Storms River Mouth

Date: 18 June 2009

Location: Storms River Mouth rest camp, in the Tsitsikamma National Park

Walkers: Michele and Helen

**** Route plotted here ****

After a fun morning at Birds of Eden and a late lunch at Finebush Farmstall, we stopped in at Storms River.

As time was short we opted to do the Mouth Trail that leads from the rest camp to the suspension bridge at the mouth of the river. The route out is only about a kilometre long, and easy walking along a winding board-walk through through the coastal forest.



The vegetation was leafy and jungle-like. I was impressed by the enormous arum lilies, twice the size of the ones growing in my garden at home.



After a way we got our first glimpse of the suspension bridge down below.



We descended down quite a few stairs to reach it. The slope was steep and there was evidence of a rock fall off to the left. On the right side workers were busy erecting scaffolding for a new building project (another bridge perhaps?). We read the info about the suspension bridge...




... and then set off to cross to the other side. The bridge was bouncy, but very sturdy and safe-feeling. It is an impressive feat of engineering.




From the bridge we got a view up the gorge.



And from the eastern bank, another great view of the bridge.



We could see across to the rest camp in the distance. There was no time to walk up the the lookout point on this visit as the sun was starting to set, so we turned back and made our way back to the rest camp via Mooibaai.


(Photos by Michele and Helen)
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YUM! Dried Mango

(Photo by Helen)

Dried mango... it may look a bit strange, but it is very yummy! Near the end of our walk through the forest at Diepwalle we stopped at Velbroeksdraai picnic site. We stretched out on the lawn in the sunshine and munched on this chewy snack. The nicest dried mango I've tried is the organic one from Woolworths.
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Elephant Walk at Diepwalle

Date: 17 June 2009

Location: Diepwalle forest, near Knysna

Walkers: Helen and Michele

*** Map here ***


Diepwalle is a SAN Parks forest station inland from Knysna. It is the starting point for three routes for day walks through the forest. These are known as the Elephant Walks.



After issueing ourselves a permit we set off on the red route (Walk III). We followed the red elephant markers fixed to trees.



The path led through leafy indigenous forest.



Despite the drought the forest was looking pretty green and lush.



The sunshine filtering through the canopy made was delightful.






We saw only one Dietes in flower. Beautiful!



But there were many sorts of fungi, lichen and moss growing everywhere.




The path crossed several streams.





We came across a "big tree", an enormous and ancient Outeniqua Yellowwood. It was over 600 years old and 46m high.




A little further on we popped out the forest at Velbroeksdraai picnic area next to the road, and stopped here for a bit, enjoying the sunshine.



It was then a short walk back to the start. We drove a little way down the road to see another Yellowwood tree known as the King Edward VII big tree. Like the other, it was impressively large.



(Photos by Helen and Michele)
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