IN OTHER WORDS

Alma Janse van Rensburg,

Cape Town

“I grew up in Sutherland, but I’ve been avoiding the Karoo for a long time because it breaks my heart to witness the drought. This hike has shown me that dry as it might be, the Karoo remains beautiful.”

Franci Vosloo,

Stellenbosch

“When it rains and the Buffels is in flood, it’s as if you’re experiencing history in the making: how water began to carve out the soil and eventually form rivers. The cliffs reveal millions of years of mud and sand, and then you realise how vulnerable the earth is. Walking to the source of the river on Komsberg is like stepping into the past, a past you never knew.”

Sandi Husted, Joburg & Sheenagh Levy (right), Hermanus

Sheenagh: “I’ve trekked to Everest base camp and I’ve climbed Kilimanjaro, but this hike stands out. There are no set rules or routines; everyone walks at a pace he or she is comfortable with. The best part is the wide open spaces and the complete isolation. You can hear yourself think out here.”