Rubbish, anyone?

Mthatha Municipality is now handing out free black bags to residents, using rather a novel distribution method.

Thanks, Eskom

Language Competence class giving presentations in windowless lecture hall, despite load-shedding.

A Walk in the Park

Nduli Nature Reserve is on the outskirts of town, and is a sanctuary from the melee that is Mthatha:  taxi drivers, robot-runners, white bakkies, queue jumpers and pothole dodgers.

This is where I like to go on a Saturday or Sunday morning (sometimes both days), with My Friend (and occasionally some Other Friends).  It's a brisk 4.6km hike, and we do it in about an hour.  Bob cycles the route twice in the same time we do one circuit.  He reckons that if My Friend and I didn't talk each other to death, we'd be able to do it a lot quicker.

Of course, he doesn't take into account the times we stop for the bokkies, which is delightfully often.

What part of NO ENTRY do you not understand?

There doesn't appear to be any poaching in the Reserve, despite the poverty in the area.  Apparently the reason is that venison is not a taste of choice.

We also stop to look at the birds...

The hoopoe is one of my favourites

 ...and the butterflies...

There have been quite a few of these Eyed Pansies lately. So pretty. (This isn't my pic , they're too tricksy for me to capture)

About fifteen minutes into the walk, you can take a detour into the Rock Garden

Sanctuary within a sanctuary

I can find very little detail about its history

...but I do know that this site has a cache (read about Geocaching here).  We've found it, but haven't logged our visit yet, as we'd like to add something special to the cache before we do. We haven't quite worked out what yet, but want it to be Mandela related; though not something that another Geocacher can take away with them (which is permitted, as long as they replace it with something of equal of greater value). 

The cliff face, evidence that this used to be a quarry. Wonder if the cache is nearby?

Cascades of Pride of De Kaap in the Rock Garden.

We saw this Giant African Land Snail. Dead, fortunately, or I would have shrieked like a girl

 There are very few visitors to the Nature Reserve (about ten per week), and this shell has lain undisturbed for over a month. In fact there are so few visitors, My Friend has walked in her bikini top a few times, to get rid of  the T-shirt tan she's developed.  I'm not brave enough to do that.  Besides, if Bob sees me, he might just fall off his bike.

There's this funny little building in the rock garden.  No graffiti or signs of recent occupation.  Wondering if it used to be a watchman's hut?

There must have been quite a bit of traffic here.  Many, many years ago.

Dogs are not allowed in Nduli.  Apparently, if they are seen in the Reserve, they are shot by the rangers.

Yup.  Here'll be dogs.

 The cost of accommodation in and around Mthatha is exorbitant (worse than in Cape Town), whether you are overnighting, renting or buying. I've heard rumours that there's quite a bit of pressure from developers to release this 'wasted' land for development.  It hope it stays that way, just a rumour.