THE BIRTH OF A PARK
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) bought a part of a farm called Skilpad in 1988. About 10 years later, SANParks took over the management of this wildflower reserve and acquired more farms in the area. In 2008, a section of coastline between the mouths of the Spoeg River and Groen River, previously a De Beers mining area, was incorporated into the park. SANParks is adding more land to the park on a continual basis – it’s currently 1400km² in size.
I zip open my tent and a light sea breeze puffs its salty breath inside. The waves pound the rocks metres away, the sound fading into static, like a radio looking for signal.
I get out of the tent, and then I see it: a clear, blue sky. Nothing. Not a whisp of cloud. “Sam!” I yell. “The sun’s out, we’ll see flowers today!”
It’s our third morning of four in Namaqua National Park, and until now the sky has been low and overcast – not great for seeing wildflowers. You never complain about rain in this arid part of the country, but this morning I’m ecstatic about its absence.
We set off and drive north along the coast to the mouth of the Spoeg River. The dark blue sea is on our left for kilometres on end. Closer inshore, foamy waves and dark rocks.
At the river mouth, we turn right and drive into the northern section of the park at the Hondeklip Bay gate, following the Caracal Eco Route. A jeep track leads over the succulent Karoo plains in shades of green and brown, until we reach the deserted Riethuis farmstead. We pull over to look at the wheel of an old horse mill in the shed, then drive on.
From Riethuis, we climb to the plateau via Wildeperdehoek Pass (no wild horses, but there were once mountain zebra here). Behind us, shafts of sunlight fall on the plains of Namaqualand.
この記事は go! - South Africa の August/September 2021 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は go! - South Africa の August/September 2021 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Rolling out the big guns
If you're still scanning the horizon for a Chinese automotive invasion you're looking the wrong way. It's already happening, and the new GWM Tank is the off-road spearhead into the highly lucrative and hotly contested lifestyle market.
TAKE A HIKE
The beautiful agony of Tienuurkop
Time out in Dullies
A long weekend in Dullstroom is just long enough to make you realise you need to spend several more weekends here! There's food, drink, art and action in abundance. Here's your guide.
Gallivanting in the Galápagos!
The Galápagos Islands are on many a traveller's wish list. They were on Hanlie and Vivian Gericke's too, even though the price of visiting made their eyes water. Was it worth it? Read on...
BURCHELL AND THE COUNTRY OF THE BUSHMEN
How many times have you driven through a landscape and wished you could have seen it centuries ago? In 1811, the English artist and explorer, William John Burchell, travelled through South Africa. Join us as we follow in his footsteps.
Long live the Hibiscus Coast
The KZN South Coast is a national treasure. It's still the place to go if you want a classic seaside holiday complete with warm waves, cold beer, soft serve and good vibes. Here's your guide.
The island at the end of the earth
Imagine adlace-with the cleanest air arid:the clearest seawater, where_no human.oranimabwants to:harm you: A placewhere the climates balmy. year-round:-with a sekrhistory ahd wwild scenery. A place like this:exist8” and it’s called St Helena.
A day on the road
You never know what the road will bring. Toast Coetzer heads south on the N1 and discovers South Africa.
The wilder shore
The final leg of a 30-day trek across East Africa sees lan Tyrer and the Africa - Wild & Untamed crew explore both shores of Lake Malawi. Get ready for an overloaded ferry, a croc attack and being surrounded by elephants...
A river runs through it
Sabie is onthe Drakensberg escaromentialongMpumalanga’s famous Panorama Route. Want a weekend away surrounded by forests and waterfalls? Here's wnat you need to know.