BERGFREE ADVENTURES NEWSLETTER NUMBER 198 10 April 2014 Amber Walkers Gladstone’s Nose Kamberg Nature Reserve Central Drakensberg 2 April 2014 Just a few walkers from the Amber Valley Retirement Village joined me for a day walk to Gladstone’s Nose in the Kamberg Drakensberg Reserve. It was a beautiful day, walking was easy as I had decided to walked anti-clockwise for a change, and we all found the walk to seem to be easier than the usual route. It is a great walk for young and old alike, not too difficult for the “oldies” and not to tiresome for the “youngies”, and enough easy scenery for all to enjoy. The route has become very popular since the Kamberg Honorary Officers had produced a simple day walk map for this route, now the path is well used, and easy to follow. In summer, there are numerous streams from which one can quench ones thirst with clear cool mountain water. In winter it is advisable to carry water for the day. The path runs at the foot of high cliffs, and numerous bird resting places can be seen. Looking down the valley, one gets sweeping views of the grasslands below, and as your eyes cross the Mooi River, the high cliffs of Highmoor Nature Reserve Draw your eyes back up to the heavens. Lunch was had at the turn of the path for the trek back home. A lovely rocky area with shade draws one to the obvious lunch place. For the younger ones – age not limiting, there are some great rocks to climb. Take a stroll around this rocky area, while others take a rest, and just around the corner is a very old Tree Fern that is growing out of a tight crack in the rock. A great place to grow, well away from fires. Then behind another rock in a deep depression, a vivid brightly coloured flower grows, the last of the spring colours. On the way home, the sharp eyes of the youngest member of our group spotted a Dwarf Mountain Chameleon hanging on a grass stem in the middle of shedding it’s old skin. This was a very exciting spotting, as these small frail creatures are very seldom seen by hikers. Once back at the cars, we wound our way down to the Kamberg Dams for a late afternoon visit. As the sun set in the west, the dark shadows of Giants Castle were briefly silhouetted and reflected in the still waters of the dam. Across the valley, Gladstone’s Nose was enjoying the last warmth of the setting sun. A great day, enjoyed by all 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pic 2 Gladstone’s Nose on the horizon Pic 3 Cool, fresh Mountain Water Pic 4 & 5 Lunch time Pic 6 Rock Climbers Pic 7 Tree Fern growing out of a crack in the rock Pic 8 Last of the colours Pic 9 Dwarf Mountain Chameleon Pic 10 “Dam Peacefull !” Pic 12 Don’t Rock !! Pic 13 Giant’s Castle reflection Pic 14 Last light on Gladstone ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ REMEMBER – as we now head into winter, and the DRY grass of winter becomes a dangerous fire hazard, take especial care with open flames. You don’t want to end on the braai end of the fire. If you would like a hike into the berg that would suit your fitness, and expectations, please contact me Bergfree Adventures www.bergfree.co.za ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~O~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~