Trootkloof Waterfall Valley overnight hike

After the success of the Moore family's overnight hike with Jimmy in the August holidays, Fraser, Helen and I did another during the December holidays.  We set off in unpromising circumstances with low cloud and drizzle.  But the rain didn’t last too long and we were rewarded with some stunning light in the evening.

At the base of some cliffs we found a couple of fantastic spots where Jimmy and Fraser rolled out their sleeping bags under ledges.  Helen and I took a slightly softer option and pitched our tent higher up the mountain.  As you’ll see in the gallery, we all had rooms with a view.  After setting up camp we climbed to the top of Goudkoppie from where we witnessed some magical light as the sun set.  Of course, without sleeping out one would not experience sunset in that location and we were well rewarded for our efforts.  The next morning we climbed up to Goudkoppie again before dropping down to the miner’s cottage road and returning from there.

Visit the gallery here.

Weeping Wall Gorge walk

During the December holidays Jimmy and Fraser Moore did lots of walking and adventuring.  In particular, they explored a number of gorges, climbing up through the indigenous forest to the top of the gorge with various degrees of scrambling involved in the process.  Needless to say, Fraser loved these days out in the mountains with Jimmy and always returned with lots of (tall) tales to tell. 

Visit the gallery here.

Camtrap shots

We have a few camera traps on the estate that we use mainly on the rivers to document the otter and Water Mongoose populations. We have had sparse luck with the target species but we have captured some interesting species.The traps have also produced some fine shots of our more common animals.

This is a great shot. It's so Finsbury. SPK10

We have caught three different leopard individuals on the traps. One big male (but a poor shot), one younger male and a big female. The younger male and I had a close encounter, according to the camtrap, on the path to the Miner's hut where I was staying at the time. Got home late one evening and landed up walking the path in the dark. Check the date/time stamp on these two shots:

Male leopard on his way down..

Male human on his way up...

Below is a selection of camtrap shots that we have on file.

Look how full Mom's mouth is.

A beautiful Bushbuck ram with his hair up.

Bushpigs at K24

Old, scarred male Caracal at K24

Civet is the predator we catch the most.

African Finfoot at SPK10. What a gem!

Big Female Leopard at K24

...and her preferred meal, a Common Duiker 

Spotted Genet heard the flash charging.

The younger Male on Miner's Hut path.

Pumba at K24

Young Serval at SPK10

A rare shot of a Clawless Otter at M14

We got 4 shots of this big Serval in a week. All in the day!

A Robin at K9