NEWSLETTER NUMBER 193
14 January 2014
MHC – Roman Baths
Kamberg Nature Reserve
Maloti Drakensberg Park
World Heritage Site
Central Drakensberg
12 January 2014
For those who have not have noticed the NEW EKZN Wildlife signs, have a good look at this new sign at the entrance to Kamberg Nature Reserve. Can you spot the difference???)
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Leaving Howick in lovely sunshine, we were a bit alarmed at the sudden change in weather as we turned off the highway to head to Nottingham Road – from sun , to misty/rainy and cold conditions. Were we to hike in bad weather for the day?. Later the sun came out, and we hiked in very hot sunny conditions for the rest of the day. The rest of the party met at Kamberg office, and shortly afterwards, we were on our way to Roman Baths – a brilliant pool for swimming and sun bathing in the Kamberg reserve.
It is an easy walk from the old trout hatchery to Roman Baths, there is also a day walk map that will lead you to the swimming hole – ask reception at Kamberg office when you register for the walk. There are many wonderful views along the way , to the west , the high point of Giants Castle stretches up into the skyline, to the south, the high cliff face that has the incredible Kamberg paintings in its caves – you will need to go with a Rock Art Custodian to this site as it is locked up to reduce vandalism of the art. Then to the east , the high ridge known as Gladstone’s Nose is easy to recognize. There is also a day walk map to get up close with this famous rock outcrop
Pic 3 - Giants Castle high point
Pic 4 - Shelter Cave Rock Art site up in the cliffs
Pic 5 - Gladstone's Nose Rock Formation
The flowers were not out as well as I hoped they would be, however this striking flower was found in the garden of an old homestead that once graced this valley. All that remained of this old home was the toilet bowl. Why this rather fragile toilet has remained unbroken for all these years is a mystery. However the bowl made a rather hard place to sit on , and to accept or decline some sort of proposal The old road crosses a number of streams, and it wqs evident from the flattened grass along the stream beds as to how high these small streams can rise under heavy rainfall. A warning to all ---- don’t try to cross a raging berg stream, if you slip, you are gone. Rather sit and wait until the water subsides before trying to cross.
Pic 6 A flower in the old garden
Pic 7 – Is this the time ??????
Pic 8 & 9 - note how the grass has been flattened high up on the banks on either side of the stream from the last storm
As we approached the main stream which we had to cross, I was apprehensive as to whether it would be safe to cross. However on arriving at the crossing it was clear that it would not be safe to cross here, so we turned round and headed on a different , longer trek to get to the pool.
We eventually found the pool, and an animal track that led down to the rocks around the pool. One of our members tested the water as we wanted to cross to the other side to continue our walk a bit later, but the water was running too deep and fast to consider us all crossing here. So it was decided to spend some time here, have lunch, then take a slow walk home.
Pic 14 - Roman Baths below the waterfall
Pic 15 - Heading down to the rocks at the river
Pic 16 - Trying the river crossing, and then deciding to stay on our side of the stream
Pics 17 - 22 Swimming and relaxing on “our side” of the river
To give some idea of how much the river had risen , I include a number of pictures that I took of the same place in October 2013. Look at the pictures carefully, don’t take chances with berg streams. High water hide all sorts of hidden dangers such a deep pools , lots of rocks and sudden drops in the river bed
Pic 23 - Taken from the normal approach side to the pool. Note all the little pools above the falls.
Pic 24 & 25 – The river as we found it . Note the deep swirling pools of rushing water just above the falls – the normal crossing place
Pic 26 Pool and waterfall in October
Pic 27 – 29 The falls now
Pic 30 , Rocks above the falls in October
Pic 31 - Same place now
Pic 32 - Downstream of the pool in October
Pic 33 – Same place now.
The day had been blistering hot and we expected an afternoon storm to brew up from the area of Giants Castle, so left the pool earlier than planned and took a slow walk back to the cars. On the way we were lucky to come across a small group of young Eland grazing in a vlei area. Eland were once plentiful in the berg, now sightings are rare, and exciting. Back at the cars, we looked back towards the Giant and could only see a mass of storm clouds building up. A good time to go home.
Pic 34 – Beautiful fat Eland in the vlei.
Pic 35 – Back at the cars.
Remember, on any trip to the berg, the priority aim should be to get home safely, DON”T risk safety, for the goal of getting to A, B, or C.
Should you wish to enjoy a day or longer hike in 2014, and need some info , please contact me, and lets plan your day to be a good and safe experience for you.
Bergfree Adventures www.bergfree.co.za
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