Mosamane Hiking Trail
Rosendal, Orange Free State, 9 – 11 February 2007
by Pam Harvey and Derek Jones
Group consisted of: Derek and Gretta Jones, Piet and Beate de Villiers, Johnny and Betty Holtzhausen, Brian and Pam Harvey, Dion Westphal, Eileen Ritchie, John Meyer, Sally Jones, Terry Banks, Betty Connellan, and Elaine Deyzel
MOSAMANE – AMAZING! At the foothills of the Maluties, close to Rosendal, this trail has so many fascinating features. After leaving the base camp the trail led us through a grove of poplar trees and a series of gullies, which looked rather lovely, but sadly was a result of erosion. Along this path the group stopped to study the rock formations. On top of the mountain was definitely a lion lying down and watching the plain below. Another fascinating rock formation was the elephant’s head and trunk. The trunk was formed by a long gap at the end of the cliff.
Dotted along the trail there are beautiful resting places, like the “Colour Gallery”. This was our first stopping place. Obviously named, not only for the amazing colours of the red and orange of the sandstone cliffs, but also the view of the grassland below, which was a colourful carpet with a variety of greens and yellows.
The trail was a series of ups and downs. Very well laid out and the ascents were a series of stone steps, ladders and metal stakes. The descents meandered across the contour of the mountains. There were many, many places to stop and admire the views, but a couple deserve a special mention. One was “Cathedral”, where there was a high narrow indentation in the cliff face, giving the impression of a nave and the white colouration on the rocks resembled an Archangel. We definitely felt as if we were in a sacred place.
The best was the Owl’s Eyes. We climbed up the ladders into the cave and we looked around for the owl’s eyes. We looked at the markings on the rocks and at the formations but couldn’t see anything that resembled an owl. Then we realised the view from the cave, over the tree tops, was the owl’s eye. We went down the ladder, along the path and up again into the second cave – the other eye! When we followed the path around to the other side of the gorge, we looked across the crevice at the two caves and exclaimed “Look at the Owl’s Eyes!”. “Wow!” Not only was the scenery unbelievably beautiful, but the grasses and wild flowers had us in raptures, as they appeared in abundance along the trail. I just wish I knew all the names. There were bright blue Wild Agapanthas and Red Hot Pokers. Derek identified the Candelbra Brunsvigia, a magnificent flower with many stems of deep pink. I must also mention the birds and animals. We saw a number of species of birds, including the Paradise Wyder and everyone was excited at the end of the walk to see a Gymnogene. Whilst driving along the track to the house Brian and I saw a Duiker and a Bushbuck was spotted close to the camp.
I was so keen to write about the trail that I haven’t said anything about the base camp. I must also mention the accommodation, as it was excellent. There were two dormitories with 18 single beds, ablutions with six showers and toilets and a kitchen. There was also a covered area with braais, tables and logs to sit on, with panoramic views of sandstone buttresses in the distance AND just outside the door we had our own “Brandwag”.
I can only give an account of Day 1, as unfortunately Brian sprained his ankle whilst walking and it was too painful to join the group for the Treasure Hunt on the second day. The Physiotherapist said to Brian that he shouldn’t have continued walking after he injured his ankle. Brian replied that unfortunately he couldn’t find anyone willing to carry him!
Day Two or – Why Don’t We Have Pencil and Paper??? Sunday dawned clear after 15mm of rain during the night and we were raring to tackle the day’s hike by 7.45. The hike was to be in the form of a Geo-caching (orienteering) exercise. Starting with the clue at the back door of the house we were soon on our way in search of the next way-point a few hundred metres away. And so it went for the next half an hour, up to clue No 4. Ja-nee this clue had us by the you-know-whats. Backwards and forwards ad infinitum, even right back to re-read the clue but, clueless we remained. All the time we were incessantly reminded by one of the group that we didn’t have pen and paper to record the 3- line clue.
All the while some of us were stomping all over the place, looking TOTALLY lost. Eventually it was decided that we should press on in the direction given until some sign appeared, which we duly found at back door we had started from!!! The sum total of all this was that Derek, eventually followed by Johnny, ended up on top of the wrong mountain, Dion and Eileen back-tracked (on Piet’s suggestion, although Piet was by this stage tired and gatvol, so he stayed on the verandah to observe our non-progress), and found the 5th clue, at the “altar” which was totally hidden behind a bush.
By this time most of us were finished in every way, so Dion led a small group consisting of Eileen, Elaine and Beaté in search of the final waypoint. This one was so close (an old dam wall) that it was overlooked and finally they too, had to admit defeat. An interesting, tiring and frustrating exercise, but also very enjoyable!
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