Monks Cowl Weekend - Inkosana Lodge
18 to 21 July 2008
by Elaine Deyzel
Participants: Jo (leader) & Ian Goddard, Mike Bisset, Karen Irwin, Elaine Deyzel, Carole Elliott, Derek & Gretta Jones.
On arrival at Inkosana Lodge on Friday afternoon we were greeted by our host, Ed Solomon and his three white Alsation “puppies”. After showing us around his home-from-home-establishment Ed soon had us all unpacked and settled in the cosy lounge, glasses of wine in hand. Supper was prepared and enjoyed in the well-equipped kitchen (even a microwave oven!) After a light-hearted game of trivial pursuit we retired for the evening.
 Saturday morning dawned clear and mild and it was decided that we would do Hlatikulu Forest Trail and so left transport at the Drakensburg Sun Hotel and drove to the starting point at Monk’s Cowl Park entrance. After signing in we made our way along the trail to Sterkspruit Falls and then on to Hlatikulu Forest (or so we thought). A wrong turn had us on the Makhulamane Rock Trail, which cut short our hike but certainly did not cut short the sheer enjoyment of being in such an awesome environment.
On returning to Inkosana, we relaxed in the lovely gardens, soaking up the sun, behaving very much like the geriatric old farts (GOFs) Ed had called us that morning when we forgot our Wild Cards. But can a man who refers to his three rather large dogs as “puppies”, has a blanket for each aloe in his garden and proudly wears holey pants be trusted in his opinion? (About 100 aloes are covered every evening and uncovered every morning – and they are BEAUTIFUL!) Well, we were so grateful that we didn’t have to wash dishes the WHOLE weekend that Ed could have called us anything he liked, walked around pantsless and put electric blankets on his aloes and we wouldn’t have cared less. A true host in every sense of the word!
On Saturday evening we enjoyed a leisurely meal at Monk’s Cowl Country Club, returning to Inkosana tired but contented after another exhilarating day in the mountains.
 As Mike and Karen were leaving on Sunday it was decided that they, Derek and Gretta would do the shorter 9km Hlatikulu Forest Trail and Ian, Jo, Carol and I would do The Sphinx Trail. This time the cars were left at Monk’s Cowl Park entrance and we set off on another glorious day in the Drakensberg.
The trail up to The Sphinx passes “Robin Hood’s Grove”, a beautiful spot especially in the summer when Jo says the massive rocks are covered with wild flowers. Tea was enjoyed on The Sphinx and then we continued up the trail, passed Breakfast Stream and eventually down (and I mean down!) Keartland’s Pass.
Arriving back at base we did some more GOF behaviour – soaking up the sun or lazing around the lounge, meeting a fascinating stream of backpackers, hikers and mountaineers (proving, by the way, that even non-GOFs love this place!)
On Sunday evening, after either braaing or cooking, we enjoyed our meals around the large table in what was, by then, “our” kitchen.
Early Monday morning (check-out time 9.30 sharp!) we left Ed’s and a great weekend of hiking behind us. This one comes highly recommended by all who participated. Thank you Jo and Ian and the rest of you GOFs!
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