In 2013 my parents had hiked the Doringrivier. With overgrown proteas and an ill-marked trail, they managed to lose the path. Luckily my father’s GPS came to aid and they managed to find their way once again – all the while lightning was striking on the mountainside. Needless to say, they have attained a certain reverence for the Doringrivier trail.
Me, wanting to hike the trail, convinced my parents to do so once again. We visited the Witfontein office to obtain a permit (given that the trail if officially closed due to its overgrown state).
We drove over the Outeniqua pass, turned left into Waboomskraal and parked outside the fence at the border of the Doringrivier wilderness area. We set out in sunshine (the day promising to be sweltering) and made our way up the road. The first 2 km is an uphill struggle surrounded by black wattle and pine, but upon reaching the second gate at the neck, the landscape changes. One is welcomed by valley of Fynbos – absent of pine and wattle.
To my parents surprise, the thicket of fynbos of two year prior had all been burnt. We were to walk over freshly burnt earth – surrounded by pioneer species.
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