Peter Giddy Guided Tours.
Hikes and Walks -- Join me for a couple of hours of walking / hiking -- a variety of trails in and around Port Elizabeth.
Contact Peter -- +27 82 550 3174
peter.giddy@gmail.com
- Airport and Hotel and Wildlife Reserve Transfers
- Addo Elephant Park
- Kragga Kamma Wildlife Reserve and other Wildlife Safaris.
- Shore Excursions. Ships docking in Port Elizabeth. Passengers are welcome to contact me directly for a day of activities in PE.
- Historical and Cultural City and Township Tours
- Garden Route Tours
See also
www.saguidedtours.com
Port Elizabeth Hiking Trails.
The Sleepy Hollow Hiking Trail -- Wednesday 18th October 2017
Important note.... When doing this trail,
take a torch for the Mine Tunnels.
Robin and I drive together this morning and meet at Sleepy Hollow. This is off the Van Stadens Road on the way to Blue Horizon. Turn off at the Mother Goose dirt road and continue to the end.
Here we meet the group. Today there are 21 walkers: Lisa; Grant; Dave; Reg; Robin; Rob; Peter; Ralph who is our hike leader today as he knows this trail. Jurgen; Dave; Jim; Jimmy; Magriet and Ina; Sheila; Di; Peter; Paul; Chantre; Flo and Bev Reens who has just returned from a 5 week St James Camino walk of 800km.
Meeting up with the group at the parking and braai area
When we arrived looked like not many would be joining us as it is a reasonably difficult trail. But eventually we were 21 walkers
We start the walk with a long climb from the Lourie Trail.
We take a couple of breaks to catch our breath and to admire views.
MILKWORTS -- POLYGAMA
One of the colourful trees / bushes see on the trail -- Milkworts (Polygama)
Looking back to the Sleepy Hollow campsite
The hike is the Lourie Trail and starts with a climb of about 2km. Under bushes and a couple of scrapes we finally emerge at the top of the hill where we have magnificent views of the Campsite below; the Fields and the Ocean at Maitlands river mouth.
Looking across to the Maitlands River mouth area. Beautiful fields and valleys to be seen.
Regrouping to admire views and to catch your breath.
Every now and again the trail disappears back into the bush
Our mid hike snack time.
Everyone has a different idea of what to have as a snack. Personally a banana is usually sufficient so long as I have enough water.
After our mid walk snack we continue to the Gate where we turn right back on the loop. From here we can see the Wind Turbines and the Ladys Slipper mountain across the valley. We have to crawl under a fence and then start the descent back to the camp site.
David explains that this type of gate lock is called a "Kopseer" Headache. If you do not hold the tension pole when loosing it then it can easily snap back and hit you on the head.
The Kopseer gate lock
Over the horizon is the Ladys Slipper mountains.
If walking on fields with horses and cows around you is of any value to you then this hiking trail is for you.
At this point there is no gate so we have to Leopard Crawl our way under the fence.
Paul does not get quite low enough and gets stuck for a moment while Flo holds the wire clear.
Almost all on the other side.
Paul and Bev chatting about their Camino Experiences. Not clearly visible in the background are the Wind Turbines.
There is a fairly long steep pathway leading down and it is here we find the three disused tin and lead mines. Mine shaft 3 is about 100m long and I walk a few meters into it but it is so dark that you see absolutely nothing.
Look carefully and you see the outline of Robin Holmes.If you don't have a torch you are in total darkness in the mine. I tried to take a pic using the flash and the result is the same. See absolutely nothing.
Looking back to the entrance where Robin is waiting for me.
A real exciting time for me getting into this small hole which opens up and you are able to stand upright. If you are short like me that is.
Had to crawl to get out of the opening to Myn 1.
Paul and Flo examining the entrance to Myn 2
Mine number two where we understand that Lead and Tin were mined.
The entrance to Mine 2 was bigger but I understand that Mine 3 which we first entered has a tunnel of about 100 meters. Next time I will bring a string and a torch.
Mine 1 is almost completely collapsed and overgrown.
Paul and Dave emerge from examining Mine 1
So we are almost finished our walk after checking the Mines. Here is the list of places to lookout for.
This is the Olienhout Swimming hole. It is actually a bend in the river with some rockface on the other side which allows for safe swimming. But a bit further on is the Waterfall where we hear there is a Zipline type of slide.
Olienhout Swemgat.
We find the entrance to Two and One a bit further on. The group goes on ahead while some of us stop to look at the river. We are almost finished the hike. It has been a 2 hour walk with many stops and viewpoint lookouts. So probably not much more than about 6 or 7 km. But a worthwhile morning.
Finally, our last adventure is the Olien Hout Swemgat. I jog to catch up with Robin so that I don't miss my lift home. Barbara meets me at his house.
For hikes like this and others --- Contact
Peter Giddy Guided Tours.
Peter would love to be your "Friend for a Day" taking you on an easy and quite doable walking trail around Port Elizabeth.
peter.giddy@gmail.com
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