FERNKLOOF HIKING TRAIL IN THE GROENDAL AREA OF UITENHAGE 16TH OCT 2018 -- With Peter Giddy Guided Tours.

Hiking with Peter Giddy Guided Tours
Fernkloof Hiking trail.  Groendal near to Uitenhage

Wednesday hiking group .. 16th October 2018

To experience a local hike in the Port Elizabeth and surrounding areas  -- Contact Peter at
peter.giddy@gmail.com

We leave from Port Elizabeth at 7.30am.  Unfortunately we encounter morning traffic and so we only arrive at Groendal after 9.00am.  The distance is about 60km.  There are 8 walkers today so we are all able to travel together in my Microbus.
We register at the gate and then continue for a few km on this really bad dirt road to the Fernkloof picnic area.
There have been fires and some heavy flooding in the area so the pathway to the Kloof is not easy to find.  Robin and Jenny know the area well and, after crossing the stream a couple of times we find the Big Tree at the entrance to the kloof and are soon moving up the stream that flows down the Fernkloof.
I am wearing old shoes and am soon having to wade in the water.  Some of the walkers have brought two pairs of shoes. Sandals and boots. We cross this stream so many times that it becomes very difficult to keep your boots or sandals dry.
There is a kind of pathway that is marked by stones and pieces of ribbon tied to branches.  But if you are not familiar with this trail it is nearly impossible to keep to the pathway.
We stop to regroup regularly and after a while Robin calls a stop.  As I dont know this trail I think that this is the turn point.  I am wrong.  This is where there is a fissure in the cliffs that surround us.  We are able to explore up this Crack in the cliff face for a short while.
We are surrounded by huge cliff walls on either side.  These walls are made of compacted sand and stones which must have been created millions of years ago when the area was completely under water or when Ice Glaciers moved down the kloof.  It is an interesting and fascinating kloof to walk and to think about how the walls that surround us must have been formed.
We walk through mainly indigenous forests.  Both Peter and Robin have some knowledge of the trees and plants and provide information where they can. We see huge, ancient Yellow Wood Trees, Wild fig trees with roots forming from the vines.
As we walk upstream we find huge old tree Ferns which give this Kloof its name.

Finally we reach the pools and waterfalls where we stop for a break. The weather is overcast and almost about to rain so a swim is not that necessary.  After a short break we turn around to return the way we came.
As we walk back I realise how easy it is to become disoriented and lost as the way back, often looks completely different to the way up the kloof.
It has taken us about 2.5 hours to walk upstream and takes us about 1.5 hours to walk back.
Having left from Port Elizabeth at 7.30 we return to the parking area at about 15.00.
There is not a lot of hill climbing on this trail. But you are on your feet for a long time and I was pretty leg weary when I returned home. 

We are kitted out for a longish day of hiking. On the trail today... Flo; Russel;  Peter;  Robin;  Sheilah;  Di and Jenny.

 The initial path is not easy to find as there have been recent fires and flooding.

 Almost immediately you are into the stream and having to walk in the water.

 Crossing the stream constantly you lose the need to keep your feet dry.

 Pathways are not always easy to find.

 We walk through mainly indigenous forest pathways.

 Jenny and Robin look up into the canopy.

 On the return we find a cave that I never noticed on the way upstream.

 Robin leads the way.

 Russell is a strong and experienced hiker.

 Jenny is one of the hike leaders and knows this Kloof well.

 Sheilagh hiking in the Fernkloof Valley.

 Di is an experienced walker with this group and also provides information and does the administration.

 Peter is the oldest in the group born 1941

 Flo is the youngest in the group today born 1964.

 We find this fissure in the cliff sides where you can walk up and explore.

 Fascinating walls of compacted stone or conglomerates.

                                              
In the forest it is not always easy to stick to the path ways.

Exploring the deep crevice 

 Tree Ferns that give Fernkloof its name.

 Getting lost in the Ferns.

 I wondered later on if Di was trying to show off her fit legs or her muddy shoe?

The pool at the end of the hike did not feel inviting this morning.  I should imagine on a hot day it would be ideal to have a swim. 

 The walk back to the car was a lot quicker than walking up.

All the way up and all the way back is along the stream.

Contact Peter Giddy Guided Tours
peter.giddy@gmail.com

Some of the wild life reserves we visit.

• Addo Elephant Park; 
• Kragga Kamma Wildlife Reserve;  
• Seaview Lion Park;  
• Daniel Cheetah project

Adventure and other tours

• TsiTsikamma one or two day Adventure tours such as Bungy Jumping; Segway in the forest; Zip lines over the waterfalls; Storms River Mouth hiking to the Suspension Bridges.
• Horse Riding on the beaches or forest -- Beginners and experienced riders
• City; Cultural; Township; Historical Tours
• Garden Route including Tsitsikamma; Plettenberg Bay; Knysna and Hermanus
• PLUS -- Short morning hikes such as the one described in this blog.  Meet local people and enjoy a bit of outdoors while exploring some unknown parts of Port Elizabeth.