by Ralph Pina | Feb 11, 2021 | conservation, De Hoop Nature Reserve
My recent post, The Whale Trail in the Pandemic, has attracted enormous traffic, by the standards of my site at least. In it I opine that biological control of Acacia cyclops (rooikrans) in De Hoop Nature Reserve is failing because my – admittedly unscientific... 
by Ralph Pina | Jan 24, 2021 | conservation, De Hoop Nature Reserve, hiking, trails
As South Africa emerged from the hard lockdown in mid-2020, I became desperate to escape to the outdoors. On the off-chance that the Whale Trail was open, I contacted Cape Nature and easily obtained a booking for the trail in January 2021. The hugely popular trail was... 
by Ralph Pina | Sep 11, 2019 | conservation, hiking, Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
It’s spring in the Cape and Santie decided that she wanted to hunt a wild population of blushing brides (Serruria florida) in Assegaaiboschkloof, the valley in which the Berg River rises before it drains into the Berg River Dam. So Santie, Magdel and I set off with a... by Ralph Pina | Jan 30, 2016 | conservation, De Hoop Nature Reserve, hiking, trails
Almost fourteen years after the first time, we elected to sample the slackpacking option for this trail. Slackpacking involves paying R520 per crate/coolbox for transport from hut to hut. It makes for very good meals, meals that can do the “huts” justice.... by Ralph Pina | Jan 17, 2012 | conservation
As you know African rhino are under unprecedented, murderous assault. 448 rhino have been lost to poachers in South Africa alone during 2011 and SA National Parks has admitted that it is under siege and overpowered. Planetsave has provided perhaps the best overview of... by Ralph Pina | Jul 26, 2011 | conservation, Kruger National Park, Limpopo National Park, Mozambique, safari travel, trails, walking safaris, wilderness trail
(another Kruger safari) Olifants Wilderness Trail, Kruger National Park The African bush has been calling for a while, so we packed up and headed 2000 km north-east for Kruger and our favourite means of really experiencing the bush: wilderness walking trails. Our...
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