Quathlamba
“A
mass of Spears. Named thus by the Zulu warriors before the white man came.
Today called the Drakensberg, Mountains of the Dragon, a name given by the
Voortrekkers. Evocative names, both equally applicable to South Africa’s
mightiest mountain range with its spear-like peaks – reminiscent of the
saw-toothed spine of a gigantic dragon.”
Panorama April 1966
This blog is all about the Drakensberg Mountains and its Wilderness area, South Africa. I have lost my heart and soul to this area and every single time I hike these mountains, I stand in awe all over again at this magnificent beauty.
“Listen to the streams as they gurgle from their cradles and you will hear the story of the mountains. You will hear fascinating tales if only you listen! Lie next to a stream and listen to the song of the mountains. The smiling faces of the flowers, dancing in the wind. Venture into the remote valleys or stand on a peak at sunrise or sunset, after snow has fallen, and you will hear a song that you will never forget - the Song of the High Mountain". (DA Dodds)
Hiking adventures, hiking gear reviews, day walks, accommodation, books, articles and photos, all related to these magnificent mountains will feature here.
Should you want to accompany me on a hike, or need some information or advice, please make contact with me. I hope you enjoy the articles.
Please visit the archive for some more interesting stories, photos and reviews.
Please note that all photos on this blog are copyright protected. If you would like to obtain
Photos please make contact with the author, Willem Pelser.
“THE TRAIL LEADS NOT MERELY
NORTH OR SOUTH BUT
UPWARDS TO THE BODY, MIND AND
SOUL OF MAN”
HIKING TRAIL ETHICS
The following suggestions on how to help conserve the
natural environment you are enjoying have been divided into five headings.
Land
Do not litter.
Tissues tucked into sleeves or under watch straps inevitable fall out and are e
of the most common forms of litter in the outdoors. Cigarette ends, plastic
sweet papers and toilet paper are also a nuisance. Even orange peels, commonly
regarded as biodegradable, should not be discarded as they can take up to five
months to decompose. The following are estimates of how long it can take for
litter to decompose under ideal trailside conditions: plastic-coated paper: 1 –
5 years, plastic bags: 10 – 20 years, plastic film: 20 – 30 years, nylon
fabrics: 30 – 40 years, aluminum cans: 80 – 100 years and glass indefinitely.
Carry a refuse bag and pick up litter along the
way.
Never bury
litter. In most cases it will be uncovered by the elements or animals such as
baboons. This is not only unsightly, but broken glass and tins with sharp edges
can cause injury to fellow hikers and animals. Remember: carry out what you
carry in.
Avoid shortcuts.
If hikers take shortcuts the trail’s gradient and consequently its erosion
potential is increased. The steeper gradient also demands greater exertion.
Step over erosion bars, not on them, and
avoid kicking up stones.
Avoid areas with
little or no vegetation. They are extremely susceptible to erosion and can take
up to 25 years to recover after human trampling.
Avoid scree and talus slopes for the same
reasons. Hiking on them can cause miniature rockfalls which destroy vegetation
that has become established under difficult conditions.
Never roll rocks
down slopes or over cliffs. This may injure other people, cause fires and
erosion and destroy vegetation.
Disturb the area as little as possible when setting
up camp where there are no developed campsites. Pitch you tent on level ground,
not only for your own comfort, but also because sloping ground erodes easily
once the vegetation is compacted.
Keep your backpack as light as possible. This
will not only lighten your load and thereby increase your enjoyment of the
trail, but will also reduce compaction and erosion.
Water
Many of the rivers and streams of Southern
Africa are the habitat of rare and endangered aquatic life which can easily be
destroyed by carelessness.
Avoid camping
close than 60 meters from any water body, wherever possible. It is dangerous doing so.
Do not use soap directly in streams or rivers
– a good swim is normally sufficient to clean up – and don’t brush your teeth
directly in the rivers, or streams. Cooking and eating utensils should be
washed away from the water.
Air
One of the main reasons people go trailing is
to seek solitude. Noise pollution is as objectionable as littering.
Avoid shouting, yelling and whistling – it also
decreases your chances of seeing wildlife.
If you smoke, take care, especially in dry
grasslands. Never smoke while you are hiking. Stop, sit down and relax. Use a
flat rock as an ashtray and remember to put the filter in your litter bag.
Smoke from campfires also causes air pollution.
Where fires are permitted, keep them small. Remember, no fires are allowed in
the Drakensberg Wilderness!
Flora and
Fauna
Do not pick
flowers.
Avoid shortcuts which could destroy sensitive or
endangered vegetation.
Fires are not permitted in wilderness areas.
Where they are permitted, remember the following: if an old fireplace is
available use it rather than making a new one, choose a level spot where the
fire will be protected from the wind. Extinguish your fire properly before
going to sleep or breaking up camp: douse it with water, stir the coals and
douse it again.
Do not break seemingly dead branches off
trees; it is not only unsightly but often the branches are merely dormant.
Do not cut vegetation to sleep on – carry a
groundpad.
Disturb animals and birds as little as possible,
particularly those with young or in nests, as well as seemingly lost or injured
animals or birds.
Do not feed animals and birds. Some animals,
especially baboons, soon learn to associate humans with food if they are fed
and later become aggressive scavengers. In addition you may pass on harmful
bacteria to animals.
General
Where toilets are not provided human waste can be
disposed of by the “cat method”. Select a flat, screened spot at least 50
meters away from the footpath and open water. Dig a hole no deeper than 20 to
25 cm to keep within the biological disposal layer and after use fill the hole
with loose soil and trample lightly over it. Alternatively loose stones can be
used to cover human waste. Toilet paper should always be burned.
Do not sleep
in caves with rock paintings, and never tamper with or spray water over the paintings.
Leave all archaeological sites untouched. In
terms of the National Monuments Act it is an offence to disturb such sites in
any way.
Your enjoyment and appreciation of the outdoors
will be considerably enhanced by reading more about the area beforehand. There
are numerous pocket-size field guides on flora and fauna that can be taken
along on your outings. Use a camera for later identification.
We as hikers have the absolute duty
to respect and protect our Wildernesses. Nobody else will do it for us. Take
ownership!
Safe Hiking.
Willem
Pelser – The Mountain Man
Acknowledgements
Extract from the book - Hiking Trails of Southern Africa – W&S Swanepoel
Photos – Willem Pelser, The Mountain Man.
