Just one of my visitors at Klipgat - Kite spider
Me-time, at last. End of week four. I was really looking forward to be alone, time to think, enjoy nature and just be….Alone.. I was dropped off at a spot called Klipgat, proberly the most beautiful spot on Amakhala Game Reserve! It is difficult to describe this paradise spot, it has a waterfall, a pan and gorgeous cliffs surround the pan and waterfall. It is a place of peace, a place the elephants usually hide out on a hot day, a place where 100’s birds call and swoop, enjoying the coolness of the water and shade. It is like something that you would see on TV, a beautiful spot – paradise and this is where I had the privledge of being for 24 hours.
Sarah and Jandre gave us all stricket instructions – do not lie out in the open and do not find yourself anywhere that your escape route is blocked (like the bottom of the cliffs) – those things are just looking for trouble! So I made sure to find myself a safe spot in the cliffs.
I filmed a Black-headed Oriole, in Afrikaans a Swartkopwielewaal. It’s related to the European Wielewaal, in Dutch that is. A beautiful bright yellow one amongst the grey-brown-black European birds.Why on earth did evolution plan a yellow marker on a continent filled with grey, black and brown….. questions like this and others filled my mind and I made notes to ensure I could bombard the trainers with questions, once back at camp.
- Pan at klipgat
Anyway. Back to me-time. I just climbed almost to the highest rock of Klipgatcanyon. Thereward is an almost 360-vieuw of Amhakhala – it is just amazing. The price is a nasty steep climb with thorny schrubberies everywhere. And with limited watersupplies it might be a bit stupid to climb in the midst of day,but hey who wants to waste time while being in heaven!
The shadow catches the sun early in this ridge so I find my warm sleepingbag before it’s really pitchblack. Night settles in and Ienjoy the sounds of crickets, frogs all around me and in the distance the call of the zebra….
I made it through the night and was awoken early with loud barking baboons (pretty much right in my ear!), quiet an interesting way to wake up. Slept like a baby out in the bush and it was awesome.
Happy Birthday Tomoko!
Jandre and the rest of the students picked me up and it was great to hear the others had a good, interesting time as well. Back at camp we were welcomed by delicious home made burgers (thanks Sarah) and ended off with a choclate cake for Tomoko’s birthday! (Happy Birthday Tomoko:)
So a leopard did not get me, I had the most amazing 24 hours in the bush and ended off an awesome week around a big bonfire, sharing experiences with my fellow students. Yes life at Ulovane is good!
- A dutch mountaineer… (Marc)
rock on! i love this stuff.