Hikers hit Manley Flats trails
Every year the Oldenburgia Hiking Club includes a charity-fundraising day hike in their hiking calendar and this year they chose to support the Sikhululekile Community who have developed the Manley Flats Community Trails about 15km outside Grahamstown.
The date was set for Sunday 4 June and in addition to the trail entry fee, the club encouraged hikers to also bring donations of clothing, household items, as well as any other cash donations they might want to make to further assist the community.
The hike attracted 29 keen walkers who arrived on a cool crisp morning with bundles of donations, including two bicycles. Over and above the R870 paid for entry permits, a further R815 was raised in cash donations.
The Sikhululekile Community have worked hard to create some beautiful undulating trails that meander through indigenous bush and farmland for the benefit of avid hikers, mountain bikers, trail runners and bird watchers, and in so doing are able to generate a small income to help support themselves.
The day entry fee is R30, or R100 for a year permit, that is paid into an honesty box at the start of the trail.
However, the income they receive through this initiative is erratic and not enough to meet all their needs.
As farmer Leonie Yendall explained to the assembled hikers at the start of the trail, the community are entitled by the State to live on the land but they are not able to use the land as collateral to raise capital for any commercial farming activity there. And so they have to find other ways to survive with the few resources they have.
Their difficulties have been further compounded by recent drought conditions during which they do not have sufficient means to nourish their families and livestock.
The trail itself passes through the community village and as the hikers approached they could hear the sound of drumming and singing in the distance to herald their arrival.
Walking into the village itself was a special highlight of the day as they were greeted by a welcoming party with warm smiles, ululating, singing and dancing.
Thobeka Mbuzwana, a community representative, explained how the trails had come about with Leonie’s assistance and thanked the club for supporting the trails and for all the donations received.
The hikers were offered slices of fruit and water for refreshment before continuing on their way with the sound of farewell singing ringing in their ears.
We’d like to encourage anyone reading this to support these trails – they are well worth a visit.