SPRING VISIT TO AGULHAS PLAIN AND HAARWEGSKLOOF
Merrilee Berrisford
We now have concrete plans for a Kogelberg branch expedition in August and so far a group of around sixteen interested people.
The trip will be in two parts: the first three nights in the Agulhas National Park main camp then an optional two nights either in the Haarwegskoof Renosterveld Reserve with limited accommodation or in a place of your choice in the area – De Hoop, Bredasdorp or Napier.
- Agulhas National Park
Dates
Sunday 21 – Wednesday 24 August
Booking
We have provisionally reserved a number of chalets with different options which are to be found below, under SANPARK accommodation details.
If you would like to book, please email me with the following details:
Each person, couple or group should send to me (Merrilee at mberrisford@xsinet.co.za or on 028 272 9314 / 082 571 3923) the name, address, email address, contact number, SANPARK Client Code if there is one, otherwise ID number (so that SANPARK can create a SANPARK Client Code for you) andof course the accommodation you prefer.
I shall then send the information through to the SANPARK office and the booking will be under your own Reservation Number. You will then be sent your own booking form and will pay them directly. This is a great relief to me as I don’t want to handle money.
Note that we have already booked the Lagoon House in the main camp and filled it with, mostly, workers, i.e. your committee. It will be a good gathering place for all.
Lagoon House at the Cape Agulhas rest camp where we will all meet for meals.
Activities
On one of the days there we’ll be taken by Emmerentia de Kock, SANPARK’s Agulhas’ People and Conservation Officer, to other areas of the Park to see places of interest: salt pans some with flamingos, one which was mined long ago; renosterveld with spring bulbs and then a walk and picnic in an area with fine limestone fynbos, a milkwood forest and another pan with birds.
On another day – weather may determine the order of activities – we’ll potter along the coast with Dr Allan Heydorn, a retired marine biologist and naturalist, as a guide.
Anyone is free to book for a longer stay at Agulhas and of course free to take part or not in the planned programme.
- Haarwegskloof Renosterveld Reserve
Dates
Wednesday 24 – Friday 26th August
This is a small, new reserve conserving the largest contiguous stretch of lowland renosterveld – on Earth! It is managed by the Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust.
Some weeks ago we spent a great couple of hours with the enthusiastic manager, Jannie Groenewald. He is an ecologist and showed us a presentation of the impressive biodiversity of the Reserve which will be on the programme. There will also be walks with Jannie through the veld which should have some of its specials in flower.
The accommodation is mostly on bunks – bring your own sleeping bag – but there are good facilities – bathrooms and equipped kitchen. The converted dairy has three bedrooms and your recce team has reserved two of those.
The old dairy with alpacas!
The Farmhouse at Haarwegskloof
De Hoop is not far away, and Bredasdorp 40 km away, so alternative accommodation should not be a problem.
Please let me know if you are interested in accommodation at Haarwegskloof.
- Additional optional activities
The Bredasdorp Fynbos Expo will be on from 18 to 21 August. We may also have a walk in the vicinity of Napier guided by Cameron McMaster who will be speaking about bulbous plants there in Nivenia Hall on 18 June.
- Meals
As before members will see to their own breakfasts and lunches and we’ll arrange an evening meal either in the nearest town or catered by a local.
- Are you interested?
For Agulhas, follow details under Booking above. For Haarwegskloof just let me know (mberrisford@xsinet.co.za or 028 272 9314 / 082 571 3923).
Note that Harold Porter has both renosterveld and Agulhas Plain gardens next to each other, beyond the big pond, towards the mountain – so you can start preparing!
- SANPARK accommodation details
Check in/out time for accommodation: 14h00 on arrival, 10h00 for departure
These are the reservation details:
- All for 3 nights, arrival 21/08/16 and departure 24/08/16.
- The cost per chalet is the same regardless of how many people occupy it.
- Note that all prices are discounted at pensioners’ rates.
NB: CHECK IN/OUT at SANP OFFICE, 214 MAIN RD, AGULHAS, near lighthouse
- OPTION ONE – only one of this type reserved – four people
AGULHAS REST CAMP 1 FCH4 (FAMILY CHALET):
2 en-suite bedrooms, each with 2 single beds, ceiling fans, fully equipped kitchen, 2-plate stove (no oven), microwave and fridge, open plan lounge / kitchen area, patio and barbeque facilities, sleeper couch only suitable for children under 12. No smoking.
TOTAL COST FOR THIS CHALET FOR THREE NIGHTS: R3537.00
- OPTION TWO – two chalets of this type booked – four people
AGULHAS REST CAMP 2 FCH4D (FAMILY CHALET):
1 bedroom with 2 single beds, 1 bedroom with double bed, 2 en-suite bathrooms (w/c and shower), ceiling fans, fully equipped kitchen, 2-plate stove (no oven), microwave and fridge, open plan lounge / kitchen area, patio and barbeque facilities, sleeper couch only suitable for children under 12. No smoking.
TOTAL COST FOR THIS CHALET FOR THREE NIGHTS: R3537.00
- OPTION THREE – only one of this type reserved, it is the same as FCH4D except it is for people whose mobility is challenged – four people
AGULHAS REST CAMP FCH4Z (FAMILY CHALET ):
2 en-suite bedrooms, each with 2 single beds, ceiling fans, fully equipped kitchen, 2-plate stove (no oven), microwave and fridge, open plan lounge / kitchen area, patio and barbeque facilities, sleeper couch only suitable for children under 12, toilet and shower, universally accessible, w/c and shower. No smoking.
TOTAL COST FOR THIS CHALET FOR THREE NIGHTS: R3537.00
- OPTION FOUR – two chalets of this type reserved – two people
AGULHAS REST CAMP 2 CH2DN (CHALET):
Ceiling fans, en-suite bedroom with double bed, fully equipped kitchen, 2-plate stove (no oven), microwave and fridge, open plan lounge / kitchen area. No additional persons allowed. No smoking.
TOTAL COST FOR THIS CHALET FOR THEE NIGHTS: R1908
- OPTION FIVE – two chalets of this type reserved – two people
AGULHAS REST CAMP 2 CH2N (CHALET):
1 en-suite bedroom with 2 single beds, ceiling fans, fully equipped kitchen, 2-plate stove (no oven), microwave and fridge, open plan lounge / kitchen area, patio and barbeque facilities. No additional persons allowed. No smoking.
TOTAL COST FOR THIS CHALET FOR THEE NIGHTS: R1908