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Not sure where to post this as there don't seem to be any geology fanatics amongst us.

We've noticed that all the rocks on top of the "koppie" have what look like "lines" criss-crossing it. It looks like someone took a paintbrush and painted lines in white paint on the rocks. What are these lines? Are they a regular feature of granite?

I found this site which explains the layering in rock formations, hope it helps:-
Layering

An excellent site Freda, and here is one that is about granite:

http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~rmr/

I have forgotten more than I ever learned about geomorphology, and cannot remember if there is any relationship between granite, gniess and sandstone - but I think that all of these have 'lines' of some kind within the rock?

Mathekenyane (hill 385), on the H1-1 near De Laporte waterhole.

On the older maps it is Granokop on some of the new ones it is Mathekenyane.

What can I say - a perfect answer!! Well done.
This is what the getout point that I had driven up ( a huge granite hill) is marked as on my KNP map - previously known as Granokop. So those who said Granokop - you were also right

It is really worth driving off the H1-1 and up to the top of this hill. One has a 360 degree view of the Park around one. Spend a while just sitting looking through your binocs. Wonderful!!

matthew is right.
Looks something like this?

Hi Razz

This is my mothers most favorite part of the park and on each trip I visit the hill.She has always said that is where her ashes are to be scattered as it is that special.

It is fantastic to be their on your own switch of the engine and just listen and watch. Its a MUST if you have the time

I'll deffinatly be there in a couple of days

Allen

This is a strange place for me. One always sees at least something from the top, but I've never seen any big and hairies.

However, on the way past, I've seen excellent lion, cheetah, and rhino near the road below the koppie...

10 km from Skukuza, on the H1-1, to your left.
You can't miss it.

It is my favourite sundowner spot.

I am privelidged to have watched at least 5 sunsets here.
Each one has been magic.

Maybe some of my ashes could be spread here, that is how special the place is.

If you are in Skukuza in August, there is enough time to drink a dinky of wine, watch the sunset and get back to camp.

Sunset rides often use(d) it as the perfect sundowner spot. I was there a few years ago and heard lion roaring on the breeze, but couldn't see them. The guide, in those days a final year student, told us that a few days previously a pack of wild dogs appreared and ran through the gathering of tourists enjoying their sundowners. He shouted to all to freeze and reached for his rifle. The dogs just sniffed around and left as suddenly as they had appeared. Timing......

let me talk about Mathekenyane.

There are places where heaven touches earth.. and this is one of them.
There are times, times of consumation, when life is changed.. forever. This happens in the sunrises, when we meet the dawn with joy and expectation... and the sunsets... when life holds its breath.

I left Mathekenyane with the final blessing, "Pax Vobis" .. go in peace, to love and fill the earth.

I loved this place from my first meeting. Then, I went with a party of hikers. We sat drinking our sundowners, and I though, "if I die this minute, it would be in a state of grace".

There are pilgrim places thoughout the earth, Mecca, Lourdes, the Ganges... places with an energy so special that it penetrates every pore. So too, Africa breathes through our pores in certain places. One is New Bethesda, another is Howick falls, many I do not know.. and one is here.

I watched the sunset on the evening of my trip. There was a silence that was tangible... I could embrace it and at the same time it contained all my hopes, failures, challenges... the very essence of my being and all those close to me was connected to this moment through me. It was a moment of consecration.
l was aware of the sacredness of all life.. and the experience of essence.

This is from an earlier post, but I felt it belonged here.

Hi Fish Eagle and others

Again I owe you all an apology for taking so long to answer this post but I have been wrapped up in the arrangements of organising with the KNP Birthday Celebrations.

Although there are OFTEN problems with the road leading up the side of this huge rock due to its steep gradient and resultant erosion problems, this isn't the reason that this popular lookout point was closed last month.

The Skukuza Section Ranger Albert Smith took the decision to close it as a leopard has chosen the rock as its home and we are a bit concerned that, firstly, human safety and secondly, the safety of the leopard itself.

Leopards do tend to move on from time to time and I am sure that Albert will reopen this viewpoint when he is convinced that the dangers are no longer apparent, if he hasn't done so already. I will give you feedback on this as soon as I have it.

Hope this explains.

Incidentally, as you drive past the Skukuza Reception Building and gaze at the faces of the Founding Fathers brass faces that can be found on the outside wall of the Northern wing of this building, think about the following interesting fact.

The original idea was to carve these faces out of the side of Mathekenyane a la Mount Rushmore in the USA but the then National Parks Board didn't have the funds to do this so the project was downscaled to the bronze statues you now find on the Skukuza Reception building.

Kind regards
KNP Spokesman

LOL, couldn't agree more MM!

@KNPS That's very interesting about the leopard, and re the faces in Skukuza, it's lovely to hear these little snippets of information, thank you.

@BB, Gosh what an experience with the wild dogs, I would have loved that!