4x4 trail from Afriski to Amphitheatre

@ Gollum. I am informed because it is my job to be informed on things which affect biodiversity in a negative way. I do try and be discrete about developments adjacent to the Berg, in a way that the info can be shared with the larger community. Let's be honest, there are times where I am privy to information which is related to some intense legal negotiations, which I can't share, but I do try and share the more benign info.

I am still digging around on this one to find out exactly what the stance is from the MDTP side, and from a buffer to a WHS perspective, and whether EKZNW has in fact been involved as an I&AP due to the fact that we are neighbours.

Will keep you all posted!

@gollum: honestly I'm a "layman" myself (my day job is in IT). I just spend a lot of time in the Berg, make observations, rake through the internet, pose questions to people I meet, and make phone calls and write emails. I do this out of interest and concern. Most of what I stumble onto is shared on this site in some way or the other.

Sometimes we are seen as "the media", which makes it difficult to get a response out of people. We have also been trying for a long time to get various organisations and bodies that are involved in the Maloti-Drakensberg area officially represented on this site - not an easy thing, but hopefully we'll get somewhere one day.

It would also be fair to get someone from the 4x4 community onto this forum, or at least engage on one of theirs. As a moderator, I need to remind everyone to ease off on cutting remarks. This issue does reach an emotional level but let’s all make an effort to avoid certain wording that will just get everyone's defences up. As the hiking & mountaineering community we have to share the mountains with the 4x4 community, and even with the Basotho shepherds. We all have a "right" to be there, but all of us have to be very responsible in the way we use them.

drsnoobab said:

Reading through Pearse's Barrier of Spears and the joys experienced by the climber and hiker of the day, who had none of the above to contend with, I now assert that the Golden Age of 'berg mountaineering is dead.

In a lot of ways I do envy those early pioneers. The Himalayas have also undergone a lot of change and face pressure in a lot of areas. However, our age is one in which we can actually do something about these issues. However innocent and unintentional they may have been, the previous age did a lot of harm to the Berg too. Thank goodness for example, that forestry has been dismantled and the land is slowly being reclaimed. Thank goodness for proclaimed wilderness areas, and that even huts have been removed (like the one at Keith Bush Camp). Thank goodness that the Berg is legally protected, and that it is even a World Heritage Site. This helps towards preservation in a big way.

Otterjasie said:

Does anyone know if the MCSA has taken a stand about this matter?

Will try find out and get a response.

We were also contacted by Stephen Richert today who requested us to publish the same statement (will follow). We'll have to see how far this statement will go in resolving the issue.

Though this issue has only been actively discussed on various forum recently, it seems it was already addressed several months ago.

I came across the following report by Bergwatch on the WESSA site:

I reported, to KZN Wildlife, adverts that I had seen advertising 4x4 trips to the escarpment edge, from Lesotho. I have been keeping in contact with KZN Wildlife staff including the Northern Area manager with regards to the 4x4 trails that have been advertised by the above company up to the edge of the escarpment above the chain ladder at Witsieshoek. The RNNP OIC, wrote Afriski a letter of concern. At our last liaison meeting, Afriski agreed to withdraw their advertising for this particular route. I understand that KZN Wildlife and Afriski have agreed to a meeting.

www.wessa.org.za/index.php/KZN/KZN-Environmental-Report.html

Am still trying to find out more.