Upcoming Trips

 Hi all fellow-rafters!  Here is just a short briefing on our Dec rafting trip:-

PRETORIA - Departs/Returns to Starting Pub : The Dros on Atterbury (next to Town Lodge) - Tel: 012 - 348 6635

Anyone keen for some practice cycling before the 94.7 Cycle challenge?

Come join ESSA for a day trip to Suikerbosrand.

Bring picninc for after the cycle.

Date : 6 November 2011

Time: 10 am

See you on your bikes

This years formal dinner, an event where we don all our finery, and have a lavish meal in an outstanding location, will take place near Hekpoort.  It is on a stunning farm with a magnificent rock pool, and situated within a beautiful kloof.  It's a great family place and only a short drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria.

Take a relaxed drive out on Saturday Morning and join us for a picnic lunch at the rock pool.  You are responsible to bring your own picnic basket for Saturday lunch and brekkie and lunch on Sunday, and drinks for the entire weekend.

Dave is doing a Croc river run as the inaugural event of his ERA paddling club.  It's free to join the club.

Just contact Dave (raftingera@mweb.co.zaor 082-956-3597) and he'll send you a membership form along with relevant club info.

Sundays trip is only R50/head for club members. R150/head non members. Lewis will probably be doing it too, so contact me (lsc@incusdata.com, 082-557-7786) if you need to hire some ESSA gear.

Andrew Louw (Andrew.Louw@thyssenkrupp.com, 082-929-3169) is still looking for 2 climbers to join their team for the Everest Challenge at The Climbing Barn, Lynwood rd, Pretoria.

The 24 hour event starts at 11am on Saturday. For more details, contact him directly, or look on the ESSA and/Summit Chasers Facebook groups.

The last event in Feb 2011 was so popular we are doing it again. If you are not a full on adventure racer or need to do some light training and love a bit of hiking, climbing, abseiling (optional), rafting and a good braai and even camping on the day before or after by the Crocodile river all in one day then diarize the 8 October (Saturday) now. Map reading is hardly required as the trail is pretty self explanatory (this is not orienteering or an adventure race). I will give you a google earth map with a trail marked on it.

 Witsieshoek resort

 A weekend in the Drakensberg is planned for 2-4 September, arriving on the friday afternoon.

The Witsieshoek resort is  about 350km from JHB, roughly a 3,5-4 hour journey.

There are a total of 12 units, each containing 4 beds.  Prices are R310 pp / day, which includes breakfast.

Apart from the bungalows (i.e. rondawel-shape buildings) @ R.310pp/night, they also have a slightly more upmarket chalet-type accomodation @ R.350 pp/night.

For the bungalows, the price drops a bit if more then 2 people take a unit (containing 4 beds)

RIETVLEI NATURE RESERVE GUIDED HORSE TRAILS Experience the Highveld on horseback, as the pioneers found it in the past century. A variety of game including two of Africa’s big 5 game species are dispersed over the undulating landscape and can be viewed from up close. Over 272 bird species have been recorded on the reserve, making it the birdwatcher’s paradise. The Rietvlei Nature reserve is conveniently situated only 18 km from Pretoria’s city centre and 38 km from the O.R. Tambo airpot.

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Stargazing Evening – 23 July 2011

A great evening spent out in the cold winter air looking at the fabulous stars. 50 people from ESSA, ASSA came through to Bushtrails in Magalisberg. The afternoon was spent setting up all the telescopes, there was a solar telescope and the sun’s flares could be seen.

As the night approached the telescopes were in full swing, looking at all sorts in the sky, we saw Saturn with its rings, a galaxy the shape of a swan, the dumbbells and many more interesting constellations and star groups.

Good winter’s day to you.

Wanna go climbing on Sunday?
Then join us at Chosspile (Hartbeespoort dam) for the day.
http://www.climb.co.za/wiki/index.php/The_Chosspile

We will meet at Mount Amanzi at 9am to depart for the crag at 9:30. We should reach the climbs at about 10 and I am sure it will be warm enough by then to give it a go.

The entrance procedure on the website is a bit confusing so to clarify: 

Exploring Wonderwoud, Serala and beyond ...

Gert-Jan 082-332-3253 for more info

 Norway has three horse breeds, the Norwegian fjord horse developed from the North Asian wild horse, the North Norwegian mountain horse that is a lot smaller and the Norwegian Forestry horse which are known for their intelligence and coolness.  

This trip will not only experience the midnight sun but also the spectacular scenery created by ancient glaciers that carved out the deep fjords.  

Hi all,

This trip is based in the beautiful campsite at Golden gate.

We plan so great hiking, and mountain biking through spectacular countryside.

We are also looking at rock climbing but it depends who comes 

Bring warm clothes as it will get chilly. 

Hike up Mike's pass, along the old forester's road all the way to the end and down to the contour path / campsite. Return via Solar Cliffs

(trip cancelled - will move it to later in the year. Gert-Jan 082-332-3253 for more info)

Hi there.

Mphongolo Backpacking Trail

Hello everyone.

Please take notethat if you want to participate in any RAFTING/KAYAKING activity along with the ESSA group, then you need to be a paid up ESSA member.

Sorry, but the club needs to procure and maintain the equipment and since we are not a commercial entity we don’t “make money” on the trips and the result is that the brunt of costs have to be carried by the few paid up members (pushing membership fees up for the enjoyment of non members).

Some thrilling river crossings, losing the path completely going up Fangs, again losing the path completely going down Mnweni and one or two nasty slips later, in the process losing my camera somewhere along the line, we made it back to JHB at 1am this morning.

Will try to get a few images from the others later this week.

A tough hike !

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Hi everyone,

We're running a small beginner's kayaking day at the Pelindaba picnic
spot on Saturday 5th March.

Sorry if the notification's a bit late on the mailing list, although
I've been chatting to a few people already about this trip. We have six
(6) people interested (Linda, Paola and son, Ingrid and Gary, Mike
Nash), so we've still got a few places open. We have 10 kayaks
available. I will probably also bring a few crocs so that if we have
more people than kayaks, then we can all go down the river together and
can swap boats as necessary/desired.

It is that time of year again for the ESSA annual dinner. This year we thought of doing something different and making a day of it and lunch instead!

Join us for the annual EESA lunch at Teak Place.

We plan to have lunch with some activities including biking, hiking around short courses on the property

Six of us had a great ride over the Maanhaarrand and up over the Magaliesburg at Breedts Nek pass.  The ride was very scenic, with almost no other traffic before the steep 200m climb up the pass.  

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Joins us for a rock climbing weeked at Waterval Boven.

This trip is great for families with small children and for climbers from beginners to advanced.

Please contact  Marelize Kloppers - lize444@gmail.com for more information.

This trip starts at the "Ou Brug"  and old Iron & Stone Bridge that predates the railway on the Orange river, and flows through a beautiful gorge as it flows westwards towards Douglas and the confluence of the Vaal river.  The trip is fairly easy and an ideal beginners or kids trip.  The weather is usually pretty warm and we great evenings sitting around the fire and enjoying the starry night skies.  

We will be using Crocs and Kayaks this year - and you are really encouraged to join the Swiftwater rescue course run by whitewater training at the start of December.

Come camp in Venda for a fun filled weekend of all sports!

There is so much to do up there from mountain biking, hiking, kayaking and more you will not be bored for a second.

More details to follow contact Paul maraispaul@gmail.com or / Lewis lsc@incusdata.com

Mountain biking trip to Rooiberg.

There is at present 70km of mountain bike single trails on the reserve. 

This trip is fully booked but if there is enough interest, another one will be done. Contact Katja Katja.NordwigATzaDOTsabmillerDOTcom for more details.

Camping will be at the Welgedacht Estate, 180km from Pretoria, at a costs of R180 per person per night. Need to bring own food, drink and organise your own trasnport to get there.

Summer is here and the water is warm. There will be a rolling clinic at the store room and a bring and braai for a stock taking day.

We need as many people as possible to help out in blowing up crocs and checking equipment.

Address: 13 Frere Road, Parktown West

WHO: 50 children from the Injabula Community Centre and adventurous volunteers
 

WHEN: Saturday 9 October 2010, 12h00 till Sunday 10 October 2010, 13h00
 

WHERE: Pretoria Zoo
 

WHY: To experience another adventure: besides teaching the children how to take care of some animals, we will have several green adventures along the way. And of course, we will do our general thing which is to leave the place in a better way whilst having loads of fun and learning something new.
 

RIETVLEI NATURE RESERVE GUIDED HORSE TRAILS

Experience the Highveld on horseback, as the pioneers found it in the past century. A variety of game including two of Africa’s big 5 game species are dispersed over the undulating landscape and can be viewed from up close. Over 272 bird species have been recorded on the reserve, making it the birdwatcher’s paradise. The Rietvlei Nature reserve is conveniently situated only 18 km from Pretoria’s city centre and 38 km from the O.R. Tambo airport. 

A great turn out of 20 ESSA'rians for the night, hopefully next time we can get 30 and hire our own bus as with 60 people it was a bit difficult hering the speaker as to what ghost was haunting which building. Joburg looks quite different at night, and in someplaces rather pretty when you don't get to see all the dirt and grime. No actual ghosts were seen although the two pics below looks like a ghost in the graveyard!!!

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Look between the grave stones you can see a brown blob!

And now for something completely different! A wine tasting with a light dinner afterwards!

Wine estates: Bergsig, Bainskloof, Whale Haven and maybe a few extra mystery estates.

Venue: Blandford Manor, 106 Hyperion Drive, Northriding.

Time: 18h30 for 19h00.

Date: 25th August 2010.

Piers is cycling to Sun City on Friday, 20 August 2010 for the Audi Lost City Mountain Bike Event.

If anyone is insterested in a laid back cycle to Sun City, please contact Piers on piers.pirow@necsa.co.za for more information.

The Haenertsburg Iron Crown Challenge 

10Km and 21.1Km Trail Runs summit Limpopo's Highest Mountain

MELVILLE MENTAL MEANDER - SATURDAY 12 June at 11 AM.

 Come and try your hand and brain on a mind-blowing walk or jog around Melville, answering a few questions on what there is to see, hear and smell in Jo’burg’s most vibey suburb!

This is a follow up on the successful cycle trip that explored this area before.  This trip will visit Rorkes Drift & Isandlwana from the saddle of your rusty steed.  We will base ourselves at the Rorkes Drift Arts centre and take day rides out from there!

Join us for a great trip to Sterkfontein dam 23kms outside Harrismith on the R74. We'll be taking all our toys - boats, kayaks, windsurfers, bicycles, hiking boots, kites, fishing rods -  so there's lots to do.  And if you're not feeling energetic, you can just sit and watch the weather change over the dam: a guaranteed four seasons per day!

 This unsupported Mountain Bike Adventure around Lesotho is organised by Jaco and promises amazing scenery, great adventure and some big hills.  It is true mountain biking along mountain tracks and hence it has to be unsupported.  Overnight stops will be in farmhouses, villages and occasionally in B&B's 

Fri 9 Apr 2010 - Drive to Clarens. Prepare for the adventure.

Learn how to eskimo roll!

Rolling is an essential skill for every kayaker. It's possible to kayak for years without knowing how to roll - just cross your fingers and pray to whichever gods take your fancy that the next wave won't flip you upside down and dump you ignobly in a seething rapid!

Having a bomb-proof roll makes your kayaking more fun, makes river trips safer, keeps you drier and impresses your friends, so there's no time like the present to learn!

Day trip to Broederstroom for a kayaking/croccing down the crocodile/ Juslkei River.

We'll be meeting at the Home of the Chicken Pie at 8h30 on Sunday (on the left hand side of the road 3.5 km north of the Lanseria T-junction on the R512).

Depending on the river level and the skills levels, we will probably put in at the Friday's Farm low level bridge and take out at the Pelindaba picnic spot (but maybe Nikitas if the day threatens to be too long).

For info on what to bring and what to expect, see a previous trip page on

Jaco is organising these Mountain bike adventures which all form part of a circumnavigation of Lesotho traversing South Africa's most spectacular scenery.  He is doing all the organising and the cost includes a support vehicle, making these real fun filled trips.  Places are limited to 12 participants

Sat 13 Feb 2010 - Drive to Mayaputi. Prepare for the adventure.

Sun 14 Feb - MTB from Mayaputi to Highlands - 82km

Mon15 Feb - MTB from Highlands to Weppener - 70km

Tue 16 Feb - MTB from Weppener to DonDon - 70km

 Why rivers make you happy

By Jo Monson

Join us for a day of kayaking and rafting down the Jukskei/Crocodile rivers north of Joburg.

Suitable for first-time rafters and beginners, and vaguely competent kayakers, i.e. you don't have to know how to roll, but it would be a good idea. Lots of nice rapids, a few weirs which we portage, a low level bridge or two, some flat sections and a 100 metre waterfall (ok, so I'm lying about the waterfall).

Learn how to roll!  Yes, you can!

Rolling (commonly known as doing an eskimo roll) is an essential skill for every kayaker. It's possible to kayak for years without knowing how to roll - all you have to do is cross your fingers and pray to whichever gods take your fancy that the next wave won't flip you upside down and dump you ignobly in a seething rapid!

Having a bomb-proof roll makes your kayaking more fun, keeps you drier, makes river trips safer and impresses your friends, so there's no time like the present to learn!

Come and experience a spectacular South African sunrise, occasionally skimming tree tops or simply drifting peacefully across the skies. Hot air ballooning is a must for everyone, from the daring adventurer through to the romantic connoisseur. Revel in miles and miles of Africa as you float upwards in this majestic craft, enjoyed by enthusiasts across the world and known to be the purest and safest form of flight.

Apocalypse has 13km of surveyed passage with an additional 3km's added in the last year or so. The entrance to the cave is a 56m abseil to the bottom of a large sinkhole, The plan is to spend the night in the cave and to push passages seldom seen.

 Hello Everyone,

 We are organizing a mountain biking trip to Rheebok Bush Camp on a 12,000 ha game reserve in the Waterberg in May There are about 60 km single track and 120 km jeep track on the reserve.
 
 
See rhino, buffalo, kudu waterbuck, impala, giraffe, eland, zebra, wildebeest, red hartebeest, klipspringer, mountain reedbuck, crocodiles, and many more, from your bike, on foot or climb the Koppies to enjoy the views over the plains.
Over 300 bird species and 130 tree species on the reserve.
 
 
Cost:

 Kayaking skills are primarily technique based and include correct paddle strokes and the eskimo roll.  Hugh Du Preez has years of experience in teaching the best techniques and his courses are always fun and really worthwhile

Saturday morning came way to soon with a phone call from Lindin calling at 7.15 am - I was supposed to have picked him up at 6.30 - only 45 minutes late. Fortunatly we had pre-packed the trailer the night before. A quick phone call to Lewis had a change of planns and we met at Friday Farm at 8.30

 It was with some trepidation that four female explorers set out on the Otter trail, SA's most famous and arguably most beautiful hike, in early March this year. We were all confident that we would take the 42,5 km trek along the spectacular coastline of Tsitiskama National Park in our stride. But we were wondering a little about how we would handle the infamous Bloukrans crossing on day four, given that the timing of low tide on the day we would reach it was probably the most inconvenient imaginable: 7 am in the morning.

Still looking for something to do this weekend? This is something particularly special.
On the dry Southern face of the Magobeskloof is a tiny paradise unlike any other. Aquamarine waters cascade down a kloof through indigenous
forests, waterfall after waterfall plunges into deep expansive pools and limestone formations are everywhere in the steep cleft of the uplifted mountains. This really is one of the most exquisite places in South Africa.

 What a sight………First there was Richard squeezed into bright blue cycling shorts, a grass-green lycra shirt with pink polka dots and luminous lime-green monster socks. Then there was Andrew, whose head was clearly visible because he had taken special care just for occasion, to dye the ends of his hair blonde. He told me he was on the lookout for opportunities, visibility being good and all. The rest of us paled in to insignificance next to those two shining beacons.

 11 of us finally managed to get together for the 2 day one night pony trek to Ribaneng Waterfall; 9 adults and 2 children. 

After lots of miscommunication, lost Shell ultra service stations and missing garages we finally met up for a great breakfast at Ventersburg .

 “No, it’s fine – you don’t need to be able to roll a kayak for this trip!”

Perhaps the fact that I am here writing this story does suggest that the person giving me this advice was correct, however it was a little disconcerting to hear Gwen say when we arrived that she would not take anyone on the river who cannot roll! This was my first real experience in a plastic kayak, and thankfully it was on a low Vaal river.

 We arrived our usual meeting place and as there was only the 5 of us we decided to go have another look for Pinch & Punch – Dave was determined he was not leaving the cave until he had found it. Jeremy, Ashley & Jessie have now decided that the up-side-down-turn-around entrance is a walk in entrance – I’m afraid I still have to enter the traditional way. Jessie took the lead with Dave taking over at some stage just before Rising Star.

 ESSA types

The ESSA Formal Dinner will be held this year in a cave (which is a national monument so no graffiti) at Schaapplaats near Clarens on Sat the 7th of Oct. (ie NEXT WEEKEND!!)

The plan is to go down on either the Friday night or the Saturday morning. The Dinner will be on Saturday evening and the Annual Cricket game will be on Sunday Morning.

 On your last berg hike did you sit in the evening with your legs over the

edge of the escarpment and ponder how every time you are in the mountains
the lights of civilisation have crept a little closer, pawing at the bases
of the wilderness.

If you are in search of a little bit more solitude and would rather not be
disturbed in your tent in the middle of the night by the pitter patter of
dagga traders making there way upon and down the pass then this is
something for you ...

 Yes it is true; South Africa has some of the best ice climbing in the world. Each winter, certain gullies in the Drakensberg freeze over and create stunning waterfall ice offering superb climbing.

There are 2 main ice climbing areas in the Drakensberg namely Sani pass and Giants Castle. However other areas can develop including the Rhino area and some of the waterfalls in the Northern Berg. The main ingredients are a South Facing Gully, water, cold weather preferably with snow.

 On the 17th of March after a crazy drive to the Johannesburg airport (Frans took us sightseeing trying to avoid the peak hour traffic and he did a splendid job) – we finally made it in the nick of time. (Marianne aka Biscuit had the savvy to call ahead and tell someone (I’m still not sure who – to hold the plane). Three hours later we were in a taxi on our way to Blantyre. And then African time set in.

Everyone knows Everest has a limited window period of good weather.  Well, unfortunately, we missed that window by one day, as we were buffeted by howling gales on the summit.  Unwilling to relinquish our position, however, we braved ahead with our sundowners.  The evening gown-clad ladies were especially pleased to warm their exposed limbs by partaking of the delicious Gluhwein brewed by Archie & Marietjie. Our distinguished party (dimished a tad by part of the group summiting the wrong peak), nevertheless, enjoyed a magnificent view and sunset.
 

 We had an uneventful drive up to the mountains on Saturday morning. BJ's at the Ranch outside Polokwane continue to offer the best service and breakfast en route. The bottle store at Vivo actually has some decent red wine, but are clueless about the weather. It was cloudy and raining when we arrived, but they told us it hadn't rained there for a while. Clearly live indoors a lot... 

Well, the plan was to shoot a 7 day stretch of the Kraai River near Barkly East. Even the best laid (and they were well laid) plans can fall apart though. Rains over South Africa hadn't bothered to make an appearance by December, so the team was met by a gravel bed with some pools of water that was trying to pass itself off as the Kraai... No danger, try the Kei, that is bound to have water? Well, there was enough water to cover the knees of a heron, but not enough to put boats on.

 My horse suddenly darted under the row of rafters extending from the rural Pondo dwelling - at about shoulder height to me as I sat in the saddle. I had little choice but to bend backwards and grab each rafter in turn, until I slipped over the horse's rump and safely down to the ground.

 A number of intrepid ESSA adventurers braced the freezing Eastern Freestate for a long weekend of fun, fires and trying to fight off flu germs (please note phenomenonal f-alliteration). 

This past weekend there was a trip to the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland.  There were about 9 ESSA members on the trip and a further 5 or so members of the Pioneers club from Pretoria.  The purpose of the trip was two-fold:  we wanted to go down the Usutu river and we wanted to ride the Ngulube mountain bike race.
 

Chain Ladder to Golden Gate)
Easter 2003
Climb the Chain Ladder. Look for the path. Find it. Ignore it. Tread off right to explore a beautiful part of the Drakensberg that few people venture to. Experience bucolic valleys, rugged terrain and undisturbed mountain wetlands. A recipe for hiking bliss...

Trips and expeditions:
- A successful first decent of the upper Kiniara river in Transkei in
Dec/Jan
- Travels in Central America (Piers) and an attempt at Mt Aconcagua
(Gareth) and trekking in Patagonia
- Intro kayaking courses, rolling clinics, and weekend trips on the
Vaal -despite low water levels - organised by Tony, Jono, Graeme, and
Gareth
- A large Orange River rafting trip (with about 44 people) on the Thunder alley section in March (Bridgeand Gavin).

 The only river south of the Zambezi with water and it was running at record levels. Fast with lots of strainers and ice cold *brrr* A nice days run and you can schnack dikkus in beautiful Clarens afterwards.

 Paradise found, if only for a brief moment. Blue green pools, tingling waterfalls and incredible geology in a place that is remaking itself as you watch. Everybody came away with a sense that they had really experienced something very special

 Tuxedos, long dresses and a five course meal in a forest grove on the farm Diepkloof in the heart of the Soutpansberg mountains. The venue was breathtaking, the food, haute cuisine and the Aussies lost the cricket match on Sunday - Hoorray.

“You want to go WHERE in your 1400??!!…!!” – This rather explosive retort at our proposal of heading up to Pemba in Northern Mozambique, was certainly not encouraging, especially as half of the Grinniker Group 5 camp fell about guffawing hysterically. I mean, they are the road builders, they should know! Undaunted, however (ignorance is bliss!), we convinced them to replenish our petrol (being diesel country to boot!) and headed North with adventure in our hearts.

 THE DOG FOOD MONEY

"they are wounded, but they just keep on climbing,

and they sleep by the side of the road"

Tom Waits

 After much planning attempting to co ordinate two game rangers weeks off, we finally set off on the long weekend of the 16th of June to tackle the 'Berg again   this time in the area of Cathedral Peak. We drove down on the Friday evening with wide gaps separating vehicles (some people just can't get their timing right), to arrive at Fernwood Lodge somewhere during the course of the evening   once again tempting some people to spend the weekend there instead of hiking !

 Chris Kirchoff, Franc B, Andrew, Pete, Jason and Paul Marais plus a few other thousand) did the eclipse thing and went north to see it.

 rips and Expeditions for 2002

Island Blue Again - December 2002

One visit to paradise is never enough! The forest was lush and life brimmed everywhere after the first rains of the season. Each discovery more breathtaking than the last and then the denouement of the terrible secret that lies in the midst of the splendour. How our profligacy has destroyed our land and its people!  

 Not being entirely an eclipsaholic but knowing that any trip with Chris is special, and feeling the need for a short holiday, I decided to become the sole member of Chris's eclipse trip.  Franc Andrew & Jason on refection decided that Zambia was a tad far, and so joined us also as did Pete and Sandra (also posinging as her sister Sonje).  

 rips and Expeditions for 2001

Great Kei River - December 2001

One of the jewels of the Eastern Cape. 4 days of remote paddling though mist shrouded valleys at near flood levels. Quite a few monster Grade Vs and lots of runnable Grade IIIs.

Just above my computer where I beat out a living, is a large framed photograph representing a patch of the abundance found deep in the Wolkberg. The Wolkberg is near Haenertsberg in the Northern Province, and just four hours drive from Johannesburg. Often as I grapple and struggle for solutions, I gaze into that photograph for comfort and to calm my mind. I remind myself that the valley is there right now: its magic, its mysteries, its small buck, its silence.

HUSH! Listen! It's all there right now!

 I’ll be the first to admit that I‘m a pretty useless hiker, while on the other hand, Jono has a positively Marais-like approach to obstacles; and Steve of course used to jog 40km to work every morning, so the less said about him the better. However, I thought it would be nice to go on this hike, because Jeanne was going, so at least I wouldn’t be alone at the back. So I was quite upset when Jeanne decided not to come along on the feeble excuse that her PC wanted to get back to the big city.

“I hate these swirly things” - an invisible hippo monster surges from beneath the depths and violently sucks at our kayaks, testing our newly acquired and still fairly precarious balance to the limit. It is January 2000 and what better way to begin the millennium than travel down a mighty river such as the Orange from “Zastron’ bridge to Aliwal North.

 We drove through a hailstorm on the way down to the Korannaberg Conservancy in the NE Free State. That’s the last thing you’d expect in midwinter (technically, three days before the solstice). All three litres of Olli's Pajero (which means something rude in Spanish, akin to making hay...)was not sufficient to carry everyone's kit so it went on the roof and was soaked.: We in Eric's double-cab found the Pajaro crew waterproofing their kit under -a clear starry sky, clear after the rain, a classic example of closing the stable door alter the horse has bolted.

Thabela Thabeng, Vaal River

 The truck was finally packed and our party of six was on the way to Gona~re-zhou game park in Zimbabwe. The journey up to the border was spent discussing what actually happened in lnhaca and tall stories of ESSA trips or should I say car breakdowns, Hyperbole was stimulated by copious quantities of liquid refreshment; Paul's stories always sound better after six beers!! Drinking was probably a very good plan because

 14 February  Orange River rafting 

Feb 1991  Tina River Expedition 

SARRA safety weekend Orange River 

22-24 Feb  Orange River Rafting  Ann & Vaughan  Frank Wimberley

1-3 March Orange River rafting  Mike Slater

2-3 March  Treasure Hunt weekend  Wayne, Brian, Liz, Vaughan, Teresa, Frank, Anne and Franc

Thursday 9-Sunday 12 May.  Formal Dinner Blouberg  Frank Wimberley, Paul Marais

june  Drakensberg Mountain Biking   Bill Slater self medicates.

July  Bell Traverse Drakensberg  Mike Slater, Garth, Liz, Bruce, Andrew, Caroline

 4-8 August Umfolozi Wilderness Trail  Ed Estill

21 October  ESSA Annual Dinner G R Bozzoli Pavilion Wits

Friday 3rd November Drakensberg Cycling Trip  Mahai Campsite to Cavern  Frank, Andrew, Elizabeth, Teresa, Wayne

16-18 December  Tugela Gorge Rafting