by snowboarders as it is easier to maneuvre by only skiing on a single board. Heliboarding is an even more extreme form where the skier starts from a helicopter just above the slope high up on the mountain where it is difficult to reach by any other means.

Street Luge
Leather suits, gloves, helmets, and specially modified shoes are prequisites for street lugers. Generally they don’t have specially constructed tracks for their use, but they do find steep and winding roads to speed down at up to 115km/h. Lugers lie on their back on their boards which are like skateboards but have wider axles, and the decks are replaced by stiffer metal and composite-frame systems that allow the luge to be made longer and track better than a skateboard.

More land activity descriptions to come soon:
Bakkie Skiing
Caravaning
Carriage Tours
Clay Pigeon Shooting
Cycle Tours
Expeditioning
Hiking
Ice Climbing
Mountain Rescue
Mountain running
Mountaineering
Paintball
Quadbiking & Quad Bike Safaris
Shooting
Trekking
Wagon Trails
Zorbing
Trail Biking

View of the Wolkberg

Haenertsburg is a quaint little town situated on the edge of the Great Escarpment  in the Limpopo Province, between Polokwane and Tzaneen. Originally a gold rush town back in 1887, this tiny village has now become a popular destination for the nature lover and outdoor enthusiast. That is why I want to share my 4-day hiking expedition in the Wolkberg with you:

Day 1

The first day wasn’t very exciting as it consisted mostly of driving from Johannesburg to Haenertsburg – which was around 400 odd km’s. When everyone arrived in town at the Red Plate Restaurant (great food!!), we went to a house were we spent the night. There was a quick briefing and the nine girls had to repack their backpacks to ensure they had everything they needed, and that they didn’t take any unnecessary stuff with. The girls were all aged between 16 and 17 years old. Everyone had a quick dinner and went to bed as we had a very early start the next day.

Day 2

Our alarms went off at 03:00 – way too early if you ask me! We had breakfast, completed some last minute packing and set off into the dark at 04:00. The first few kilometers were on a dirt road up the foot of the mountain. It was a gradual climb but nobody noticed because it was dark and you couldn’t really tell we were hiking uphill. It got lighter as we progressed with the hiking. We made a few quick stops along the way just so that the hikers in the back could rejoin the rest of the group. Eventually we got to the bottom of a steep mountain. We had a rest and had some snacks and then started walking again. The walk got steep, it was getting windy and the temperature was dropping. The group did well, although one of the girls was struggling – she was the tiniest in the group but never complained.

It was getting misty and every time we thought the top was in sight, there was another uphill section waiting. After a while we had to really stick together as the mist was getting thicker and it was easy to lose someone. We walked through an area covered in protease, although it wasn’t in full bloom, eventually we reached a road going past a plantation area. We stopped for a quick snack and continued because it was too cold too sit too long. The dirt road was very steep and after a few hundred meters we went off the road and straight up a very steep section. It was tough but the effort paid off as we reached the top at last. We were 2,100m above sea level. Unfortunately, because of the mist a potentially spectacular view was lost because of the thick white wall of mist. Pity though.

Snack stop at foot of mountain

What goes up, must come down they say. We started descending and it was more difficult than the ascent. It was a steep downhill, quite rocky and the mist made the already technical route even more slippery. The impact on our knees and ankles made the walk uncomfortable. After a few hundred meters the steep slope started flattening out and the walk became easier. We arrived at a clear mountain stream where we had another rest and snack break. We filled our water bottles from the stream and continued on our hike. Our hike turned into a gradual downhill with some flat sections and it leads us onto a road winding through the plantations. We stopped for lunch at a viewpoint, but still all we could see was a white wall of mist.

After lunch we continued through the plantations on the winding road. The road was slippery but we managed well. We walked for a few kilometers and as we reached the bottom of the valley, it all changed into a beautiful lush forest area with waterfalls and small mountain streams. The scenery was spectacular but that didn’t change the fact that we were getting very tired. Eventually the winding road took us back into a plantation. Camp wasn’t too far off but it felt like we were never going to reach it, but before we could lose all hope we arrived at the campsite.

The campsite was just a patch of dirt with no infrastructure, but the fact that it was next to a beautiful river made it worth it.  It was as if everyone got a second breath as we started setting up camp. Some of the girls went for a swim in the river. The water was crystal clear but quite cold so I chickened out. I decided to rather sit in a very shallow rock pool which helped relieve all the aches and pains in my legs.

As the sun was slowly setting the campsite turned into a big kitchen as everyone prepared dinner. Preparations were made, and packs were packed for the next day. Stomachs full, tents pitched, bathed in the river, and very tired, we all went to bed as soon as it was dark and fully enjoyed a good night’s rest.

Day 3

Up at 05:30 we all prepare breakfast, finish packing, take down the campsite and head out. The hike ahead was shorter than any of the other days, about 10km compared to an average of 18km per day. I went ahead in the support vehicle because I had to set up ropes so that the girls could start climbing once they arrive. It was a beautiful valley with a big lake, very picturesque.

When we arrived at the climbing spot the area was very overgrown. It was quite a mission to find a path to the crag, which was only about 50m from the road. A little bund-bashing and we managed to get through. Now there was another problem – I had to get to the top of the crag so that I could set up the ropes. The problem was that I didn’t know where to go up and I wasn’t keen on walking through a marsh to get there, so I did a little bit of bouldering up a relatively easy section of rock. It was a little bit dodgy but I managed to get up in one piece. I found the anchor bolts for the route, anchored myself to a few big rocks for safety and set up the ropes. The girls’ timing was perfect as they arrived just as I finished with the setup. 

The girls started climbing up the route, it was quite an easy route for me, I guess it was around a grade 12 but what is easy for me isn’t necessarily easy for everyone. This was clear as some of the girls struggled to get past the crux of the route. Most of them did reach the top. When everyone finished climbing Gary, the team leader, went to set up an abseil about 5m left of the route they had just climbed. A little bundu bashing for them to get to the rock face so they could scramble up. The abseil went quick as the girls managed the activity with ease. After completing the abseil everyone kitted their packs and we headed towards camp.

Abseil in Wolkberg

Along the way we saw a few big bush pigs. They were clearly more afraid of us, than us of them, but I don’t suggest taking chances with wild animals. We weren’t heading directly to camp, we were making a lunch stop first. If you don’t know about it, you probably will walk straight past without realizing what you are missing. Along the road there was an overgrown path that lead up to a beautiful waterfall. A perfect spot for lunch and for a quick cool down in the clear mountain pool. Everyone enjoyed themselves and it was a good energizer for the last stretch to camp.

When we all arrived at camp we all pitched tents and got settled in. We were going to stay at this site for two nights which would save us a lot of effort. I felt like I needed a good cleanup myself. With no infrastructure at the site (which was only a patch of grass) I headed to the river for a bath. For reference purposes don’t ever use any soaps or chemicals in a river as it damages the ecosystem – a bath in a wilderness area is basically just a good fun swim. The water was cold at first but very refreshing and it felt great to be clean.

Back at the campsite I started preparing dinner as I wanted to be done by the time the sun is down. After dinner, packing, and a nice chat with the rest of the team we headed off to bed for another good night’s rest.

Day 4

The first few kilometers were pleasant as it was flat, and we stopped on the way at another mountain stream to fill our water supply. We continued our walk and after quite a while got to a steep dirt road. It wasn’t very long so we managed up it with minimal effort. At the top we took a quick rest and enjoyed the spectacular view. We then headed down a steep hill so we had to pay attention as one wrong step would have our bums meeting the dirt easily. The rest of the route was flat taking us through grasslands and forest areas.

The alarm went off at 05:00 and again the routine of having breakfast, finishing off some final packing, and heading off for a good hike. Another 18km lay ahead of us, but it was a return route of 9km each way as we walked out to a beautiful lunch spot and then back to camp.

The fun began when we realized that there were quite a few river crossings ahead. Jumping from rock to rock to try and stay dry only lasted for the first three or four rivers and then I got tired of all the effort and just walked straight through. The cool stream was refreshing and although my shoes and socks were absolutely soaking it was fun. The other girls also got tired of trying to stay dry and followed my lead. We needed to keep steady footing because the rocks were slimy and a slip would take you swimming. A few girls did and some just avoided the plunge.

River crossing

After about 9km we reached our destination. A spectacular waterfall. Actually it was three waterfalls in one as the first fell down into a pool and from the pool again into another pool and then again into another. Three waterfalls in one. The perfect lunch spot. We scrambled up to the top waterfall and while some enjoyed lunch, others enjoyed a cool down in the cold, clear pools. We stayed there for at least two hours as we chilled and appreciated nature.

The route back to camp was the same route we had taken the morning. We walked back an entire hour faster than we did to the waterfall. Probably because we weren’t spending so much time trying to stay dry on the river crossings. We arrived back at camp around 14:00 and chilled the rest of the day, had dinner, quick river bath, prepared for the next day and went to bed.

Day 5

The final day, and a big day at that. Alarms shouting at us again at 05:00. The last early breakfast, getting everything we needed for the day packed and heading off. During the night it drizzled a little bit so the morning was cool. It was very misty and the further we headed up the hill the thicker the mist got. The reason this day was quite strenuous is that it was a constant uphill for 9km – no flat sections just various gradients. It was gonna be tough. A short walk up the hill we stopped to refill our water supply at the river because the next water stop was a long hike away.

After our stop we realized that the hike was getting steeper. Every time we thought there seemed to be a flat section ahead, it was just another bigger hill in disguise. We did make a few stops to catch our breath, but we didn’t want to stand still for too long because the further we continued up the mountain the colder it got. Because of all the mist the dirt road was very slippery so we were cautious of slipping because it was a long way down. Eventually we got past the toughest section and everyone was pleased. That didn’t mean the up hills were finished though.

A quick water stop at a stream and we headed up again. We got to a section where the road was extremely eroded. I had never seen erosion that bad before. It was very slippery, so slippery that we had to walk on all fours to prevent a fall – if that had to happen someone could get badly hurt. Climbing over fallen trees, bashing through bushes and avoiding falling into the erosion holes we all eventually made it past all the dodgy areas, but it was a good laugh though. A quick stop to take a breather and we continued up, up and up.

The mist was so thick I considered trying to eat it! (ok, not really). The mist combined with wind was the same as walking in the rain. Water streamed down my face the same as it would when you climb out of a swimming pool. I’ve been rained on quite a few times before, but I had never been attacked by mist in this way. It started getting really cold, as our clothes, and shoes were soaking. The rain jacket did help a lot though. I kept asking myself why we had to mission up this mountain but then reminded myself that our lunch stop was another spectacular destination.

The mist was so thick that we had to regroup often to ensure nobody got lost. We started walking off-road and we got excited because this meant we were getting close. Through the thick white wall of mist we saw a big fern tree which marked the spot. What we were looking for was a hidden cave and the fern tree was the only beacon that disclosed its location. You would expect a hole on the side of a cliff but this cave was down a hole in the ground – absolutely amazing!

Caving

We climbed into the hole with caution as it was slippery and very wet down there. Geared with our headlamps we went down to explore. The cave entrance was a tunnel where you had to crouch through and then around the first corner was a 2m down climb. The climb took some guts because one wrong foot placement and you would fall into a nice big pool of water. It could be refreshing on a hot day, but today was clearly nowhere near hot. The tunnel took us into a chamber then another tunnel and again into another chamber. It was great doing a bit of cave exploring. There was a small tunnel that could previously be crawled through to get out the other side, but we didn’t have time and because of all the rain that section of the tunnel wasn’t safe.

We went back through the tunnel to get our backpacks and enjoyed lunch in one of the bigger chambers in the cave. It was great to be out of the wind and mist and to enjoy some good food. After a long rest and a bit of socializing we had to head back out into the cold so we could hike back to camp. It was still very misty outside but as we descended down the mountain the mist started to withdraw and we could enjoy the sunlight and a spectacular view. 

Back at the camp we started packing up and taking down our tents. We were heading back to town in the balkier. I and Jen were sitting on the back of the balkier while the girls all fit inside. We had to dodge a lot of branches at the back but it was all good fun. When we arrived in Haenertsburg after about a 45 minute drive, everyone sorted their kit as the mothers came to pick up the girls. I must admit that although I enjoyed roughing it for the past few days, I was very happy to enjoy a hot shower!

 The outdoors can bring with it a lot of dangers - not only dangerous places but also climates, animals, and insects that can cause harm. Here are a few emergencies:

Heat Exhaustion: It is the result of losing electrolytes and sweat to the extent that hypovolemic shock (a drop in the volume of blood due to fluidloss) develops. It is a common and serious heat-illness that ma lead to heat stroke with is often fatal.

Exposure to the elements

Heat Stroke: It occurs when the body’s cooling system is unable to cope with a hot enviroment. This may be due to severe loss of fluids, intensive exercise or high humidity together with high temperatures

Hypothermia: When the body loses enough heat to drop the core temperature to below nowmal.

Frostnip: This precedes frostbite. The affected part is very cold but not yet frozen. The fingers, toes, nose and ears are most commonly affected.

Frostbite: This is freezing of the skin and possibly the underlying tissue. Cells are permanently damaged when they freeze and this may result in gangrene.

Near Drowning: It is called so because a person who drowned is dead. Never try to rescue a drowning person by entering the water if you have not been trained to do so.

Decompression Sickness: Also known as The Bends, this occurs in SCUBA divers when they rise to the water surface too quickly. Nitrogen in the muscles and bloodstream expands due to the decreasing pressure, forming bubbles in the tissue and/or bloodstream.

Poisoning: Poisoning is defined as a condition where the body has come into contact (either by injection, inhalation, oral intake, or absorption) with a substance that is harmful to the body, in such quantities that the normal functions are negatively affected

Snakebite: Snake bites are easily recognised by the wound - two small pncture marks about 1,5cm apart. Normally the bite does not bleed much because the teeth are very thin and sharp. Only about 10% of snakes in Southern Africa are dangerous to man.

Bee stings: One of the mot common poisonings today. Many people are allergic but mortality rate is less than one in a thousand.  When a bee stings the poison sac at the end of the sting keeps pumping venom into the patient. Scrape the sting out with a sharp, stiff edged object such as a credit card.