Sphongweni Shelter: 9 August
Distance: 19.6km, Total ascent: 620m
Group: 8 hikers – Deon Small, Hettie Randall, Kevin Stoffberg, Sue van Malsen, Dee Padayachee, Marlene Conradie, Brian and Sandy Henwood.
Photographs: Deon Small, Hettie Randall, Kevin Stoffberg.
Leader: Deon Small, Reporter: Hettie Randall
Not many of us had actually been up to see the SanArt at Sphongweni Shelter before, so as we left from Pholela Hut at 8.30am, we were filled with high expectations. We were breaking new territory!!
It was a clear sunny day but a heavy haze in the distance prevented any clear photograph opportunities until later in the day.
The route through Pholela Valley was straight forward and well maintained. Our first Art encounter was at Boundary Rock, a huge, but easily walked passed rock, which had its own identity with the San clan! After some oohs, aahs and clicks later, we set off again.
Being a SanArt site, there were no waymarkers but our well prepared Leader had everything under control! And the climb started. Wow, it was a tester! The going was a tough pull out of the Pholela Valley but as we gained height, the magnificence of the southern berg opened in front of us, breathtaking views all around us, so rewarding!
We passed a couple of iconic rocks, which, with guidance from paper sketches from those who “have been there before” – we eventually reached the krantz that had been towering above us, the cradle of our first day on the SanArt Exposure Expedition!! What an experience!!
The art was incredible. Photographs aplenty. One can never do it justice.
It just never reflects the incredulity of a such a historic footprint from our past. A very humbling experience.
We spent a while here, savoring the highpoints of our skyline, The Policeman, Titty, with the Nutcracker Cave in the background in the haze somewhere, through to Whaleback, while we munched on lunch munchies. What a 5 star experience!
It was then decided to take a detour from a direct descent and instead, we took a left on the path (hiking in winter when firebreaks open the old paths, is the ideal time to do these explorative trails!) and walked around the Whaleback with the intention of dropping down to Monster Rock but we failed to pick up the map route and instead took a game path down the valley.
We arrived back at Pholela Hut just after 4pm. Totally fulfilled. Thank you to my team! We have come and we have conquered!