A favorite hike -- South Africa

[Mike Buckley]

My wife and I recently hiked two of the three trails on the peninsula that encompasses the Robberg Nature Reserve and Marine Protected Area, which is near Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. We have done a reasonable amount of hiking in a variety of topographies and this day of hiking was one of our absolute favorites.

At first I thought the so-called hike was a walk, but learned fairly soon that people who are not reasonably fit would probably find it too difficult to be enjoyable.

We liked the hike because the scenery kept changing despite that we hiked for less than 6 kilometers. The scenery included:

-- narrow paths along the edge of steep cliffs (not for anyone with a fear of heights)
-- a long "tunnel" 3 meters high that had been cut through dense bush that is otherwise impenetrable
-- fairly steep uphill climbs on very rocky surfaces
-- glorious views of the ocean on both sides of the peninsula
-- a steep sand dune
-- beautiful rock formations
-- intimate beaches
-- a sandy isthmus that we shared only with one small bird


Photo #1



Photo #2
(Yours truly captured by my wife and post-processed by me)



Photo #3
(My wife carrying a back pack that is always heavier than mine)



Photo #4: Touch me!



Photo #5



Photo #6

[Donald]

Hugely enjoyable set of very good quality images. Thanks, Mike. I'm just jealous that you managed an energetic hike AND captured images of this quality. I really must get fitter again!

[chauncey]

Mike, those are stellar images...it is sad though that the camera can't take the image that we see.

[tbob]

Very interesting. That sand(?)slope looks fairly precarious to be standing on. A great set of shots and a fascinating hike across some interesting and photogenic terrain. I envy you

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, everyone!

Yes, Trevor, that part of the sand dune is very steep. It's so steep that we didn't walk down it as much as we slid down it by taking each step and letting our foot slip down the hill nearly a meter. The sand is so soft that falling would not be painful.

[batmura]

Mike, amazing work. I would *love* love to shoot #5 from the ground and experiment with all kinds of long exposure techniques with the sun setting in the background. Thanks for sharing!

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Murat! There would be a million sunrise and sunset compositions to choose from within easy walking distance along that part of the peninsula to make your photo. The problem is that driving in the dark in South Africa is not recommended for tourists.

[batmura]

Why is that, Mike? Is it because one would have to drive through poverty-stricken black neighbourhoods? The reason I'm asking is because my wife and I really want to go to Cape Town someday and it would be good to know how safe the place is for tourists.

[Mike Buckley]

Locals complain about speed bumps in the roads that are not painted or marked by signage.

Also, South Africa has a very high unemployment rate and, like all countries that have that issue, crime is higher than it would otherwise be. All sorts of methods are used by people to bring your car to a stop so they can rob you, especially at night. While I suspect that that possibility is blown out of proportion, it is one of the reasons locals advise that you not drive at night.

My wife and I spent two weeks in South Africa and never had a sense of potential danger. Even so, like in all places, caution and common sense have to exercised.

[Brownbear]

Lovely... I adore #2 (yours truly for the perspective) and Touch Me... that cloud is so real.