Forum Olifants River Back-pack Trail - 2008

[G@mespotter]

Hi all

I know of several previous 'attempts' to arrange this, but I am quite serious......I was thinking of a 'forum' Olifants River Back-pack Trail in April 2009 (yes, its quite loong into the future ). Just give me some time and I will get you guys the specific dates etc.This means I would like to know if any other formites would like this idea, and tell me here if they are interested....It would be awesome if we can get 8 people together where we surely know they love nature, the environment and the animals out there!!! Let me know....

Read about the trail here: Olifants Back-packing Trail or here Olifants River Hiking Brochure Find out about the price here Tarrifs. If I am not mistaken, the price works like this: R11 300 divided by the number of persons participating, with a maximum of 8. So the cheapest would be R11 300 / 8 = R1412, 50 per person!

[G@mespotter]

Hi all

Just checked the dates.....As per today, I would say the ideal dates are Wednesday 1 April 2009 starting and 4 April 2009 ending, but a possibility would also be Wednesday 8 April 2009 starting and Saturday 11 April 2009 ending....

I think April is a good month to go as the bush is still lush, daytempratures (normally) not that bad and night tempratures (along) the river not too cold......sounds perfect, isnt it

[G@mespotter]

Hi all

THE FIRST DAY! AND SUCH A RESPONSE!!

I am very happy to see that a lot of formites do like the idea and 'are convicing others (eg. SO's ) or seriously thinking about it.....looks like it is popular!!

Now, all I want to say, no worries, because I can book in May 2008 on its earliest!

Have a good thought about it, and dont hesitate to pm me (again).

New list: (definately wanting to go)

1. G@mespotter
2. G@mespotter's sister
3. Ndloti

Possibility list: This list will mention all people interested up till now, and that will be possible/ are interested in joining:

1. Wildtuinman
2. Scipio
3. Bunnyhugger
4. Bunnyhugger's SO
5. Bucky

Dont hesitate too long, and pm me even if you are thinking about it.

Come on, you 'real' formites

[G@mespotter]

Hi all

New update again (yes, this thing is rollin! )

Some of the practial issues:

My aim is to get some sort of 'permanent list' before booking time. Actually, if possible at all, before the last week of April 2008. Ideally, if it is possible, I would like to have 2 or so person 'on the bench', so might any of us be hindered to participate, we have a backup plan...

So you all have 2 months or so to think, which I think is reasonable. When this list have been 'provisionally finalised' I had the idea of organising a meet, at some 'central' location for most of us!
At this meet I intended to discuss the practical stuff like paying a deposit, getting details, making further arrangements etc....

I'm a person of organising and planning, and the least I want to have a chaotic situation and some unhappy formites, so lets do this propper!! Looks like it gonna be a moerse fun thing, and the first of its sort!!!!

Please, do not hesitate to pm me, even if you only found out about this now!

[G@mespotter]

So heres a new update:

People definately wanting to go: (not necessarily included yet, its just an overview for now)

1. G@mespotter
2. G@mespotter's sister
3. Ndloti
4. Bunnyhugger
5. Mgoddard

People Im stiil waiting for confirmation....

1. Wildtuinman
2. Scipio
3. Bucky
4. Bucky's brother (maybe)

Anyway, 'new volunteers' are still welcome to 'sing up' ...

Formites, al I want to say this: I didnt expect such a response...really thanks!

Lets just take it easy from here

[G@mespotter]

Aijajajajai.........Tsukundu!!

Welcome to THE WALK topic.......guys looks like we're going to have moerse problem .....

Im glad I'm having such a response...really . Now Tshukundu, I'm very glad that you want to participate with this walk! I cannot at this stage however guarantee a place As you can see, we have a few 'fence sitters'....(just used as a practical word, no offence )

Now the practical issues here...

I want to make/introduce a new rule here: because of the popularity of this idea, we will still work according to the list; however, in order to prevent misunderstandings, the due date for a decision will be set on 31 March. So, if we havent recieved a decision by the 'fencesitters' I will pm WTM, Scipio, Bucky and his brother aswell as Imberbe the last week of March....

After 31 March, we can make a list of who's going with....and all sorts of reasons can result in several cancellations, so Tshukundu, you (and SO) ARE on the (benchsitters ) list, and you WILL have a definate answer after 31 March

Thats all I can promise up till now! From an organisational point of view its exellent (sorry to say but it is ) to have some benchsitters....as a backup!

Anyway, you guys have discovered I cannot stand the guys....so dont abuse it

HEY, IT LOOKS LIKE ITS GOING TO BE AWESOME!!

[Imberbe]

Hi Guys

I have not done the Olifants yet, but three of my friends have, some of them professional trails guides. They all say the same thing:

Firstly, it is a wonderful experience which everyone that is capable should experience.

Secondly, it is unlike any other hiking you have done before. It is not like the usual hiking trails, which follows a set trail. You basically follow the river, and depending on animal activity, rains, flooding etc. each route is different. You do not sleep at the same spot the previous trailists have slept. The terrain is rough, often sandy, wet, rocky, you go through dongas, bush etc. This simply means that walking is much more difficult. Don't under estimate the distance travelled each day!

The most important thing is your feet! You must have proper hiking boots, which is comfortable and which you have walked in before. This is no jog down the road!

Also carry a second pair of light footwear such as crocs to wear when camping. This gives your feet and boots time to rest.

Keep the weight you carry to a minimum. The guides will check your weight and will not allow you to carry more than a prescribed percentage of your body weight.

[Mgoddard]

Hi All
Just a quick hello and thank you all for the meet, I really enjoyed meeting all of you.

As promised here are the 2 photo's, pity some eyes are closed, but then thats how it turned out.

Still running around, trying to get all finished before 4:00am tom morning.

[BunnyHugger]

Ok P@m.

From Left to right in top pic. (GS will have to help out on his sisters name.)

G@mespotters Sister.
G@mespotter = Monne
Pieter22 = Pieter
Ndloti = Andrew
Meandering Mouse = Wendy
Yours truly = Russell, the dorky looking one. (Chickened out on the yellow T shirt).
My SO (In green top) = Rene.

Edit: WTM welched out on us. CHICKEN. (Perhaps his parole officer would not let him out.)

[Ferdelance]

Hi G@mespotter and everyone on this thread.

I guess it's to late for me to join the road trip, right? Man what a pity...... Would have been awsome!

I only started reading the thread today, but does anyone know of someone else that is doing somthing similar next year? I also want to do the 4 day KNP hike!

We were in the park in June for 10 days: CB,Letaba, BenD. Brilliant!

[ndloti]

Get fit , let me warn you if you are not a regular hiker !
The walking can be quite tiring especially if it is hot and you are walking through the many areas with soft sand along the riverbed .
The daily distances to be covered are long .
Pack carefully and take nothing extra (never again will I take wine or allow my brother to include 2 (two) tins of peaches and a jar of jam in my foodpack . My pack was at least 7 kg too heavy .
Make sure your boots are comfortable and good (my trusted-good-condition-leather Jim Greens soles both unexpectedly came adrift from the boot with 15 km to go)
Our 1 April trail will be the first of the season , it will make one feel as if you are in virgin territory !

[G@mespotter]

OK then.....Sawubona, here we go

Here is a little 'report' of our 'back-pack' practise round on Saturday 'Jan', Sawubona and myself are quite excited about the backpack trip, so we decided to experiement with our bags etc, and headed for a few, nice hills.
I packed my bag with my usual hiking stuff, but did not make the 20kg, so I used 4 extra pavingstones J & S used birdseeds etc, which was quite comical. While we stuffed our bags etc, their SO's we're just smiling and laughing at us madheads..... But hey, it's gotta be done



Off we went, and we quickly smiled for a 'pre-trip' photo. Sawubona didn't like the idea of 'smiling on the forum', so here it is Its was nice hot, and we headed for a few mountains.

We quickly made it to the top, and had a nice view, altough the area did not had rain recently, it was a bit green already From the top, we spotted a heap of elands in the distance.




Also, to our right baboons were crossing a fence, on their way to get water..
After a few adjustments to the backpacks, and a 'water-refil' we carried on, downwards the hill, which was very rocky, and our pace slowed down quite a bit. Just glad all of us have proper hiking shoes

We looked at all the small flowers, and actually there are numerous 'wild' flowers, which is quite amazing as it hasn't rained yet... as we walked on, we spotted a Eland quite close to us! As stupid as G@mespotter can get, I called out loud where it was (quite excited ), so yes, the Eland heared us and sprinted away. Another lesson learned It had a small claf with it, and we're guessing it must have been born recently Anyway, my first Eland ever



We found lots of animal dung, including jackal dung, and we thought Eland dung looked like 'bees' dung, but after consulting a spoor-guide-book that is wasn't

Coming back, we saw 2 BLESBOKKE and a few baboons with a couple of big males



All in all, we walked 5,3 km in just over 2 hours, which I think wasn't bad at all
It's just nice to chill out in nature, whatever you do. It was a nice experience

[Riverrat]

After spending this last weekend on the Metsi-metsi trail with ranger Steven Oosthuizen, Im most certainly still in for the backpack trail. I'm sure several of my newly-made companions from this last experience would be dying to fill any openings that might develop for the Olifants.

I'd also like to suggest that we request Steven to be our trails guide.....I was very impressed with his handling of the wilderness trail and it's unusual incidents, and he really seems to get the overwhelming support of all of his clients. he has already led two of the Olifants trails this year, and seems keen to join us if we want his expertise.
Some tips from him:
1. Much of the trail is in the soft thick sand of the river bed.... SHORT gaiters are essential to keep sand out of our boots.
2. Robust nylon sandals are also an option for the river-bed as we will cross the river several times.
3. The best tent in his opinion is the R150 cheapo from Makro... single-layer and about 1.8kg including poles.
4. Short-pants are better suited because of the high humidity.
5. Only 2 sets of clothing are really necessary...those we wear and a spare set in our bag.
6. It is 3 days hiking...on the metsi trail we averaged 4km per hour and if we are covering 20 km per day, that's only 5 hours...three in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. On firm soil this was not difficult (we did 14 km each day), but the sand of the Olifants River bed is apparently a bit more taxing.
7. the trail starts against the fence where the olifants enters the park on it's western border. It ends just west of the N'wamanzi lookout on the H1-5 where it turns away from the river and heads north towards Letaba.

[G@mespotter]

Hi all

Looks like I have a new member joining our group, named.....Zorro (I'm mean 'Zorro' is helping this thing survive WELCOME Zorro

Will give you more details later! Haven't heared from cougar yet....I hope he has read my message/pm....

This means the way things are looking now, we have one space left right now. Comeon formites, last chance to catch the adventure winds and sail right way!

I'm still sorry for those who HAD to 'leave' the group, but hey, this isn't the last time

[G@mespotter]

The 'new' list:

1. Riverrat
2. Ndloti
3. Zorro
4. Jan
5. Sawubona
6. AlexTheLion
7. G@mespotter
8. (still outstanding)

Lets go!