4 June 2005     to     5 June 2005

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This is the second time that we have done Rooi Ivoor. The weather was perfect with not a cloud in the sky and mild temperatures. We had taken the day off work as it was quite a long drive.

We arrived fairly early and where the first ones. As the day and evening wore on more and more people arrived, a lot of which we did not know. Next morning when we woke it was a real crowd. More had arrived during the night. At one stage we were wondering if we had booked onto the right hike. On seeing the large crowd Rob packed his backpack and fled, not to be seen again until later that afternoon. The owner of the place gave us a bit of background information about the Geology, Fauna and Flora of the area. After that Silvia and myself fled as well.

Fortunately we both knew the trail but it was an effort to try and keep ahead of the others. Normally we dont like large numbers of people on our hikes as this is precisely what we want to get away from. We get plenty of that during the week.

The bush was very nice during this time of the year.

The first day one climbs most of the day.

Its quite hilly around here.

And a bit down hill as well.

Eventually you reach a gorge and the trails follows a small stream upwards. This year the area had not received much rainfall so most of the stream had dried out baring a few pools.

We finally took a bit of a break next to what was left of the stream.

Eventually one climbs about 500 meters. Somewhere along here Petro and Karin caught up and overtook us while also trying to flee the crowds.

During wetter seasons this part usually has a strong stream flowing at this point. Now it was dry.

Eventually we caught up with Petro and Karin and all had another break together before attempting the last climb to the top.

The last few hundred meters takes you along a jeep track to the overnight hut.

A small Venus Fly trap plant along the way. This is one of the only places I've seen them growing in the wild.

By the time I arrived, Rob had also just arrived but not before completing the 6km + route around Smoky Mountain as well! He's training for Naukluft which is on next month.

Here's Sue (Tender Hiker)doing the modeling bit at sunset. Verrrrry romantic! That evening we had nice big bon fire. Once the sun goes down it tended to get a bit chilly so some us moved inside.

The overnight hut consists of a couple of semi-detached Rondavels with a big common area in-between.

Breakfast next morning before charging out of the camp. As usual Rob had beaten us again and was not to be seen again.

An old gravesite of one of the early local chieftans.

A large fig tree. The area is really beautiful but as I've mentioned before, a hike consists of two seperate entities: the scenery and then the Social side of it. Large crowds are just not for us.