01/02/2013
JOIN A HIKING CLUB IN DURBAN - DETAILS FOR ALL THOSE INTERESTED SEE BELOW - GREAT PROGRAM
Joining the Amblers Hiking Club is the best value for money you’ll ever get; the 2013 subs are R50! But, you don’t have to be a member to join in on the Sunday afternoon hikes. All hikes start at 2pm sharp!
Contact Details:-
E mail – [email protected]
David Hancocks : 031 – 2668602 072 615 0559
Lawson Collins : 031 – 4627804 083 716 2086
Brian Freeman : 082 497 9280
Peter Swinney : 039 – 3150486 073 190 6539
1st Quarter 2013 Programme:-
FEBRUARY 2013
03th : Marianhill Monastery. Hike around the building and surrounding farm area and enjoy an introduction to the history of the Monastery. Tea and cream scones afterwards @ R20.00 each. Hike cost, donation R10.00 ea goes towards the Monastery. Hike leader David.
10th : Giba Gorge. Walk along edge of gorge from St Heliers Lake. Not much uphill. Meet at the lake in St Heliers Drive Gilletts at 2pm sharp. Hike cost R10.00 entrance fee to the car guards. alko to David.
17th : Winston Park circular from the end of Jan Smuts Avenue. View over Monastery & Pinetown. Fairly level hike along edge of escarpment. Meet at 2pm at end of Jan Smuts Avenue. Hike leader David.
24th : Roosfontein Nature Reserve. Meet outside Westville Prison, Spine Road Westville at 2pm sharp. Walk through grassland and bush to Umbilo River. Hike leader Lawson.
MARCH 2013
03th : New Germany Nature Reserve. Sign posted right turn from Otto Volek Road into Mountain Ridge road, left at the top into Gilbert – straight to the end. Wild birds & game. Hike leader Wolf.
10th : Krantzkloof Nature Reserve. Hike down to stream and to base of Kloof falls and back. Meet at 2pm at Kloof Falls picnic site, Kloof Falls Drive Kloof. Reserve entrance R10.00. Hike leader Lawson.
17th : Emberton coffee shop hike from golf driving range. Turn right at traffic lights after St Heliers Drive and right at first driveway. Interesting hike with tea and cream scones afterwards. Hike leader David.
24th : Bluff view site. 7Km hike. Spectacular views over Durban, visit World War II Naval Gun Bunker above the harbour entrance and the Millennium Tower. Social and “fish and chips” supper at Pirates, Wilson’s wharf afterwards. Hike cost R20.00 ea. Hike Leader David.
31st : Krantzkloof Nature Reserve. Down to the river at the base of falls. Meet at picnic site Kloof Falls Road at 2pm sharp. Reserve entrance fee R15.00 ea. Sundowners at the Station afterwards. Hike Leader Lawson.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 1ST QUARTER 2012 – COBHAM 18-20 January 2013
We finally go back to the mountains with Tony and Margaret Broughton and sleep in this magnificent old rustic farmhouse on the Friday and Saturday evenings. Pay R195.00 pppn or thereabouts payable to Amblers right now!!! Your name is your reference on the Amblers bank account and we need payment to secure your place.
There are 30 beds (double bunk beds in 3 rooms with 8 beds each and x1 room with 6 beds) You need to bring everything including lights, fridges, crockery, cutlery, bedding, clothing, food, drinks, camp chairs, bikini, loo paper, soap, tooth brush, towel – everything. There are 4 showers available and dishwashing facilities with hot water in the kitchen. Separate camping facilities are also available. NO ELECTRICITY is available. A comfortable foam mattressed bunk, hot and cold water and plenty of firewood is provided. Also a covered veranda for socialising and a covered boma for cooking.
The agenda is to enjoy several short hikes on Saturday and Sunday in and around Cobham and hopefully if the weather is good to swim in the river. This year we go back to the circular trails.
In that magnificent rustic braai area complete with wind breaks, we will enjoy a braai vleis for supper on Friday night – everyone to bring what they need for this and then enjoy cooking it. Saturday night hosts the most exciting and interesting cook up, as we will then enjoy the best potjie kos ever if the cooks survive the chirping. Hopefully whoever owns a potjie and is willing to cook their speciality will do so – so far Frankie is still the champion. Anyone with a pot can bring it – along with tasty contents and cook it for us to share around the camp fire. You might be reimbursed for the contents of your pot by your guinea pigs if you get lucky. Rumour has it that the champions have been furiously practising their culinary skills.
Please contact David on 072 615 0559 or [email protected] if you are keen to cook your pot or need to make a booking. You will need to bring breakfast for Saturday and Sunday morning, and lunch on Saturday. Sunday we go to Himeville Arms for a country treat for lunch. Tony will bring his huge kettle for permanent coffee and his enormous frying pan to make his “Botswana omelette” for breakfast, so don’t forget the eggs and tea and coffee. No he won’t put your muesli into the “omelette”.
You need to book and pay R195.00 or so right now to secure our exclusive booking.
EARLY BOOKING FOR COBHAM IS ESSENTIAL !! The Cobham campsite is about a two & half hour drive from the Upper Highway area. Take the N3 to the first glide off after Cedara. Sign Boarded “Howick South, Underberg”. Exit number 99, to Boston, Bulwer, Underberg. Midway through Underberg turn right to Himeville. After the first set of speed bumps and just before Himeville Arms turn left follow the brown signboard to “Cobham”. Turn immediately onto a reasonable dirt road for thirteen kays to Cobham. Fields Hill to Cobham turnoff at Himeville = 200km +- 2 hrs. From this turn off to Cobham gate = 14km +- 20 minutes. No credit card facilities. We need to pay in advance to secure your bed !!!! So Pay right now !!! R175.00 each.
THE HIKING YEAR AHEAD – 2013
Cobham – 18/20 January 2013 This is a great weekend away with good food and company and is not to be missed. R195.00 each or so – pay now!!!!!
Giants Castle – July : Wild bird sanctuary and a stay out in the mountains. A new amble a new experience.
Highmore – This is great mountain experience for lazy hikers simply because you drive your car up the steep bits and park and hike the easy bits. Depending on the route we take you may see bushman caves and paintings or icy waterfalls and some fabulous views of Giants Castle. Meet at Glengarry for early hot coffee. Cold weather gear needed. We will stop in at Beerfasl in Knotties for food and grog on the return.
Umfolosi Game Reserve – this is a new hike with game rangers and cools in attendance to spend a night or two out in the wilds with the animals separated from you by your tent. A great adventure and a once off for now because we will go back to the Battlefields the following year. Yep we can book 10 hikers.
GWA HUMBE – THE RUSTIC CAMP OUT – Towards the end of the year we hike Gwa Humbe always to enjoy an interesting Rhino and Hippo experience. There is also the option of camping over in the thatch ‘tents’.
Ambler Cottage – Peter Swinney’s cottage is available again. The beach cottage at Greenhart Village Palm Beach is available for short and medium term rental. Palm Beach is situated mid way between Margate and Port Edward. Contact Peter Swinney by fax or phone on 039 315 0486.
Sani Pass – We stay over in B&B’s around himeville enjoy a pub supper at Himeville hotel and hike Sani Pass from the Police Post to the top. Passports are essential. We enjoy lunch on top, hike down and go home!
Table Mountain KZN – We will again visit this fine monument to KZN with all its wonderful attractions. Once again we will hike the easy way and spend the day on top of this treasure. The special day will be in September. Watch out for details. The poverty alleviation program is helping the plight of the rural poor.
Giba Gorge – Saturday mornings. There are several hikes on offer including the fabulous climbs up twin peaks and may other trails. Generally two groups enjoy this amazing hiking domain and depending on your fitness you can join either group. Also biking available!
