the exploration society of southern africa dedicated to discovery, conservation and exploration



Upcoming Trips

20 August, 2010 (All day) - 29 August, 2010 (All day)
Mountain biking
Namaqualand

 Book your seat here

This trip aims to explore the flowers of Namaqualand by bicycle and will be based around the town of Niewoudville.  The plan is to travel by rail from Johannesburg to Wellington and then up to Namaqualand.  We will be camping and plan to explore the areas for a few days before moving on 

4 September, 2010 (All day)
Orienteering
Johannesburg

Join us for a haunted evening, investigating ghosts spots around Joburg


The route:

11 September, 2010 (All day)
Star Gazing
Magaliesburg

 Hello Everyone 

24 September, 2010 (All day) - 26 September, 2010 (All day)
Formal Dinner
Waterberg

   Join us on this annual, fun and unconventional event.  We go to a mountain top and partake of fine food and wine.

1 October, 2010 (All day) - 3 October, 2010 (All day)
Pony trekking
Rievlei Natrue Reserve

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. 

4 December, 2010 (All day) - 19 December, 2010 (All day)
Overland
Kasanka Game reserve

 Kasanka a game reserve of 560 square kilometres on the southern tip of Lake tanganyika  has the greatest recorded concentration of mammal life on the planet. There is 2,500 tonnes of bat life there - the equivalent of around 500 elephants - hanging across an area of forest measuring the equivalent of ten rugby fields . .  Each year in November and December 8 million bats decend on the park and this is the aim of this trip- to see a bat or two.  Contact Sharron on 082 553 5258 for more info

19 December, 2010 (All day) - 16 January, 2011 (All day)
Mountaineering
Mt Vinson

 This trip is for those with experience in Cold weather camping as this extreme environment is extremely taxing This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and begins at Punta Arenas Chile.  A flight from there to Patriot hills and a further flight to the base of the mountain is required.  From the base camp a further two camps are established with lots of cramponing required.  Trip costs will be around US$ 35 000

28 December, 2010 (All day) - 2 January, 2011 (All day)
Rafting
Hope Town

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

8 April, 2011 (All day) - 22 April, 2011 (All day)
Caving
Sudan

 Sharron is organising a caving trip to the Sudan (together with the Caving Club)  This will explore some known caves as well as look for new caves

24 April, 2011 (All day) - 27 April, 2011 (All day)
Hiking
Kruger Park

Mphongolo Backpacking Trail

1 May, 2011 (All day) - 4 May, 2011 (All day)
Hiking
Kruger Park

Mphongolo Backpacking Trail


 

17 June, 2011 (All day) - 17 July, 2011 (All day)
Overland
Moscow

 This train travels from Moscow to Vladavostock and is one of the great train journeys in the world.  We plan to travel to Moscow from Germany by train and then onto Vladavostock.  

17 June, 2011 (All day) - 10 July, 2011 (All day)
Pony trekking
Oslo

 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.  

28 December, 2011 (All day) - 3 January, 2012 (All day)
Rafting
Hope Town

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

Past Trips

30 July, 2010 (All day) - 1 August, 2010 (All day)
Hiking
Rock climbing
Mt Everest, Harrismith

Join us for a beginner rock climbing trip to Mt Everest near Harismith (this one is not the highest mountain in the Free State- but guess Some one thought it was bliksems high) The mountain situated inside a nature reserves offers great hiking and good birding if all you want is a weekend away.  

Please Contact Lewis Coosner on 082 557 7786 for more info

17 July, 2010 (All day)
Adventure racing
Limpopo Province

The Haenertsburg Iron Crown Challenge 

 

12 June, 2010 (All day)
Hiking
Waterberg

Contact Lewis Coosner if you interested in doing a fascinating but fairly easy hike over the weekend. Lewis will add more content and further information......later ..wont you Lewis?.

12 June, 2010 (All day)
Hiking
Melville, Johannesburg

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!

5 June, 2010 (All day)
Mountain biking
Imvelo Game Geserve

See web page for details


http://www.biggameparks.org/newsfacts_events.html


ESSA has often had a group that has enjoyed this annual event. Following the MTB we often go rafting down the Usutu river with Darron Raw's company.

22 May, 2010 (All day) - 30 May, 2010 (All day)
Mountain biking
Zululand

Isanlwana approach

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!

 

 

15 May, 2010 (All day)
Hiking
Rock climbing
Mountain Sanctuary Park - Magaliesburg

 


Day Trip to Mountain Sanctuary Park – 15 May 2010


MountainSanctuary Parkis a private nature reserve in the Magaliesberg mountains, five hundred feet above the Grootfontein valley. The reserve is approximately 120 km west of Johannesburg and 90 km west of Pretoria.

24 April, 2010 (All day) - 25 April, 2010 (All day)
Hiking
Kayaking
Mountain biking
Kiting
Fishing
Harrismith

Aaaargh

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!

17 April, 2010 (All day)
Star Gazing
Military History Museum - Johannesburg

Interested in Astronomy, sky-gazing, astro-photography,buying/building a telescope?
Come visit the astronomy event of the year

Telescope & Astronomy Expo

9 April, 2010 (All day) - 27 April, 2010 (All day)
Mountain biking
Drakensberg

 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.