ðŸ‘£Â Hiking SA - News, Trails and more
HOSA/VOSA NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2016
Avontuurtoer in Reunion - gaan terwyl jy kan!
TO READ THE ENGLISH REPORT ... click here
Hiking SA en 'n aantal persone van veskillende voetslaanklubs is deur die Toerisme departement van Renion Eiland genooi om op die eiland te gaan stap vir 'n week. Hulle het 'n week se program gereel wat vir ekleen wat dit meegemaak het 'n belewenis was!
Die fotos wat hermee saamgaan is duidelik van hoe ongelooflik mooi die eiland is. Die eiland is 'n paradys vir enige stapper en is ook 'n kombinasie van onherbergsaamheid en eerste wereld se ontwikkeling en paaie. Die grootste gedeelte van die eiland is leen hom tot staproetes op roetes wat reeds bestaan.
Die roetes is goed gemerk en gaan oor die berge en deur valleie asook deur natuurgebiede met ryke natuurskoon. Die valleie van die noordelike gedeelte van die eiland word "cirques" genoem en die eerstte vier dae van die toer het ons gestap deur die cirques. Die een cirque het geen paaie daardeur nie en te voet is die enigste opsie om dit te sien.
Vanaf die 5e dag het ons aan die suidekant van die eiland spandeer waar die aktiewe vulkaan is. Ons het gestap na die vulkaan, oor die "maanlandskap" oor 'n afstand van ongeveer 8 kilometer na die krater, waar ons die nag oorgeslaap het in 'n "gite' 'n tipe luukse backpacers. Die volgende dag het ons die 9 km tot by die vulkaan se rand gestap. Die vulkaan was op daardie stadium nie aktief nie. Wat 'n belewnis op 2600 meter bo seespieel, bokant die wolke, langs die krater.
Op die sesde dag het ons op die bokant van die Piton Maido gestap en afgekyk op Cirque de Mafate en Cirque Cilaos en oor na Cirque de Salazie. Die middag was ons by een van hulle kleurvolle markte vir 'n paar gejaagde geskenkies vir ons familie by die huis, nog 'n interessante ervaring om hul groente, vrugte en blomme te sien.
Op Saterdag, ons laaste dag op die eiland het ons twee "avonture" van Reunion beleef. Eerstens het ons 'n "aqua-hike" gedoen! Ons met "wetsuits" van rotse afgespring en gegly en onder watervalle deurgeswem en op die water gedryf en gekyk na die pragtige watervalle 270 grade om ons. Dit was 'n wonderlike ervaring!
In die middag is ons geneem na die voet van die vulkaan naby die see en het 'n gids ons geneem om in die lawa tonnels van die vulkaan te stap. 'n Eenmaal in 'n leeftyd ervaring! Die tonnels is die mmeeste van die afstand ondergronds groot genoeg om regop te loop maar vir 'n paar meter moes ons ook hande-viervoet kruip. Die metaal skynsel van kleure in die swart tonnels is asemrowend. Hierdie was 'n ongelooflike ervaring.
Vir enigeen wat 'n stapvakansie of 'n eilandvakansie oorweeg en interessante en pragtige natuurtonele verwag kan ek Reunion Eilland sterk aanbeveel. Ek sal sonder twyfel weer na die rustige paradys in die Indiese Oseaan gaan.
Air Astral het direkte vlugte daarnatoe, 'n vlug van 4 ure. JACANA collection bied stap toere aan na Reunion. Kontak hulle gerus. Kliek hier om te gaan kyk na toer opsies.
The Otter Trail…unparalleled popularity
Situated in the scenicTsitsikamma along the Garden Route, the Otter Trail needs no introduction. People from all over the world are queuing up to experience South Africa’s first overnight trail to tick this off their bucket list and to experience the lush forest, spectacular fynbos and breathtakingly beautiful, unspoilt and dramatic coastline.
Dating back to as far as 1968, the Otter has seen many facelifts in terms of infrastructure. Simple, wooden structures nestled neat forest settings have undergone minor to major changes over the years. Flush toilets and showers was constructed together with lapas and fixed benches. Even new mattresses and bunk beds were added during the last 18 months. These value-adding additions to the trail are a real welcoming treat for hikers after a long and sometimes tiring hike in between overnight huts.
SANParks takes pride in accommodating approximately 3600 hikers per year on the Otter and have now implemented a certificate which are issued upon completion of the route. This certificate coupled with all the photographic memories are probably the envy of many friends and relatives when they step into your entertainment area or browse through a photo album and even those Facebook pages.
To give further impetus to the credibility of the Trail, South African National Parks has through the assistance of Hiking SA implemented the Green Flag accreditation system which gives current and potential hikers the assurance that the trail is under responsible management from a safety, environmental and quality management perspective.
To this end, hikers can be proud of the fact that SANParks are living up to its commitment to ensure a memorable and unforgettable hike on the flagship of South African hiking trails, the Otter Trail!
Visit the SANParks website for more information and to make a booking. You can book this trail one year in advance. Payment is normally due within one month.
STAP DIE KUNENE - Jy dink jy het al alles gesien en ervaar, maar wat van die een?
Die Kaokoveld is baie bekend aan alle 4x4 entoesiaste en is een van die min ongerepte wildernes areas oor in Namibie. Wat 'n bederf om hier op die grens tussen Namibie en Angola te gaan stap met die mees majestieuse berge en asemrowende uitsigte oor die Kunene rivier.
Retha Willemse van Dapper Stappers deel haar ervaring. Hulle was 'n klompie waaghalsiges wat die 12 dag roete in 10 dae met rugsakke gaan stap het. Hierdie ervare stapper kom gou agter dat die geen gewone stap is nie. Geen paadjies, geen bordjies net 'n ervare Himba gids en sy veldkennis. Met temperature van 36.5C moet jy jou water ver rek, sou gehelp het as die Himba gids bietjie meer Afrikaans kon praat want ons het nie geweet hoe ver ons moet loop voor ons weer water kon kry nie.
Hierdie 10 dae was 'n belewenis met fantastiese uitsigte. Die Kunene rivier in al sy moontlike gedaantes, van kanale, na klowe, na witwater rapids en natuurlike Jacuzzis en stil vloeiende bree water. Hierdie wereld het 'n ongekende skoonheid. Dit is uitgestrek, stil en wonderbaar. Ons het 148.5 km in 10 dae geloop deur ongetemde landskap sonder enige kommersiele ontwikkeling of beskawing.
Die Kaokoland pluk aan jou siel soos geen ander stap. Let wel daar is 'n opsie om donkies te gebruik om jou bagasie te dra. Kontak die persoon wat in die volledige verslag genoem word.
Read the full report in English by following this link...
Feedback on Hike Leaders' Training
The Leaders's courses were presented at the end of August and it was a great success. THANKS TO ALL!
It was lovely to meet so many other hikers, we are a special breed, dont you think! We have a lot in common and we at Hiking SA wish to serve our hiking community, we help where we can!
We had a whale of a time! Well sort of. We want to thank you each and everyone who made the day a success. Many an aspiring hiker came along for the training session. Thank you to Louis van der Westhuizen, our President who stood in for Andries Oosthuizen who was in hospital. Thankfully Andries is well and hiking again.
Thank you to John Mehliss who presented the English class. We believe that all who attended found the course useful. Thank you for a job well done to both presenters!
We plan to repeat the course, perhaps in your neighbourhood or part of the country. Write to us if you are interested in a course in the Freestate or Nelspruit or Cape Town... we want to serve our hiking community. Send email with "HIKE LEADERS" in the subject line to info@hosavosa.co.za for more information, or send feedback on the course, alternatively if you want us to present the course for just your club, please approach us.
Dankie vir almal wat bygewoon en ondersteun het op die dag. Ons glo dat almal baat gevind het by die stapleierskursus en dat hul die kennis prakties kan gebruik op hul stappe en in hul klubs. Ons beplan om die kursus weer aan te bied in ander dele van die land. Kontak ons as jy dalk enige terugvoer het en of die kursus in jou area wil laat aanbied.
Notes on Cannibal Trail St Fort
The imposing Drakensberg escarpment as we know it is the product of millions of years of sculpting by the elements. The foundations of the mountain range reach back billions of years. Its formation provides a fascinating story, and its imposing rock walls and deep, green valleys have provided a home for an ever-changing variety of life through the ages. The Maluti/Maloti range, which is part of the Drakensberg Formation extends into the Easter Free State. Up to about 150 million years ago, this mountain range stopped growing and began crafting a new look, courtesy of constant erosion from the elements.
The Maluti range that you see today is a sandstone art work carved over eons. It is peppered with some of the oldest rock and cave art in the San history, and gives a reminiscent insight into the mysterious ways of these nomadic people. The St Fort Hike is situated on a farm about 5 kms outside the town of Clarens, in the Eastern Free State, and offers hikers panoramic views of these spectacular cliffs, valleys and unbelievable rock formations. The base camp can host about 50 hikers in 2 facilities, with flush toilets and hot showers. The trail can be done as a 2 day back route or as a base camp with 2 circular routes.
Kanibaal is een van ons gewilde roetes in die Vrystaat naby Clarens, 'n area bekend vir die Drakensberge, die Malutis met al die sandsteen grotte en oorhange. Daar is verskeie ander stappe in die area soos Holhoek, Tepelkop Hierdie kort uittreksel is uit die stapverslag van die Bokmakierie klub wat in Johannesburg gebaseer is. Dankie Roshael Hoosen vir hierdie bydrae.
Things To Do in Knysna... visit the Jubilee Creek Picnic Site
WHERE? Take the N2 highway out of Knysna towards George. Travel for 8 kilometres, and then turn right at the Rheenendal turnoff. After 12.6 kilometres, take the Bibby's Hoek / Millwood Gold Fields turnoff to the right. The boom lies at a four-way crossing.
For more info follow this link...
A NEW HIKING TRAIL 'POOKO' OPENED on the 7th SEPTEMBER
Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Authority Mabusa Nature Reserve - Contact them
Mpho Mobile : 082 098 4605 or (013) 713 9630 or tlou@mtpa.co.za
Renew your membership for HIKING SA
Individual members R 20,00
Club fees R 10,00 per member (max R500)
A cap of 50 members was placed per club thus R500 maximum for large clubs.
New members pay a once off registration fee of R 50,00.
Follow this link to obtain the form...
If you have any queries, complaints or grievances please feel free to contact me. We are here to help!
Ek hoor graag van enige probleme met roetes en of ander stapverwante sake. Ons wil graag die stapper, die roete eienaar en die klubs van diens wees.
President HIKING SA (HOSA/VOSA)
076 316 9634 or president@hosavosa.co.za
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