TsiTsikamma 3 x day Hiking trail Friday 15th to Sunday 17th January 2021 Lottering to Keurbos to Heuningbos and Boskor.

TsiTsikamma 3 x day Hiking trail   Friday 15th to Sunday 17th January 2021 

Lottering Forest to Keurbos  --  12km   (3 hours)

Keurbos to Heuningbos  --  14km -- Tough climbs and descents;  Some tough Terrain.  Measured on our GPS as 17km.   (Nearly 8 hours)

Heuningbos to Boskor  --  5km  (1.5 hours)

I have a group of 8 hiking the TsiTiskamma Forest trails.   Leaving from the Lottering Forest Station to the Keurbos Hut and then on to the Heuningbos Hut.  Finishing three days later at the Boskor Sawmills.   With me.  Faye Turner;  Janny Meijerink;  Janice Weihahn;  Gillian January;   Liz Prins and daughter Tammy with two friends -- Blaise and Blake Rossouw.  

Gillian;  Faye;  Janice;  Janny;  Tammy;  Blaise;  Liz;  Blake and myself

On the road to Keurbos.  An easy forest road walk  of about 3 hours

The road is clearly marked 

Forestry works on the track

Wonderful valleys and views

Stopping for a short break at the river crossing

As we enter the Indigenous forest we see the Twin Tubs where I jump in and then later so do the rest of the walkers. 

And this is the Keurbos Hut.  Showers and toilets to the left and the lapa / kitchen area to the right

A large area for our braai and communal time

Liz tucks into her sleeping bag with her Red Cooler Box. 

Gillian;  Janny and Faye 

Braai time.   We all eat well.  

After a good night sleep I put the kettle onto the fire and boil up some water for tea and coffee. 

I choose to sleep outside.  The evenings are cool.   I am warm inside Ally's sleeping bag.   We have both rooms to ourselves as there are no other hikers to share with.  It rained in the evening and I had occasional light mist on my face.   It was wonderful.  

Saturday 16th morning.   We start the day on the way to Heuningbos.   

A cool start in the tall bushes with Blaise; Liz;  Blake and Tammy. 

Some steep downhills to the Lottering River.  

Crossing the river. 

Tammy points out the best rock to use

An agile Liz has no trouble on the trail. 

And we are now approaching the 3km mark.   With a long hard uphill ahead of us. 

Looking down to the streams below. 

Climbing up posed no trouble for Faye who was carrying a 10kg backpack

Gillian and Janny on the climb

Occasional flat trails

Finally after nearly 4 hours of walking we reach the Elandsbos Rivier.  

Crossing the Elandsbos.   The bridge has been washed away so look out for the Red Rope.  

Once we found the rope and crossed,  we stopped for a long lunch break and a swim. 

After the Elandsbos Rivier there is a long uphill in mostly open area with little or no shade.  It was here that we began to feel the distance and became tired.   It is possible at this time to take a short cut or easier route to either Boskor or to Heuningbos.   We turn left to Heuningbos --- this is probably the most difficult section of the hike with difficult terrain and some steep ups and downs.   We are next to a stream so are able to refill our waterbottles.   But tired legs and sore feet make the going slow.   Mistakes are made; tripping and falling.   Bumping knees; sore knees.   All this makes for a really tough last two hours of the walk.   And then as we emerge from the forest it now appears that we should be close --   But far in the distance we can see Heuningbos.   Probably another 45 minutes of walking to the hut.    

Liz and I press on ahead.   Down hill to the stream and then up again to a rocky area.  We look and then find the pathway.  Then the last down and finally up to the hut.    

As I reach Heuningbos,  I have been picking up small sticks for the fire.   I immediately light a fire and put the kettle on for afternoon tea.   We had left Keurbos around 9.30am and it is now 5pm.   It has been a long tiring day.   We had plenty of breaks but still our feet and legs are tired.  

Fire is on the go in the Lapa

Sunday morning.   Faye has a swim. 

Janice;  Janny and I watch.  The swim looks good but we are lazy to get in the water

Heuningbos.   Named after a shrub called Honey Tea.  Cyclopia Species.  

Misha was my contact person at the MTO Offices when I made the booking and arrangements.   James is the bakkie driver.   Both of them know Graeme Pienaar who I met many years ago doing this trail.  Graeme is now a Tourist Guide in Addo

We look back to the Heuningbos hut for the last time. 

An hour and a half and we are back at Boskor where I had left the Combi on Friday. 

Starting the hike on Friday 15th Jan 2021

Everyone is amused when, at the top of our long climb on the second day,  Liz pulls out her make up bag. 

The showers have a normal tap as well as a bucket that you can fill with warm water. 

The Heuningbos lapa is the best.  

Each hut has twelve beds.  

In the Indigenous Forest -- On day two this means that we still have 3km of difficult terrain and hills to complete. 

Lovely views across the fields of fynbos

Looking down at the Lottering river and Amphitheater.  

Heather and colourful bushes. 

We make ourselves a hearty supper of Spaghetti Bolognaise for our second night's meal. 

The walk from Heuningbos to Boskor is super easy .    Either downhill or flat. 

At Keurbos we meet Misha and James.   They come to load up our cooler Boxes and heavy bags. 

The Three day TsiTsikamma hiking trail that we do is just enought to get out for the weekend.  The first and last day are on Forest / Jeep tracks.   The first is not easy --  A good warm up for the second day which turned out to be tougher that we anticipated.   

As we approach Keurbos hut we enter into indigenous forest and the Twin Tubs.   The Keurbos hut has Two rooms each with four x three bunk beds.   Sleeping 12 in a room is not comfortable.   Probably 8 would be the maximum for comfort.   As it turned out we had both rooms for our group and only 4 hikers in each room. 

I opted to take a mattress out onto the deck and to sleep outdoors.   Very comfortable.   And as I am an early riser,  it did not bother me that I get up earlier than the rest of the group to get the fire and kettle going.   At Keurbos we had some overnight rain and the wind would blow a cool mist onto my face.   What a treat.  

On Friday evening at Keurbos we light a fire and Braai our meat and cook the potato / veg.   It is not easy,  but my suggestion is to bring less.   Bring just enough for yourself or those with you.  Do not do what you may do at home and over cater.  That leads to having to carry the leftovers the next day or it leads to waste.   And you cannot leave food for the animals as that attracts problems for future hikers.  

This evening we have too much and plenty of leftovers.   Fortunately some of us have brought wine and beer.   There is currently a ban on the sale of alcohol so anything you have is considered to be gold. 

By 8.30pm we are all pretty much exhausted and in bed shortly after that

Saturday morning.   I get up early and make coffee for myself..    The younger group get up much later.   James and Misha come to collect our bags to take to Heurningbos.   And we are able to start hiking a bit after 9.00am.   The hike starts with a down hill to the Lottering river. 

We go fairly slowly.  Regular stops all day.   The climb out of the Lottering river is long and steep in places.   Magnificent views of the Amphitheatre with a mountain background.   Finally we reach the top of the hill and have a lunch rest.   Liz "Does her face" ..   Much to the amusement of the group.   

The next section of the walk is a long and difficult downhill to the Elandsbos River.   

The bridge that used to span the river has been washed away.   After a short bit of confusion we find the rope to assist with the crossing.    

We take a long lunch break again.  Swimming and relaxing.  

The climb out of the Elandsbos River is not particularly long or steep but it is open and at this time it is open with no shade and it is midday.   We finally emerge from this section of the hike onto a jeep track.   A sign points us to the Heuningbos hut.   

And this is where we realise that there is still a very long trek ahead of us.   We walk into indigenous forest called the Heuningbos Forest.   We are next to a stream so in our favour is that we can refill water bottles and we are in the shade. 

However the trail in this forest is tough.   Uneven with roots and logs to climb over.  Many short sharp hills and here we see a sign 3km to go.   This last three km is a long slog.   We are tired,  Feet are sore.   Legs are tired.  It is here where it is easy to stumble and trip and hurt yourself.   

As we emerge from this forest section we are in a mountain neck and far below we can see the Heuningbos hut.    It is a long way off.   

There is nothing for it but to carry on.   Liz and I go ahead.   Liz is fit and healthy.   So she makes light of this long downhill.   At the bottom we cross the stream and the climb up to a rocky section.   The pathway seems to disappear for a minute.   Liz waits for the group.   I press on with the thought that I need to start the fire and get water boiling for tea.  

But there is another small valley leading to the Kleinbos Rivier.   And the hike ends with a steep uphill to Heuningbos.    Meanwhile I have been collecting sticks to use as kindling.   

I open the huts and get the neccessary out to start the fire. 

And by the time the group arrives the water is warm.   They make use of the warm water to shower.   The youngsters also go down to the stream for a refreshing swim.   

I get the fire going to be able to cook our supper which we had planned as Spaghetti Bolognaise.    Again we have too much and there is waste.   But there is no other option -- we cannot carry leftovers out.  

Faye joins Liz and her family for games.   The rest of us are in bed early.   I again take a mattress out onto the deck and sleep in the open.   I am sure that I have the best option.   This evening I and the games group are able to see satelites.  They also see shooting stars.   

Sunday morning.  

Up early and packed.   Shower and ready to go after a good breakfast of Oats; Fruit; boiled egg with Croisant; and Coffee.   

James and Misha fetch our bags at 8.30 and we are on the road by 9.00am.   The hike is on the Jeep Track and easy 5km 1.5 hours to the Boskor office.   

We pack up; drive back to the Lottering Forest station and on to Storms River bridge for a coffee and snack.   Back in PE early afternoon.   

A great outing with wonderful people.  

Plants and flowers on the trail.   Some really interesting plants such as the first one below is known as a Veil Heath or Erica Diaphana   It has sticky flowers which we understand may be to distract insects.  

Erica with sticky flowers.   The stickyness is to discourage insects?   Strange as you would imagine that they need the insects for pollination.   If you squeeze the flower, puffs of pollen come out.   

Sticky flower Erica  ---   Veil Heath.  

Erica

Erica

Information about the Erica Sticky Flowers

Erica

Erica

Dodder Laurels.   Parasitic plant.  

Dodder Laurel.   A parasitic plant.   also called Devils Guts

Goldreeds (OR Cape Mountain Bulrush)

Goldreeds

Goldreeds

Goldreeds

Cape Mountain Cockroach

Watsonia

Watsonia

watsonia

Licorice plant

Licorice plant

Contact Peter Giddy (Tour Guide and Hike leader)  to arrange a hike for you and your friends or work teams.    This is something you will keep with you as a goal achieved and a special day.  

SA Guided Tours and Peter Giddy Guided Tours -- Shore Excursions -- Addo Elephant and other Wildlife Reserves -- Garden Route.  Flowers of Namaqualand -- 

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