This year the annual hike was based in Citrusdal in the Western Cape. Citrusdal is the Afrikaans name for Citrus Valley which is most appropriate given that the entire valley is occupied by Citrus farms irrigated from the Oliphants (Elephant) River running through the valley. Clearly the citrus trees love the microclimate of the valley with its sandy soil, hot summers and cold, wet winters.
We stayed at a tented camp on the banks of the Olifants River which was most comfortable. The tents consisted of Bedouin tents with 2 to 3 dome tents tucked under the Bedouin tents. I shared a tent with Sam as I was proclaimed to be the only other non snorer in the hiking group..!
On the Saturday, except for Errol Kamp-Wagter, we all went up to the Cederberg for a walk up the mountain from the Algeria Forest Station Campsite. We had a stop on the way at a very pretty waterfall. At the end of the walk, we cooled off in the local river although swimming time was rather curtailed due to the low temperature of the mountain water (probably about 15 deg C). Jeff proclaimed that the Oliphants River was “much warmer” but in reality the temperature was the same…far too cold for a Queenslander…!
Overall it was a great weekend with lots of laughs and good camaraderie. Photos below capture the highlights.
Lunch at Modderfontein Store (now pub)
The boys enjoying a cold one before lunch
The tented camp
Discussing the days program
The hike group about to set off
The hike team
Looking down the Valley towards Algeria
Tree art on ridge
Les, Sam and Mike on the way down
Wild African bees – fortunately docile..!
View of hike terrain…walked up right of crack and down left side
Cape Protea about to bloom with mountain backdrop