The East Rand Hiking Club

The East Rand Hiking Club was at the Five Assegais Hike this last weekend. 19/06 to 21/06/2009 We were in two groups. 8 base camp and 7 backpack.
As the leader of the backpack group I would like to thank you for a wonderful weekend of hiking.
· The information available including maps and write ups from Five Assegais was comprehensive and very informative.

· The accommodation at Gods Window was excellent and at Bermanzi was also great.

· The hiking was magnificent. The beauty of the flowering aloes at this time of the year was remarkable and it made for some spectacular hiking and pictures.

· The marking of the trail from the Five Assegais side was very good. The marking on the Bermanzi side was not as good but in the direction that we took the marking were fine. We did meet up with the hiking group based at Bermanzi and they complained that the marking was poor. (They followed the trail in the opposite direction to us in the River valley.)

· The trail on the second day was particularly difficult as the trail had not been maintained for some time and we found it tough going having to duck and crawl with our packs. (Also in the river valley and the beginning of the assent out of the valley.)

· The views and terrain that we hiked through from the waterfall to the river valley and the sculptured rocks the entire experience was marvelous. I did the hike with my son for Father’s day and we will both have very special memories of this Father’s day for many years to come.

Thank you again for allowing us to share in this magnificent part of the country. Will you also pass on our thanks to Atty. Tell him his donkey was a persistent but amusing visitor.
Best regards


Alex Elshove