Van Stadens Flower Reserve hiking trails. With Peter Giddy: Saturday 17th April 2021
Celebrating the end of the last climb of the day
Saturday 17th April 2021. I have a group of 25 people, Young and older, who I take for a 3.5 hour 9km hiking trail in the Van Stadens Flower reserve near to Port Elizabeth / Gqeberha.
We leave from Port Elizabeth at 7.45am and meet at the reserve. I do the introductions and explain the hiking trails we will be taking -- We will start off with the River Trail and then continue on to the Boulder trail (With an easier option if the Boulder trail looks too tough); We then stop for a snack break before continuing on to the Link trail under the Van Stadens River bridge. The final trail will be the Forest walk. We anticipate the total time of the walk, including multiple stops to regroup and to rest when required, will be 3 x hours. I advise people to take at least 1.5 lit of water per person and to have had a breakfast before leaving. Wear light clothing and take a hat or cap. Running shoes should be adequate but best if you have hiking boots.
In the group today: Sally K; Cheryl; Ritva and Janny who travel with me to the start. Noelene; AJ (AnneMarie); Ayanda; Chris and Lily; Vanessa; Gillian; Seelan and Kelly; Bertus, Christien, JP and Jana; Connie; Tremaine and Giselle; Helouise and Marco; Janice, Brett and Rachel;
The hike starts at 89.00am and we walk over the N2 Bridge on the tar road. We turn right into the River Trail. At this stage the pathway is reasonably easy. We then pass the 2km mark and the trail begins to be a little more difficult with rocky surfaces and some almost dangerous fall offs to the right where we can see the stream below.
After about an hour we make the decision that everyone is going to attempt the Boulder walk. This is the tougher option and here some of the hikers will become foot weary and as we begin to climb, lungs and heart rate will be stressed. The big boulders and rocky walking surface makes this section a little more difficult. At times we need to use hands and feet to climb. There is nothing technical but you need average fitness to negotiate this section. The last bit takes you up a steep climb to the picnic area. Here you will understand why I have told you to take a minimum of 1.5 liters of water. On a hot day you may become exhausted and dehydrated if you do not have a reasonable level of fitness.
We take a 15 minute break for something to eat and to drink. Some people opt to take a shorter and easier route back to the cars. The rest of us continue on the Link Trail under the bridge and across to the West side of the N2 freeway where we take the Upper Forest Trail. This is a fairly long stretch especially as you may have tired legs. There are a series of short ups and downs. We have to negotiate fallen logs, slippery pathways, roots and rocks. Finally we arrive at the pool where we take a break before continuing up to the top of the hill and the start of the Forest walk,
Legs and feet are tired. We are all pretty much exhausted. There is still over one km to walk back to the parking area on a jeep track. This seems to be long and tedious. You can, if you wish, make a stop to visit the Bird Hide.
It has been a good morning of hiking. We took 3.5 hours (The front group took about 3.00 hours).
On our way home we stop for a Coffee and snack before driving home.
This sign is on the R102 just before Woodridge School
The sign as you enter the reserve
Helouise; Marco and Sally K
Sally K and Noelene
Bridge Viewsite
Approaching the Bridge.
At the start of the hike. A colourful group
In the Protea Fields.
The 2km section. Rocky pathways
Careful not to slip. There is a bit of a drop off to your right.,
Beautiful trails with rocks and foliage everywhere.
The stream below flows into the Van Stadens river.
A rocky climb on the Boulder section.
Climbing up the Boulder trail
Gillian and Cheryl enjoying the tough bits of the walk.
Helouise and Marco with the Bridge in the background
Looking back at the trails we have walked
Pincushion Protea and the bridge
Sally in the forest walk.
Ayanda; Chris and Lily.
AJ AnneMarie in the forest section.
Vanessa joins us today for the first time.
Gillian and Cheryl. Hiking sisters
Connie with two daughters -- Giselle and Tremaine.
Ending of the Forest walk for us.
Yay. We reached the top of the last hill.
Out group on the trail.
AJ; Vanessa and Cheryl taking a break
Vanessa and AJ.
Under the Van Stadens Bridge
Vanessa made light work of this tough hike.
Looking back you can make out the peak of the Lady Slipper mountain in the distance.
In the tall Protea forest.
In the forest with Cheryl; Gillian; Janny and Peter
I explain the two trails -- Up the River Trail exit and the tougher Boulder Trail.
Cape Spray. Cape Spray
Oleander leaf Protea
Encephalartos Cycads
Cycads
Gillian; Janny and Peter
Climbing the Boulder Section
Ritva first time quickly makes a friend of Sally
Gillian enjoys the forest section.
Gillian and Janny. Firm friends
Ritva and Sally K
The bridge from the West side
Would you like to walk in places you have never seen or experienced. Meet people and make new friends. I understand that not everyone is at the same level of fitness and ability. So I accommodate everyone but providing hikes to suite the individual. No one is left behind.
SA Guided Tours and Peter Giddy Guided Tours -- Shore Excursions -- Addo Elephant and other Wildlife Reserves -- Garden Route. Flowers of Namaqualand --
0027 (0) 82 55 03 714 Whatsup
peter.giddy@gmail.com
Addo Elephant Park Day Visit and Night drive.
- Kragga Kamma Wildlife Reserve
- Daniel Cheetah Project
- Pumba; Shamwari; Amakhala; Kariega -- Day trips Private Reserves.
- Three day tour of Mountain Zebra Park. Graaff Reinet, Nieu Bethesda and Addo.
- City Historical and Cultural Tours,
- Horse riding for both experienced and inexperienced riders
- Hikes and Walks around Port Elizabeth (2 hour Nature and Coastal walks)
- Garden Route Adventure Tours (Zip Lines; Segway in the Forest; Adventure Quad Biking; Bridge Walks; Bungy Jump; Knysna Elephant Park; Monkey Land and Birds of Eden; Big Cats Sanctuary; Oudtshoorn Cango Caves and Ostrich farms)
- Shore Excursions from Passengers ships
- Transfers. Airport; Hotel and Wildlife Reserve.
- Flowers of Namaqualand. Seven days of adventure and exploring places and sights you never even knew existed. History and natural beauty of the South West of South Africa
- Karoo to Garden Route. Six days of fun and activities. Prince Albert; Swartberg Pass; Die Hell; Oudtshoorn; Prince Alfred pass; Plett and Tsitsikamma.
Website -- petergiddyguidedtours.wordpress.com
For tours and bookings.. email me at. peter.giddy@gmail.com
Contact me on Whatsup.... 0027 082 550 3174
