Karoo Farm

Ahhh!  A few days in the bush and I feel as though my body and my soul have been set right – tweaked, honed and nourished.  A much needed tune-up.

We have been staying on a private game farm in the Karoo  (a vast harsh and arid area of South Africa).  Although, thanks to rivers flowing off the mountains and some recent rain, the slopes on this farm were brushed with  green.

For me, there is something quintessentially RIGHT about walking in a grand landscape with distant views, big skies.  And we had the added bonus of magnificent wildlife, glorious weather with cool crystal light and the company of good friends.

We were dropped at the base of this valley -- twelve of us and four sheepdogs

 in an over- sized open roofed landrover. 

Our goal is to climb to a high shoulder and then over the other side and walk back to the farm.

Thighs aching, I reach the crest.  Below stretches the wide plain.
The farm house and its lawns are tiny with distance.  
We settle on broad rocks for our picnic and scan with binoculars 
There are 18 giraffe by the small dam on the right.  
Then it is time to scramble down the precipitous slope below us (no trail,
lots of loose rocks) and walk back to the farm.

Another day we hike up through a deep gorge, past waterfalls.  Some of the others take a dip.  Not me!  The water is pure ice.  But perfect for filling water bottles.   

This is the view that greeted us at the top.  I draw in lungfuls of the purest air and 

offer thanks of gratitude for the privilege of being right here, right now.

  

Beyond are more mountains,  a jumble of shapes - peaks and tables- purple on the horizon.

Looking out from our patio back at the amphitheatre of mountains.  To think we scaled

 that ridge and then walked back here in time for tea!

 

It would have helped if my legs were this long! 

It wasn't only geography that took my breath!

Giraffes are always so curious !

Zebra are far more shy.  I am on foot and this was as close

 as I could get before they moved away

See the baby in the middle!!  Just a couple of days old

 On the move!

 Very much on the move!  Right towards us.  

Graham took the photo.  Evening light coupled with the speed of the Elephant 

and  our consequent sudden acceleration makes it look like a painting.  

(Luckily we weren't on foot for this one!)

Fine pair of Kudu horns

 Delicious stew of game meat slowly cooked in the traditional way -- 

an iron pooitjie over an open fire

  The Super Moon doing its thing!!!  

We grew up with the notion that there was a rabbit in the moon -- you can see why.

  I took this photo at a gas station on our drive back to Cape Town.

There is much controversy about the likelihood of Fracking in the Karoo.  

Those vast empty, soul inspiring vistas are apparently rich with underground gas

Fracking uses chemicals and lots of water. Here water is a scarce and very precious resource.

In fact, the word Karoo comes from a Khoisan word for 'thirsty land'.  

 "Don't frack with our Karoo"  say most of the locals.