Rainbow Gorge, Didima, 15 October
Hike leader: Luis Esteves
Hike report: Luis Esteves
Twenty enthusiastic hikers set out on Sunday 15 October at 9.00am from Ezemvelo’s Didima resort to walk the iconic Rainbow Gorge in the Cathedral Peak area.
The weather forecast the whole week had been rather unpredictable and on arrival at Didima we were greeted by a spit and spot of rain, but thankfully that soon subsided as we set out up the steep concreted path at the back of Didima. After a couple hundred metres the path levelled off and we had an uninterrupted view back towards Didima resort. Up ahead to our right Cathedral Peak was obscured by cloud.
After another few hundred metres we started to descend into the Didima river gorge with its beautiful and diverse riverine forest. It wasn’t long before we heard the sound of running water and were walking next to the river with its many multi-coloured pools, boulders and pebbles. All along the trail small waterfalls and streams tumbled down from the uppermost reaches of the gorge. There were also a number of river crossings which required some nimble boulder-hopping skills and one-another assistance. A short chain ladder and a number of wooden-pole ladders, as well as boulder-sliding and boulder-climbing added to the adventure.
We were well into the hike when suddenly a few dozen teenage children from Potch came up behind us. We thought it best to stop for refreshments, thus allowing them to go past – they were travelling at speed! As midday approached, the gorge rapidly began to narrow and we were soon at the endpoint of the hike, a four-meter-wide gap with vertical sides rising up dozens of metres. To top it all, a massive boulder had become lodged in this gap, and was suspended three metres above the river bed. Much fun was had by all as photos were taken of hikers turned Atlas “holding” up the said boulder. We were grateful to have been able to get to this end point – a higher river would have made it inaccessible.
After a lunch break, we retraced our steps back along the river path – boulder climbing and boulder sliding, boulder-hopping across the river, down wooden-pole ladders and chain ladder – and then, finally, out of the magnificent riverine forest and down the concreted path to Didima resort. It was 2.30pm and we had the opportunity for a few minutes together to enjoy coffee and rusks (kindly provided by Dave and Sharon Hockly) before heading home.
All in all, we had an invigorating, adventure-full, visually fabulous hike. Definitely worth a repeat!
