Michaelhouse Hike, 17 May

Hettie Randall (Leader and scriptwriter)

Michaelhouse (Balgowan Conservancy)
Quis ut Deus – “Who is like God”

We had the privilege of enjoying a walk around this amazing Midlands icon, following a mown path through the conservancy, which forms a part of the larger Balgowan Conservancy.  We were surrounded by the rolling hills painted in autumn colours (albeit a bit hazy from fire breaks).   
This part of the conservancy is a valuable piece of Midlands Mistbelt Grassland. Walking around the reserve can be done in a few hours or can occupy for a full day. Our route was approximately 10km.  
It is home to a variety of animal species, and we encountered zebra and springbok along the way.  Oribi can also be found on the reserve, along with a herd of Nguni cattle which are used to graze grassland as part of a holistic management system. 
It was a lazy and magical morning, appreciating each other’s company and the never-ending views.   
  We stopped at the Lapa for a lunch break and then returning to the cars via a belt of mist-belt natural forest dominated by yellowwoods, proving to be the highlight of the day! 
We were done by 1pm, a few taking the opportunity to explore the Midlands Meander on the way home.  Thank you to all who joined us; it was a lovely morning out. 
A definite repeat as a family fixture. 

A brief history of Michaelhouse,
taken from the school’s website: 

The school was founded in 1896 by Anglican Priest Canon, James Cameron Todd, as a private venture for 15 boys. 
Within a few years, the school was appointed the Diocesan College for boys in Natal, governed by a permanent Trust Deed and administered by a Board of Governors.
1901. 77 Boys took up residence in the buildings, which remain the core of the school to this day.  For many years, there was no electricity or running water, with the fruitful labour of farming the land contributing towards the dietary needs of the boys – very different from the modern facilities available today! 
128 years later, the strong Christian ethos remains the cornerstone of the value system. 

Click here to return to Hike Report Index page