SANParks pumps R3m into Tokai and Cecilia

TMNP’s
Hoerikwaggo
Kids
Smitswinkel
Tented Camp
under
construction
Red Data
Book
points to
conservation
status
See
Page 2
See
Page 5
See
Page 7
West Coast
National Park
See Page 8
Table Mountain National Park • Second Quar ter 2009
SANParks pumps R3m into Tokai and Cecilia
By Chad Cheney
SANParks has committed R3 million to commence with a range of biodiversity rehabilitation and recreational improvements in line with the approved Management Framework for Tokai and Cecilia. The funding will be released in R1million
tranches over a three year period commencing in April 2009.
The funds flow from the Management Framework prepared in consultation
with the public and stakeholders to guide the future management, rehabilitation and upgrade of Tokai and Cecilia. In terms of the 2005 Dept of Water
Affairs assignment, SANParks manages the plantations and the timber
company MTO Forestry, which is harvesting the plantation trees over a
20 year period to 2024.
The Proteas, Mark Lottering, and some
Table Mountain needs your vote. Log onto
The Management Framework is a ‘framework for planning’ which provides
a vision for the future of Tokai and Cecilia. This vision includes biodiversity restoration, provision of shaded recreational areas and routes and the
protection of heritage resources. The Management Framework can be
viewed on the TMNP website: www.tmnp.co.za .
www.votefortablemountain.com
Key projects to be funded in 2009 include:
members of the SAPS have cast their
votes for Table Mountain. Remember,
you have until 7 July 2009 to vote.
Above, from top to bottom:
Captain Graeme Smith, JP Duminy
and Jacques Kallis
Proteas photographs supplied by TMACC
Left: Mark Lottering
•
•
•
•
•
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the upgrade of footpaths in Tokai and Cecilia, including a network of
environmentally sensitive boardwalks in areas that are under rehabilitation;
the removal of alien vegetation around Prinskasteel Waterfall and the
waterfall footpath in Tokai;
the shade route planting in Tokai and Cecilia to allow for shade in the long term along designated routes;
the afromontane planting in Cecilia in areas that would support long term viable forests;
the realignment of the Tokai braai area to allow for the establishment of an ecological corridor connecting the critically threatened, lowland Cape Flats Sand Fynbos to mountain fynbos;
the upgrade of the re-aligned Tokai braai area; and
increasing the number of grysbok in lower Tokai as populations have declined
over the years.
Work undertaken to date includes the
upgrade, in Cecilia, of the Eagle’s Nest
footpath to the Back Table and the
appointment of landscape architects
to prepare the plan for the re-aligned
Tokai braai site.
The projects will be undertaken in consultation with the relevant authorities,
biodiversity experts, NGOs, stakeholders and members of the public.
From left: Supt. Randall Stoffels,
Sergeant Theo Goosen, Constable Edwin George,
Capt. Angie Latchman, Inspector John Baker, Supt. Priscilla Vos, Supt. Juner Cilliers
BP Southern Africa boosts the TMNP’s fire fighting capacity
BP Southern Africa, part of the global
petroleum company, has donated a
Bulk Water Tanker to Table Mountain National Park (TMNP). The 11
500-litre tanker will boost the Park’s
fire fighting capacity and will be used
to replenish the Park’s fire fighting vehicles with water, thereby reducing the
turn around time when fighting fires.
Wildfire Services and teams from Working
on Fire. The Park also has a close working
relationship with the City of Cape Town’s
Fire and Rescue Services.
The TMNP’s current fire fighting
resources include three Unimogs, four
5000-litre water tankers and a team of
trained wildfire firefighters on contract
to the Park assisted by the Volunteer
As a responsible citizen BP is directly
responsible for health, safety and environmental performance in the geography
they operate,” said Lyndon Smith of BP
“In keeping with BP’s internationally acclaimed health, safety and environmental
policy, we aim to achieve no accidents,
no harm to people and no damage to the
environment.
Southern Africa.
A Park for All, Forever
On receiving the request for a water tanker
Services in
from the TMNP, we saw this as a best “fit”
protecting
with our environmental policy.
our Table
Although it was nearly six months before
BP Southern Africa could deliver a redundant fuel tanker for conversion to the “water
tanker”, it was received with “open arms”
by the Fire & Technical Services Team at
TMNP during April this year.
Mountain
National Park
which was
declared a
Natural World
heritage site
in 2003.
BPSA Fuels Value Chain Logistics team
The TMNP has,
said it was very happy to be associated
during the current fire season, extinguished
with the tremendous work carried out by
55 fires within the Park. The fire season
both the TMNP and the Volunteer Wildfire
ended in May.
‘n Park vir Almal, vir Altyd
iPaka yoluntu lonke ngonaphakade
Fire fighting boost
Back row, from left: Lyndon Smith, Matthew
Ferguson, Irene Juhnke, Johan Kemp, Mannie
Booley, Brett Myrdal and Craig Barker.
Kneeling, from left: Peter Wynne,
Clinton Dilgee, Philip Prins and Kim de Bruin.
There was plenty of excitement when the TMNP asked the Cape
of Good Hope Volunteers to manage the setup and display of
Book your stay at SANPar
ks
at the Gateway Visitor Ce
ntre
Nwabi
the Bird collection at the Buffelsfontein Visitors’ Centre and this
proved to be challenging in some respects. Identifying the birds
was great fun and enjoyed by all, including members of the Cape
sa Sithela and Rayaa
n Roberts are the
bookings officers at the
SANParks Desk at the
Cape Town Routes info
rmation centre at the
Clocktower Building
at the V&A Waterfro
nt with
their supervisor Doree
n Hendricks. The offi
ce
is open between 09h0
0 and 19h00 in Winter
(May to August) and
from 09h00 to 21h00
in Summer (Sept to
April). Visitors are als
o
welcome to make the
ir bookings telephonic
ally
by calling 021 405 45
00.
Bird Club and some overseas visitors.
Birding enthusiast -Althea Buchmann,
is also the treasurer of the Cape of Good Hope volunteers.
By far the greatest challenge
As the birds originate from far and
was storage and display. Denise
wide and are so spectacular, the
Hamerton of the Iziko Museum was
group is delighted that it is able
extremely helpful and provided a
to display such a wide variety and
skin box to store the birds in and
were categorised as follows: Spe-
an old display case which turned
cies found at the Cape of Good
out to be not suitable for Buffels-
Hope section, seasonal “visitors”
fontein Visitors’ Centre. The team
and those found in other national
is eternally grateful to Volunteers
parks in the SANParks network.
Ron Zeeman building two units at a
This display will add value and
fraction of the normal cost; and to
diversity of information to the visitor
Peter de Villiers who painstakingly
experience at the visitor centre. It
mounted each and every bird to its
is hoped that the display will be
best advantage in the displays.
added to with time.
MNP’s newly- aunched Hoerikwaggo Kids
“a resounding success”
From left:
Nwabisa Sithela,
Rayaan Roberts
and Doreen
Hendricks.
Absent:
Zukiswa Mwezo
Indigenous game set for
a return to the Cape
According to Christa Stringer, people and conservation
day the learners rose early to attend the Class in the Clouds
officer who project-managed the Hoerikwaggo Kids,
lesson on Table Mountain.
As early as 2012, visitors to Table Mountain National Park will be
the programme has been a resounding success. In an
This was followed by a luncheon at Newlands Forest and a walk
able to enjoy organised game drives in the expanded Groote Schuur
attempt to build on the foundation laid by the equally
through the forest, which included a magnifying-glass investiga-
game camp. The game viewing experience will probably be a first in
successful Kids in Parks programme that ran in the park
tion of the micro flora of the forest. The last morning was spent
an urban setting in South Africa. The game camp’s size will increase
for the past three years, the park introduced the Hoerik-
visiting the Boulders penguin colony in Simon’s Town and the
in phases and ultimately be about 450ha and various types of indige-
waggo Kids programme. A total of 250 learners between
finale was a picnic and swim.
nous animals, such as Eland, Red Hartebeest and Grey Rhebuck will
Megan Adriaanse, a teacher at St Augustine School compli-
be introduced. The main limiting factor will be the cost of adequate
mented the TMNP adding that the whole experience had been
fencing and this will therefore necessitate a phased approach.
the ages of 12-13 and 25 teachers participated in this
programme, between March and May this year.
The programme was jointly funded by the TMNP and the City of
educational and fun for her learners, most of whom had never
Cape Town’s Environmental Resource Management Depart-
been to the Park before. “I am glad that they got a chance to
ment. Lindie Buirski, Head: Environmental Capacity Building,
learn about nature and experience it first hand. Unfortunately,
Training & Education Unit, Environmental Resource Manage-
lack of money continues to be a barrier for schools like ours.
southern boundary will be moved down towards UCT (University of Cape
ment Department, Strategy and Planning Directorate from the
This trip would not have been possible without the support of
Town). The consolidation of land previously managed by Cape Nature, the City
City of Cape Town, said “We support the Hoerikwaggo Kids
Table Mountain National Park.”
of Cape Town and the Dept of Public Works into the Table Mountain National
Kids in Parks is a SANParks, Pick’nPay, Dept of Education. and
Park has enabled the park managers to proceed with this ambitious plan.
DEAT (Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism) funded
The removal of 37 pure black wildebeest from the camp early this year and
programme because it is giving kids that will under normal
circumstances never get an opportunity like this - a chance to
experience the wonders of the TMNP. It also supports one of
our aims of conveying environmental knowledge to our learners
in a way that will, hopefully, lead to much needed behavioural
change because of the quality facilitation in a unique and beautiful environment and it is happening over three days.”
“This funding allowed us to invite five schools that are linked to
orphanages and children’s homes around Cape Town to attend a
three-day camp in Table Mountain National Park,” said Stringer.
partnership programme and it continues in other national parks in
the SANParks network.
The Park will accommodate the increase in the animal population by extending the northern boundary of the existing game camp to Devil’s Peak and the
their translocation to Graspan breeding station in Mokala National Park
outside Kimberley, also facilitated this plan. The black wildebeest are not
indigenous to the Western Cape and were removed both to become part of
Christa Stringer
(right), People
& Conservation
Officer, TMNP and
Megan Adriaanse,
a teacher at St
Augustine School
an essential breeding program and this effectively made way for herbivores
which previously grazed the mountain slopes. The new animals will be translocated from other national parks within the SANParks network.
Ultimately, this will enable the Park to achieve its goal of restoring the natural
On the first day, the learners arrived at the Sunbird
and cultural heritage of the area.
Education Centre, and they had time to explore the
area around the Silvermine area and dam. The afternoon was spent at Cape Point where they engaged in
a rocky shores lesson at Bordjiesrif. On the second
Above left: Geneveve
Samuels, Grade 5 pupil at St
Augustine, who lives at the Holy Cross Children’s
home was pleased to see animals and to learn
that some of the of their behaviour is similar to
human beings.
Above right: Chante Britz, Grade 7 pupil at St
Augustine said she learned that all ecosystems are
linked, and that everything has cause and effect in
nature. Promised to get her friends to visit the Park.
2
Back row, from left:
Janice September and Zanele Mboneli
Front row, from left: Marsha Arries, Zenia
Windvogel and Chanel Kobus
A Park for All, Forever
From left to right:
Front row: Jasmine Jantjies, Chaskay
Webster, Erica Solomon, Nadine Losper,
Alencia Hartzenberg
Middle row: Belinda van der Westhuizen,
Anastacia Adams, Mondre van der Berg,
Regina Luvhimbi (TMNP intern)
Back row: Bernadette Jacobs (teacher),
Sharon Eiman, Meshack Vukeya (TMNP
intern) and Jaimy-Jo Siljeur
‘n Park vir Almal, vir Altyd
iPaka yoluntu lonke ngonaphakade
Teamwork...
Staff members were involved in the
Wildebeest capture early this year
at Groote Schuur Estate.
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Dear Mr Va
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I received yo
ur
organisation details from Mercia Ra
received this and staff for the most ex demeyer, as I must co
mpl
past weeke
ceptional se
nd.
rvice and ex iment your
I organised
perience ou
a party of 8
r party
Matebese an
to
d John Walla be guided along the O
range Kloof
ce were our
The party co
trail. Zukile
guides and
ns
advisors.
being the m isted of a mixed bag
os
of
and extrem t inexperienced. Despi experienced and inex
el
te
pe
extremely co y professional. Their atte this, Zuki and John w rienced hikers, me
ere patient,
mforting an
ntion to deta
concer
d
il an
their warmth
I must howev
and friendlin d concern for our safe ned
ty
ess was a jo
on Saturday er make special mentio
y and pleasu was
n
an
re.
bunch. He tra d who walked with m of John who, was the
gu
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at the
rted m
e way
inexperienc
ed to carr y y backpack the entire , as I was the weakest rear
the pack an
way along th
of the
all the way
d
do
e
Throughout wn Orangekloof which hike at the same time, trail, as I was too
the hike he
an
w
as
d
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to
o steep for
held my hand
was kind, ge
too as the le
me to
ne
ad
of our ever y er on the day, was co rous of spirit and extre manage on my own.
nstantly in ra
move.
mely helpfu
l.
dio contact
When we ar
with us and Zuki,
riv
aware
helpful, they ed at the camp both
Z
ev
of order desp en let us use their sh uki and John were cons
ow
socialise was ite their effort to get it ers, as the showers in tantly engaged and
to
th
call of duty so appreciated and inte work. Their ability to co e camp were out
to make ou
r hike a valu resting and they certai mmunicate and
On the Sund
able and en
nl
ay
joyable one. y went beyond the
rain and I am , I elected not to walk,
professionalis told that both Zuki an but the party continued
d Jo
m and joy, de
th
spite the do hn continued to guide rough the
I on the othe
wnpours.
the party w
r-h
an
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d
got a
who was ve
ry obliging an lift to Constantia Nek
w
d
ith
m
th
os
e
t helpful.
This weekend
assistance of
Andre Jacob
liaising with experience was such
a pleasure th
Mercia very
soon to book
at I have no
Please cont
doubt I will
another trip
in
be
.
because qu ue to employ such exce
ite
success it w honestly without them ptional individuals and
appreciate
as.
the experie
them
nce would no
Please will yo
t have been ,
half the
their attentio u pass this email on to
both Zuki an
n as well.
d
Jo
hn
Kind
for
found to
st week and
by DEAT la
d
when local
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le
di
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accolade po
re team wer
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ca
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st
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hi
C
ver seen the
e
P
regards,
The TMN
received th
ly, “I have ne
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nt
th
ce
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re
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Bobby is
sa
Dalia Lichten
How
Rousseau
me to do”.
stein
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7 November 20
ewage, and
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six did the No
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On
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like cairns aw
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arp stones. He
this is the cl
and spoke to th
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to heat and sh
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it
n years of ex
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and offered to
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Hig
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who said that
12.01.09
eone who vi
tually caught up
week.
e mountain bike
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ven days a
e met me at th
d
se
cl
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ce enjoyed by all
r dog was ly
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colleagues. Af
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from 2 months
e
e vehicle, drov
ov
to 62yrs old.
our dog into th
ing area, and dr
t
rk
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pa
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ed
All ten of us!
car.
officials help
rry him to our
road. The two
, and
then helped ca
d
an
Fam Dôpke,
te
ga
e
and assistance
th
back to
aff for their care
st
mend
m
NP
co
TM
to
e
e
Ca
th
pe Town & Sto
e would also lik
e people
very grateful to
W
e
r
ck
.
ar
o
ho
is
e
th
lm
m
W
r
e car
fo
th
h
n
Wis
t further into
ank them agai
Fam de Gouve
the reservoir, no
ed
nature! re!
b 2009
would like to th
to
a,
riv
l
te
Fe
ar
u
ga
st
f
e
16
fir
ti
th
u
we
at
15
e one
Cape Town
in bea ity to go he OD Denmark
attitude when
the car guard (th
place
(Our dog
il
ly and helpful
l
nd
er.
ib
u
ie
ng
s
f
-fr
ra
s
r
er
e
o
e
th
p
om
d
te
st
e
loca
Won
park) for his cu
had th
assisted us to
late the TMNP
d for the way he
like to congratu
so
al
Dear Hilton,
and parked, an
e’d
W
)
ll.
we
in general.
d
re
ed
ve
ag
co
an
re
loped and m
ve
Leo has since
de
en
Thank you for org
be
s
ha
anising two fantas
ermine
tic guide/ guards for
on the way Silv
9/11/08
Sunday 21st Decem
us for our walks wit
ber as the final two
h
our
bab
y
ies
el
eve
on
er
nts
Saturday 20th and
in The Mountains
Hope children’s’ mi
at a
Yours sinc
of Hope Expedition,
ssion.
trail - wh
in support of The Do
pe Town
Awesome
ulama
or of
Prof Mike Hart
L
Oth
University of Ca
s
er
k
tha
n
an
fee
h
ling very safe and
tion Systems,
appreciating the ass
setting T
ent of Informa
or
f
rtm
pa
De
tha
co
t
ista
TM
&
nce, it was an amazi
National Park has
embarked on to ens
ng insight into the
e, Mellow
ecial.
ure the safety of peo
great efforts
very outgoing and
Mzonyan
end so sp
ple on the mountai
provided us with gre
k
ee
w
ur
ns. Stanley Benjami
at running comme
mo
un
tai
ay
making o
n.
n was
nta
Th
B
ry on a number of
e group who walke
ut
o
H
,
top
d with him on both
ics, including safety
Justin
is making to ensure
occasions were fas
on the
Jenna &
our safety
cinate
ds
20/09/08
ve y nice be
c l view,
p,
u
lk
k
w
e
Nice
- Fish H
ff d, 9y s
J mes t
d to hear about the
, and enjoyed both
efforts the park
were helpful and ded
Robert Elders and
Stanley’s company.
icated to making the
Both Robert and Sta
event run smoothly
men who are dedica
nley
. It was great to be
ted to nurturing our
in the company of
natural environm
these two
ent.
Stanley is someon
e who is particularly
outstanding in his
and very focused on
guiding ability. He
the task whilst rem
is encouraging, am
aining relaxed and
using, patient,
abilities in the sen
fun to be with. He
se that on both occ
also has excellent
asions the group wa
leadership
judgement, and his
lking with him felt
ability to take com
instantly confident
mand of any situati
in his sense of
Table Mountain Na
on
he
ma
y be likely to encoun
tional Park, and wo
uld be very popula
ter. He is a huge ass
is able to communic
r I am sure with any
et to
ate to people on all
person requiring his
levels. Having run
many guides, there
services. He
a guiding company
are few guides tha
in the past, and wo
t I have met in UK
rked alongside
level of natural tal
, USA, Europe, or Sou
ent in guiding.
th Africa that posses
s Stanley’s
Thank you once aga
in for your suppor
t on this occasion.
Year to discuss fur
As mentioned I am
ther possibilities to
keen to meet up ear
promote TM Natio
ly in the New
nal Park.
God Bless over Ch
ristmas and the Ne
w Year,
Rachel Colenso
A Park for All, Forever
‘n Park vir Almal, vir Altyd
iPaka yoluntu lonke ngonaphakade
I am a South Afric
an citizen and on
holiday in Cape To
I have visited the
wn
top of the mountain
twice in the past
weeks, once climbin
tw
o
g and the other by
cable car I found
that the cable ca
r service was fan
tastic, both below
at the upper statio
and
n I also commend
the sterling effort
of the team who ha
s
ve maintained the
Platteklip Gorge
walking pathways
They are a pleasure
and their design
as well as that of
erosion control a fea
t
tha
t should not
escape any of the
visitors using them
3
Safe hiking on India Venster
ain
Water at Table Mount
manager Working for Two Oceans marathon and
Ross Wilson project
the
hed
inis
f
of having
in 2010
National Park is proud medal He promised that he will be back
nze
r
yea
winning himself a bro
t
nex
him
eagues to join
and challenged his coll
Otter spotter
Faunal sightings on Table Mountain National Park
by Mark Hawthorne
It’s always a wonderful experience spotting a beautiful or unusual animal
port; and their
20mm in diameter with knurled surfaces
commitment to
for extra grip. All these staples have
the re-wording
been drilled to a depth of 150mm, and
of the signage on
then secured with specialised twin pack
the path; the Red
epoxy mortar. The first step required
Cross AMS and
two staples, on the second step; we
Metro Rescue for
placed three staples and a short chain
the use of Skymed
of approximately 200mm, just to assist in
helicopter, without
gaining access to the ledge before the
which they would not have succeeded;
final step. The final and most awkward
his brother Dion Tromp, who arranged
step required five staples and a length
the manufacture of the staples, template
of chain of approximately 1,5m to assist
and everything else required to get
An integrated approach to mountain
the hiker around the corner once exiting
the job done, and for the use of his
safety starts with ensuring that hikers
this section. This work required a full 10
drilling equipment and sundries, drill
are well informed and prepared for
hour day, and working non-stop, we just
bits; Simon and Stephan, for their hard
climbing the mountain. To this end,
managed to complete as the light faded,”
work and assistance; John Yeld of the
the TMNP has produced a safe hiking
said Kevin Tromp of WSAR.
Cape Argus, for taking photographs and
brochure with tips on mountain safety
“The staples are an addition to the main
for writing informative and interesting
and which has a particular focus on the
intervention, which is to steer hikers
newspaper articles, keeping the public
five most popular routes.
unfamiliar with the mountain away from
abreast on developments and Hilti SA
Tourists and members of the public can
this route to other safer footpaths. This
for supplying the epoxy mortar.
also hire accredited mountain guides
has been done through the re-design
Table Mountain has the unenviable
at a rate of R150 per day, plus R35 per
or bird whilst out and about in nature. It’s great to be able to spot and
of signage and footpath layout,” says
identify a rare animal or bird and to be able to share that magic moment
Paddy Gordon, area manager, northern
with at least one other person during a visit to a park or reserve or while
section of Table Mountain National Park.
on a trail. On numerous occasions, while enjoying the Cape of Good Hope
hiking trail, we’ve been able to observe herds of Eland or spot a herd of
rgus
“We installed 10 stainless steel staples,
, Cape A
The three most difficult parts
of the India Venster footpath,
a beautiful but treacherous
path on Table Mountain, have
had stainless steel staples
fixed to rocks, in order to
improve safety. The staples
were recommended as an
additional safety measure
to the Park by a team from
the Table Mountain National
Park (TMNP) and Wilderness
Search and Rescue (WSAR)
that walked the path.
record of incurring more mountain
round
variability in
John Yeld
Two
Oceans
Marathon
2009
mountain weather and conditions.
person, up to a limit of six people.
deaths than Mount Everest – largely be-
For bookings, visitors should call the
cause Capetonians and visitors to Table
Table Mountain National Park Hoerik-
Tromp sincerely praised the TMNP
Mountain underestimate the dangers of
waggo Trail office on 021 465 8515/9,
for their active enthusiasm and sup-
the mountain with its altitude and year
between 07h30 and 16h00, week days.
Bontebok or Red Hartebeest or even observe a Mountain Zebra or two.
Often, I have sightings of a Grysbok
On seeing us the Klipspringer were
or a Steenbok, a venomous snake or
startled and then after about half a
a Porcupine, Africa’s largest rodent.
minute they took off in full flight across
However, when I catch even a glimpse
the rocky terrain and into the cloud in
of a Klipspringer, an Otter or a Caracal,
the direction of Disa Gorge, stopping
it is definitely more rewarding, making
occasionally to look back.
my heart leap with joy.
Anthea swops number crunching
for gruelling charity drive
On 18 April 2009, 57 athletes took part in the Platteklip Charity Challenge and
attempted to summit Table Mountain (Platteklip Gorge) as many times possible from sunrise to sunset to raise funds for a struggling créche. The route up
Platteklip Gorge includes 800 double size steps over a distance of 2.1km and
a climb of 760m. Once at the top, the contestants had to run to the upper cable
station, catch the cable car down and then run back to the start. Anthea Mouton
an Accountant at TMNP took part in the challenge and completed three summits.
One athlete managed to complete 10 summits. A total of R 551 200 was raised,
and will be administered by the official charity, the Aids Resource Centre and will
go to the Masikulisane Crèche in Samora Machel, Phillipi caring for Aids affected
children. Visit www.charitychallenge.co.za for more info.
On the evening of Saturday 28 March
this year, whilst on a walk to Kasteels
Poort and Rendezvous Cave from the
People’s Trail hut, with members of the
Cumhike Hiking Club, we spotted two
Klipspringer near Jesus Cave. This again
was an amazing experience for my group
of hikers, most of whom had never seen
Klipspringer
one of these animals on Table Mountain.
On 2 March, Lea, our French volunteer
and I spotted another Klipspringer on
a ridge, on the skyline, near Wynberg
caves, whilst driving on the Back Table,
Private landowner donates land to TMNP
…secures funding for commencement of alien clearing programme
By Mike Slayen
alongside Alexandra reservoir.
Eland
Since two herds of Klipspringer had
been reintroduced to the Back Table of
Table Mountain (the first release took
place in October 2004), I have had the
privilege of spotting some of them on
three occasions of late, while during
the first year of their release, I had only
observed spoor on the Central Table, in
the vicinity of Maclear’s Beacon, which
in itself was encouraging. In the late
afternoon on 21 February 2008, whilst
on the Back Table with my son Justin,
we were extremely fortunate to see
three Klipspringer, in excellent condition,
next to the cementation road, between
Woodhead and Victoria reservoirs. What
a wonderful surprise. This made our day.
A total of 182 hectares of prime conservation land in
Further good news is that the TMNP has secured funding
Kommetjie has been donated to SANParks for inclu-
from the Table Mountain Fund (TMF) to undertake follow
National Park, I have seen Caracal on
sion in the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP).
up clearing of alien vegetation on the property. This will be
numerous occasions throughout the
To secure this donation, the TMNP worked in partnership
Park during the night and day – adults
with the owners of Cape Farm 948/10, also known as
as well as kittens. During March this
Kompanjiestuin, located above Kommetjie Main Road next to
year I had the pleasure of seeing a
Oceanview. The donation extends to 2/3 of the total area of
Caracal on three occasions in the
the farm with the remaining third being set aside for develop-
Over my nearly 27 years of working
and hiking on the Table Mountain
private nature area as well. Onno Huyser, Table Mountain
Fund manager said he was obviously overjoyed that the
greater portion of the Kompanjiestuin land has been secured
for conservation and inclusion in the Park.
ment of a vineyard estate.
“This land, which forms part of the Rooiberg mountain, is
of the Silvermine Homestead and the
A donation agreement between SANParks and the owner
especially valuable since it is situated within one of the biodi-
Sunbird Centre. What a beautiful ani-
was signed in 2005. In terms of the agreement, SANParks
versity hotspots on the Peninsula, and contains populations
mal – the largest predator in the Table
took possession of the mountain portion of the property and
of highly endangered plants. The TMF is very pleased indeed
Mountain National Park.
once the landowners resolved their development application,
to be able to support the Park now in restoring the land to
the conservation land can be transferred. The Kompanjies-
the highest possible conservation state,” said Huyser. The
When it comes to animals and sight-
Silvermine River valley, in the vicinity
tuin development has been approved and the donation can
TMF, which is an associated Trust of WWF-SA, has been
ings, my favourite animal will always
now proceed. SANParks will have the property formally
working closely with TMNP since 1998 on consolidating the
be the Leopard - the Cape Mountain
declared as part of the Park. In addition, a portion of the
area under conservation management.
Leopard. To be blessed with a sighting
property has been made available for Ocean View extension.
of one of these animals in the wild,
preferably on a mountain peak would
be the best experience of all.
Mr. Jan Bergman, a representative of the donor, the Kompanjiestuin Development Company said that the project
represented a win-win situation whereby development and
conservation could occur together for the benefit of the Park
It was a sight to behold.
and community living around it.
He commented that “we are pleased to receive approval for
the development of the vineyard estate (which will be known
as Imhoff’s Vineyard) because this activated an agreement
for this land to be transferred to SANParks which is where
it belongs. SANParks deserves credit for their patience and
vision; and for working tirelessly to secure land like this into a
park that is an international treasure.”
4
done in co-ordination with the landowner who will clear their
A Park for All, Forever
‘n Park vir Almal, vir Altyd
iPaka yoluntu lonke ngonaphakade