Beaverlac

Ok, we are finally back in Cape Town. our December holiday was absolutely fantastic but it is always good to be home. We were so blessed to be home safe and sound. :)

Our first adventure of the new year came in the form of a weekend in Beaverlac.

http://www.beaverlac.co.za/Default.aspx

Our destination is high up in the Olifants River Mountains above Porterville in the Western Cape. The farm is situated in a secluded 5000 hectare valley surrounded by mountains and is blessed with two rivers, the Ratel (Honey Badger) and the Olifants. It took us about one and a half hours to drive to Beaverlac. Once you hit the steep mountain pass and descend into the valley below the sun sets quickly.

Camping Fees per night
Age 12 to Adult:  R45
Age 4 to 11:  R25
Under 3:  Free
Plus R15 per car entrance fee
R40 per dog per night

No day visitors are allowed at Beaverlac.
I could only get off work late this meant that we ended up pitching our 3 tents in the dark! :( ad to this that there is no electricity in the camp site and we were in for a tough hour. Luckily S and I are a finely tuned machine when in comes to pitching a tent so we made light work of the chore. Soon we had our fire lit and our meat cooking away. :)

When morning came it we saw that our others also aparently had to pitch their tent by the light of the moon.... mmm obviously with little success. :)

Soon the sun was baking down on us and we decided to head to the closest rock pool we can find. A mere 5 minute walk from the campsite.

We spent most of the morning, afternoon and evening hippoing it in the water. Floating around on the poolnoodle to lazy to swim to hot to make much of an effort. The temperature rose to well into the 40's and we did not have the guts to venture far from the water.

When the bottom pool became a bit crowded we packed up our things and pool-hopped up the river in search of a quiet corner and some shade.  There are no trees growing along the river, nor do you see lush green plants and flowers growing here. It is simply to hot for any type of vegetation to survive on it's own.  Yet I find it strangely beautifull.

Humans are definatelly not designed to hike in such heat so we made quite a few stops along the river for a swim or a beer or just a well deserved rest.

The flowers and plants that survive here are specially adapted to the environment and does not seem to be fased by the scorching sun...

To be continued...