Drakensberg South Africa - Day 4
Giant's Hut to Giant's Castle Main Camp
Distance 9km
Thursday 10th May 2012
The air was
cool when I got up this morning. Another restless night after getting into my sleeping bag early. It was cold the previous night when we went to bed but I soon
warmed up using a very good quality
sleeping bag. As usual in the day light, not long after the sun came up it became very warm.
As usual
Fatha, Woody and Lyle were up before me and had put some water on for a brew. Fatha and Woody had seen a family of baboons
in the area. The baboon family had moved off by the time I got up.
Once Tim, Itchy and Steely were up it did not take us long to pack up our kit and start moving.
 |
| Our Giant's Castle Hut Campsite |
We moved West from Giant’s Hut back along the Contour Path, the return route to our walk the day before. Fatha pointed out the baboon family to me as we approached the stream but they were too far away to get a picture on my camera.
 |
| Hi Ho Hi Ho its off for a walk we go. The famous 6 with me the 7th taking the picture |
At the stream we washed our pans and bowls, filled up our water bottles and Steely caught a crab.
 |
| Steely with a crab - Woody in the background |
Moving away
from the stream Fatha kept pointing out to me where the baboons where. We could see them on the other
side of the gully.
Lyle and Steely raced along the Contour Path to the junction with the Giant’s Ridge Path. While the rest of us moved at a more leisurely
pace. Here we turned North East (right)
along the Giant’s Ridge Path heading towards Giant’s Castle Main Camp.
 |
| Lyle and Steely running away |
 |
| Lyle and Steely stepping out |
 |
| Boz, Lyle, Woody, Fatha, Itchy and Steely |
We stopped a
few times for little map conferences, Tim was eager for us to discuss features on
the ground and how they looked and related to things on the map. It was soon
after we had started walking again following one of Tim's stops we saw a man
walking on his own. Apart from the other
group and the goat herders we had not seen anyone. I cannot remember who spoke to him but it
turned out he was heading for the Giant’s Castle Hut.
On the track we saw some strange
patterns in the solid rock we were walking on and we could not figure out what
had caused them. Tim thought it may have
been due to sand being blown in the storms, over hundreds of years.
We saw all sorts of wildlife on the path down. Itchy used my camera to take a picture of a strange coloured ant. There was a little excitement when
Tim saw a caterpillar with very striking marking.
 |
| Flowers for my Wife |
 |
| More flowers for my Wife. |
 |
| Ant |
 |
| One of loads of strange circular patterns seen on the rocks |
 |
| The Wild Caterpillar we saw |
 |
| Woody enjoying the view |
At the bottom of the Giant's Ridge Path near the Bushman's River there are some caves that have ancient cave paintings. Before we
reached the caves we came down a steep set of steps next to a cliff face, and you
could see where the rain had cut holes like shelves into the rock. Good places for nesting birds and it was also
thought for resting snakes.
 |
| Itchy and Steely |
 |
| The lads in the cave |
At the bottom
the track moves near to the area where the caves are. We took the opportunity to go in and have a
look. We had not been in the cave very long when a tour guide came in with a couple, to show them around. Apparently we should have paid and as Tim was our
expedition instructor we very quickly passed this to him to take care of
it. We did pay him back later.
 |
| Cave paintings |
 |
| More Cave paintings |
 |
| Steely in the cave |
As we were
leaving the cave we heard the tour guide saying that the damage in the cave was
due to the British, something about sleeping in
them and lighting fires.
On the way
from the caves to the Main Camp you can see a massive boulder with 75 stamped
into it. This had something to do with
the 75th Regiment. Apparently they had been tasked to try and block the passes to try and stop rebels moving livestock and goods through the passes in the area.
 |
| Itchy, Fatha, Tim and Woody at rock 75 |
Arriving at the Main Camp we took advantage of the shop to buy ice cream and lollies, and maybe a bottle or two of beer before we moved up the road and pitched our tents on the picnic ground. We would return later to the main camp for a meal and a few more drinks.
 |
| Can you see the Giant |
On the road from the Main Camp to the picnic area, when you turn round and look back you can see the giant. He is on the far ridge, lying on his back with his head to the left, his feet are at the highest point on the ridge.
 |
| Near our campsite at Main Camp |
 |
| Here we all are |
 |
| Campsite |
For us it was the end of the first phase of the walking exercise.
 |
| Boz, Lyle, Tim, Fatha, Woody, Steely and Itchy |
We had covered approx. 1700m of descent with
approx. 9km walking.
More to follow
Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.
If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in South Africa or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.
No comments:
Post a Comment