Wet ‘n’ Wild Witteberg Weekend: Cape Mountaineering
I could hear the wind gusts roaring down the valley for a few seconds before they grabbed the tent and shook it like a demented Jack Russell. Warm in my sleeping bag, I wondered if the tent would survive. I contemplated the logistics of packing up and walking out in the freezing, howling, soaking white-out. […]
Slackpacking on Table Mountain
How about hiking a 5 day guided trail traversing the Table Mountain chain? How about doing it without lugging heavy packs full of food and tents? How about over-nighting in luxury tented camps, in stunning locations, and enjoying hearty meals freshly prepared for you? If this all sounds good, then welcome to the world of […]
In search of wilderness; a Cederberg Adventure
The Cederberg Mountains are a hiker’s and climber’s paradise, situated just 3 hours drive north of Cape Town. The range is a proclaimed wilderness area full of trails, peaks and perfect crags just waiting to be explored. I recently led a three day trip up there which included hiking, scrambling, sport- and traditional rock climbing. […]
Table Mountain reveals a secret.
Table Mountain never ceases to amaze me. There are always more secluded corners to be found, and more secrets to be revealed. This time it was a perfect tea-spot up in the tablecloth: sheltered from the gale-force South-Easter and commanding a fine view over the Mother City. A place where the satisfaction of completing a […]
Don’t underestimate Table Mountain!
Here’s a good story of underestimating the mountain, getting lost, and then being rescued by a mountain guide. (me!) Back in the day when I first visited Cape Town, it all was an adventure. I did many courageous things such as bungee jumping, abseiling, caving – I was young and wanted to impress my outdoorsy […]
Mountaineering in the Cape: Uitkykkop
Nestled at the foot of the Riviersonderend Mountains, just a few hours drive from Cape Town, is the village of Greyton. One of the peaks which loom over the village is Uitkykkop (Lookout Peak), a free-standing summit of 1465m, and this is what Eva and I set out to climb on a May week-end. After […]
Hiking in Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve
On a recent ‘Karoo to Coast’ Tour, I visited the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve to do the 15km Leopard Trap Day Hike. Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve is situated in the Bokkeveld Mountains, 16kms from Nieuwoudtville in the Northern Cape. The reserve offers a variety of hiking trail options: from day-hikes to a full seven day trail. The […]
Trekking in India with World Challenge
I have recently signed up as an Expedition Leader for World Challenge, a UK-based company which sends groups of young people on Expeditions to exciting destinations across the globe. As a Leader, my role is one of ensuring the safety of the group, while the students, or Challengers, organise all details such as budget, transport, […]