Loskop Away Weekend 2022
11 November 2022 - Attie Smit
We have been exploring the Loskop Valley and surrounds since 2003 and camping at Seekoeigat once a year. With the exception of a few other annual events, this has been the longest ongoing event. It also means that we had to visit some farms and other points of interest more than once. This time around, we paid the Loskop Dam Reserve another visit and once again with the Friends of Loskop as our "hosts" and what a fine job they have done. Owing to the weather forecast, we lost a couple of bookings, however we accomplished all our goals.
Simon caught a black bass, late on Friday afternoon, of considerable size, right in front of his campsite.
With an early start on Saturday morning, we visited the Research Centre with very interesting talks on the rehabilitation of ground hornbills (4 males to one female), the black footed cat and the Sharpes Grysok.
Cool and overcast weather made for a very enjoyable drive through the reserve. After a lunch break at the picnic site, we were off to the Kanongat.
After the recent rains the reserve is really something to experience, beautiful trees, green grass, streams everywhere and even a waterfall. Going down to the grass plains, we saw a great variety of game, including rhinos. With the Olifants River in flood, the Kanongat and river upstream from it was worth the walk.
We left the reserve through the gate to the West, on top of the mountain, after a climb of some 500 metres.
The rain left us in peace until late Saturday evening.
On Sunday morning, it really came down and by midday we were "forced" to pack up in the wet with considerable speed.
We wish to thank the Friends of Loskop which saved no expense to make it possible, especially Ross Lesser, their chairperson. Would you believe it, that the arrangements for the event which began in February already,were put at risk of cancellation on the Thursday before the weekend due to the government worker’s strike? With Ross’s intervention, we made it happen.
Hope to see you all under the big tree again.
