Trekking Expedition ‘Bourne Northern 2005’, South Africa, June / July 2005
Sheffield University Officer Training Corps
Phase 1 of the expedition found 24 members of the OTC departing Sheffield for Heathrow Airport and eventually arriving in Johannesburg. After a 24 hours in J’Burg, including clearing two outdoor shops out of gas canisters, we travelled south to the Sani Pass in the southern part of the Drakensburg Mountains.
 WO2 Fogg flanked by the female members of the exercise |
Phase 2 was a 5 day trek of the
Giants Cup Hiking Trail. The trail can start from several places, but the
most scenic begins 2 kms from the Sani Pass Lodge (the official start is a
further 8 km North of the lodge). On this route, one is rewarded with
fantastic views including a spectacular waterfall. The route then leads
back onto the official trail, and the day ends at Phoela Hut. After
checking in with the Ranger station at Cobham, our passes were
authenticated and we were cleared to continue with the trail. Due to
regulations, conservation and accommodation limitations, only 30 personnel
are allowed on any particular leg of the trail at any one time.
Day 2 took us to our first Bushman paintings, at which point we deviated from the route and climbed to Siphongwani peak (2263m). The views were stunning providing a 360° view of the Southern Drakensburg Mountain Range. After a sturdy descent, we ended the day at Mzimkulwana hut. The following day we climbed and then followed a stream to a road taking us to Winterhoek hut at the base of Garden Castle Mountain. These huts are very picturesque and are built in the traditional round hut style. Next day, we climbed the Black Eagle Pass to a height of 2036m before descending to Swiman hut, some 3 km from the Garden Castle holiday resort). We checked in at the Ranger station, buying them out of Magnum ice creams. Even though it is Winter in South Africa, the temperatures were 25 -27° throughout the day (but dropping to 0° at night). The final trail day took us you past some fantastic views and a series of caves (that apparently have further Bushman paintings). The descent is long and tedious and eventually terminates at Bushmans Nec hut. Next day, we returned by road back to Swiman. A guide was hired (it is compulsory to hire a guide to take you to the large Bushman paintings). After spending some time at the Sleeping Beauty Cave and learning about the Bushmen, we were all to soon back in our vehicles heading for the next phase of the expedition. We arrived at Isinkwe Backpackers - our starting point for a safari of the Hluwle game reserve during which we saw 3 of the big 5 – buffalo, elephant and rhino – as well as other animals including zebra, giraffe, wart hogs, and crocodiles.
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 Group photo at Rorke’s Drift |
The next day, we headed for Elandsheim, a Christian Youth Centre, which was to be our home for the next 3 days. Elandsheim is situated 17 kms from Rorke’s Drift and is ideally located to conduct OLE’s of the Zulu and Boer Wars. Our OLE was part of the Zulu campaign of 1879 and in particular Isnadwana and Rorke’s Drift. After meeting our guide, we headed off and were soon listening to accounts of the build up and the eventual battle of Isandwana. We followed the route taken by the left horn of the Buffalo of the Zulu’s. After recounting the scene of the battle at the neck of Isandwana, we moved on to Rorke’s Drift. All the original buildings have since long gone, but there are still areas marked out on the ground to show where the defences were erected by the British Troops. It was a a fascinating day. The next one was spent conducting a rural tour of a Zulu village. Even though the area of Zululand is poor, the people are still proud, and we were treated to a display of singing, dancing and stick fighting. After a traditional Zulu meal and more entertainments, we were shown around another village and a traditional Zulu hut, which is still authentic and decorated with traditional Zulu artefacts (less the electric lights).
The next day, we completed another day trek – Cannibal – which passes a flat rock where the original Cannibal Bushman would cut the achilles tendons of their victims and leave them there until they were ready to feast. After stopping to collect some souvenirs from the museum at Dundee, we headed for Pretoria for the final phase of the expedition where we undertook a cultural tour of the townships of Soweto. We were shown around one of the Shanty towns, and saw the houses of Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu. The tour ended with a visit to the spot where Hector Zollepeterson was killed on 16 Jun 1976 and which triggered the student uprising of 1976. On the final night, we tackled some of the largest steaks that South Africa had to offer. The final day came around all to soon, and we were soon on the plane home reminiscing over the previous 14 days.
WO2 RL Fogg R Signals PSI SUOTC