Klipspringers, Crumbs and Questionable Decisions

18 km, 9 hours, and some 1,500 m of ascent and descent later, we found ourselves huffing and puffing toward the car.

The dark had already consumed us 45 minutes prior to our state of scurry as we hot-tailed it to the trusty, four-wheeled dome of freedom that is my 2016 Etios Cross. The car stood like a lighthouse, promising to liberate us from a truly testing day on our now shaking legs.

With the vehicle still some way in the distance, and the iPhone 13’s light proving a more than capable adversary against the dark, we began to chatter about the relative success of the day.

Having seen a whole host of wildlife, including the likes of a Verreaux's Eagle, Ground Woodpeckers, and several Klipspringers, our Planet Earth-shaped cups were certainly full. Furthermore, the clarity of the day, crisp air quality, and winter sunshine had left us drunk with atmospheric satisfaction. The hike had taken us up and along the panoramic rim of the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve.

It was a truly splendid day, spent far away from the “fellow humanoid.” Waterfalls were seen, rivers swum in, and deliciously simple sandwiches were chomped. The fynbos shimmered with happiness as it soaked up the UV from above. We were greeted throughout the day by a kaleidoscope of diversity, and found ourselves completely lost for words, partly helped by the severity of some of the climbs.

Amongst animate life, we could not help but consider the role that all things stationary play in the orchestra of life around us. It is the humble presence of cliffs, soil, and rocks aplenty that is so often overlooked. What is an outdoor adventure if not a time to consider, contemplate, and capture the beauty of the world around us?

Those thoughts remained trapped within the confides of our heads. Heads that remained protected and safe throughout the entirety of the day by Uncle Benji's adventure ready caps. It was some greek philosopher who first said "What is a hat but not a satellite within our own atmosphere" (completely untrue). 

We eventually got to the car and began our journey towards a much discussed dinner of tasty chips and an all too impressive burger.