Hike in Magaliesburg

[K&S]

On tuesday my wife and I took the day off and did a beaut hike in Mountain Sanctuary Park. The rivers were running well and so despite the heat it was great; quick dip in the river and carry on going. On the way back we took all the dirt roads and had a great surprise in that while travelling between two private game reserves we spotted giraffes and kudu and more. There we were stopped on the side of the road, standing on the roof rack, with binoculars, having a great time spotting the game. As I always say .... when there are dirt roads available take them. Let the poofters use the tar! :D

Have included a couple of pics of part of the Mountain Park.

[candpdoyle]

hey dude

Whats a poofter?:eek: Always thought we had a special brand back home called Moffies:eek: :eek:

Chris

[K&S]

Not too many would have been able to translate that one :) .

[candpdoyle]

Kevin

Whats it like back home at the moment...not been back since 2001 and starting to get really homesick... :D

Chris

[K&S]

I don't want to make you feel more homesick but alas what can I say. Africa is great. :) I've never left this continent but I would struggle to live elsewhere. As with anything in Africa (as I'm sure you already know) one has to be flexible in accepting things but it's still great. I still believe Land Rovers were meant to be driven out here. Those who want to drive Toy..... or J**ps out here are just missing the point aren't they.:D

Now this will make you really want to catch the first plane back. The temperatures in Gauteng have been 30+ celsius so it's been scorching. The thunderstorms have begun (ask my brave German Shepherd if you can get her out from under the bed).

I reckon economically we're doing pretty good. Trevor Manual (Finance Minister) has his head screwed on right so inflation is better than it ever was under the previous Govt.

I'm originally from Rhodesia (OK I'll say it ... Zimbabwe) and so this is my home from home. Where are you from in SA?

[candpdoyle]

I'm frpm Port elizabeth.. loved everything about living there bar living like a poor person..:D I'm a chef so was working a six day week 12 - 16 hours a day for less than R5000 a month.. could never have afforded a landy or ever had the time to work on it either.. That is the one thing i love about the UK.. I only work 50 - 60 hours a week and can afford to run 2 series land rovers and my motor cycle. Will never be rich, but as happy as I can be out of africa.. Would be home next week if I could find a decent paid job

Chris

[Marc Lurie]

On tuesday my wife and I took the day off and did a beaut hike in Mountain Sanctuary Park.

Sounds like you had a good time Kevin. I don't know the Mountain Sanctuary Park, but I have spent a lot of time in the Magaliesberg area, especially as a kid.

Brigid has started rock climbing, and she was out at Tonquani last weekend. I think I should join her. (Not for the climbing... I hate heights.:eek:) but for the atmosphere and environment.

Do you reckon the water in the rivers is drinkable? As a kid we used to drink straight from the Magalies River, but I know that it's not safe anymore anywhere downstream of Magaliesberg town.

BTW, talking about Magaliesberg town, AFAIK there is still a horse hitching post outside the Post Office. :D Lately it's become somewhat of an arty-farty hangout for ageing hippies making beadwork and candles etc. I used to be a councellor at a youth camp nearby, and we used to sneak out of camp to buy beer in Magaliesberg :D and try our "city street cred" on the local girls. :rolleyes:

Marc

[K&S]

Marc,
Look up Mountain Sanctuary Park on the web. Great place. Has become very popular especially over weekends. During the week it's deserted. What's especially nice is their strictness on no noise; so you still enjoy the peace even if it's busy. If you're into mountain biking (my days of that are over) they've recently set out a trail that looks really really tough.

They reckon you can drink from the rivers because the source is in the park. I don't though, I always take water.

When we were there on Tuesday there was one other couple there in their Series 3 Landy from Zimbabwe who were touring the country.

From the park you overlook Buffelspoort Dam if you know where that is.

[Marc Lurie]

From the park you overlook Buffelspoort Dam if you know where that is.

I know Buffelspoort Dam quite well. As a teenager I was once there for a weekend, and only discovered on Sunday evening that all of us were literally covered in little red and black ticks.

I ended up with a bad case of tick bite fever, and skin rubbed raw from removing the ticks with turpentine. :(

I'll certainly look up the sanctuary on the web.

Cheers,
Marc

[K&S]

I ended up with a bad case of tick bite fever, :(

Cheers,
Marc

I can empathise with you there. I returned from a stint of fighting in the bush in Rhodesia and came down with tick bite fever. I thought I was going to die! Never been so sick in all my life. Only thing I've seen worse was when my son spent a week in ICU after contracting malaria in Zambia.

That said I think you must have removed all the ticks :D because haven't seen any on any of our hikes there (and we have done quite a few).

Try the park you'll enjoy it. Just don't tell Getaway. Sorry won't get you going on that one again. :)