Berg Alert 2024
08 Jan 2025 22:17 #79429
by Sterkhorn
Replied by Sterkhorn on topic Berg Alert 2024
In respect of the 'Diggings' or holes, I wonder if this has anything to do with our 'diamond' experience in 2016?
They asked for instruments to test for diamonds
They asked for instruments to test for diamonds
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09 Jan 2025 13:57 #79431
by tiska
Replied by tiska on topic Berg Alert 2024
The Mafadi zama zamas likely learnt their trade at Letseng.
I’d put my money on Ghaz having run into them.
I wonder if they have explosives?
I’d put my money on Ghaz having run into them.
I wonder if they have explosives?
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10 Jan 2025 08:00 - 10 Jan 2025 08:29 #79432
by tiska
Replied by tiska on topic Berg Alert 2024
I wonder if the zama zamas were behind the robbery at Upper Injisuthi Cave in April 2024. It was very uncharacteristic- first robbery/attack of party in a cave.
Last edit: 10 Jan 2025 08:29 by tiska.
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10 Jan 2025 08:49 #79433
by Carl Gebhard
Replied by Carl Gebhard on topic Berg Alert 2024
If they're on the mountains should they not be the "lamas lamas"?
An avuncular comment for which I apologise unreservedly.
An avuncular comment for which I apologise unreservedly.
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10 Jan 2025 12:23 - 10 Jan 2025 12:41 #79434
by Serious tribe
Replied by Serious tribe on topic Berg Alert 2024
I made a tongue and cheek joke about diamond mining
However Letsend is pulling out huge stones. In 2018 they pulled out a 910 caret which sold for $40 bar - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letseng_diamond_mine#Star_of_Lesotho
They are now also legalising small scale diamond mining - lestimes.com/lesotho-legalises-small-scale-diamond-mining/ . And recovering illegal stones - www.diamondworld.net/news/25667 .
If these holes are test pits, or actual digs, it could explain why there is anxiety over guided/portered groups being so close to this area. Also in a connected post that Ghaz mentioned, they were looking for diamond testing gear and noted the camera that the hiker was wearing. Also,they pointed to Ghaz's camera gear, perhaps with the same mistaken idea that it could be useful. They also had quartz crystals with them, perhaps hoping to id them with 'camera gear' just because it has a lens. There may be a worry that the Zulu porters might be agents that are spying on or wanting a cut into any illegal diamond smuggling action. There has been similar stress over dagga smuggling in the past.
What we need is fo a Sotho speaker to be able to respectfully ask why there are flash points developing around the guided/portered trips. It may be in certain sections of the GT it is cultural antagonism, and others this 'diamond pressure'. Whatever the case, those holes in the ground west of mafadi mean something. No one is going to take the effort at that altidue to randomly dig holes
@Ghaz. That particular image of the hole could also potentially be a lighning strike, as I have seen similar ones on the SA side where no one would be digging. Just a thought.
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However Letsend is pulling out huge stones. In 2018 they pulled out a 910 caret which sold for $40 bar - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letseng_diamond_mine#Star_of_Lesotho
They are now also legalising small scale diamond mining - lestimes.com/lesotho-legalises-small-scale-diamond-mining/ . And recovering illegal stones - www.diamondworld.net/news/25667 .
If these holes are test pits, or actual digs, it could explain why there is anxiety over guided/portered groups being so close to this area. Also in a connected post that Ghaz mentioned, they were looking for diamond testing gear and noted the camera that the hiker was wearing. Also,they pointed to Ghaz's camera gear, perhaps with the same mistaken idea that it could be useful. They also had quartz crystals with them, perhaps hoping to id them with 'camera gear' just because it has a lens. There may be a worry that the Zulu porters might be agents that are spying on or wanting a cut into any illegal diamond smuggling action. There has been similar stress over dagga smuggling in the past.
What we need is fo a Sotho speaker to be able to respectfully ask why there are flash points developing around the guided/portered trips. It may be in certain sections of the GT it is cultural antagonism, and others this 'diamond pressure'. Whatever the case, those holes in the ground west of mafadi mean something. No one is going to take the effort at that altidue to randomly dig holes
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Last edit: 10 Jan 2025 12:41 by Serious tribe.
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10 Jan 2025 12:42 - 10 Jan 2025 13:28 #79435
by supertramp
Replied by supertramp on topic Berg Alert 2024
Very interesting conversation relating to the 'developments' in the Injisuthi area.
My wife and I did a traverse from Monk's Cowl to Bushman's Neck (via Gray's and Knuckles Traverse Pass) during the latter half of December 24 and I can confirm the increase in shepherds and livestock, especially horses and cows, on the escarpment (not just Injisuthi) as well as the mysterious holes being dug. I can only speculate behind the reason(s) of all this.
With regards to the shepherds: This was our 4th December Traverse/GT and there has definitely been a significant step change in the number of shepherds as well as Motibos. We encountered 60+ during our 11 day trip (I keep track by the number of cigarettes I disperse), and this excludes those that we see but do not personally engage with. A large percentage of them spoke good English (as Ghaznavid has mentioned) and all their dogs were very well behaved. As always, I must say that all our encounters were exceedingly friendly, so much so that one feels reinvigorated with new perspective after each meeting. There was just one encounter with one shepherd southwest of No Man's Peak that was a bit strange. He approached us with his dogs (who all looked terribly malnourished) as we were stopping for a break. He could not speak any English, nor did he respond to any of our Sesotho greetings or show any signs of comprehension. We offered him a cigarette and sweet (as per our custom), and after receiving it, he demanded more by means of hand signals. After obliging to his request, he made us feel quite uncomfortable and we then proceeded to pack up and continue walking (I even had to stop my Windboiler halfway through coffee prep). He followed us at arms length for about 20 minutes as we walked south towards Verkyker Peak. Eventually he veered off to the west to what we perceived to be in the direction of his home. The only reason I feel mentioning this specific encounter, is that the location coincides with the Majoe-Matso valley to the west (basically between No Man's Peak and Verkyker Peak) that had a tremendous amount of shepherds, livestock and new Motibos, much more than I can recall during any of our previous visits to the area. It is also an area that I believe are not that frequented by hikers.
In hindsight, what may have been perceived as a noteworthy encounter, could in all likelihood just have been a case of a sheer inability to communicate and misinterpreted intentions.
Just bumping up this previous insightful post which has proven to be true in many an instance: www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/23-lesotho-general/55284-notes-on-basotho-culture-for-hikers-and-travellers.html
My wife and I did a traverse from Monk's Cowl to Bushman's Neck (via Gray's and Knuckles Traverse Pass) during the latter half of December 24 and I can confirm the increase in shepherds and livestock, especially horses and cows, on the escarpment (not just Injisuthi) as well as the mysterious holes being dug. I can only speculate behind the reason(s) of all this.
With regards to the shepherds: This was our 4th December Traverse/GT and there has definitely been a significant step change in the number of shepherds as well as Motibos. We encountered 60+ during our 11 day trip (I keep track by the number of cigarettes I disperse), and this excludes those that we see but do not personally engage with. A large percentage of them spoke good English (as Ghaznavid has mentioned) and all their dogs were very well behaved. As always, I must say that all our encounters were exceedingly friendly, so much so that one feels reinvigorated with new perspective after each meeting. There was just one encounter with one shepherd southwest of No Man's Peak that was a bit strange. He approached us with his dogs (who all looked terribly malnourished) as we were stopping for a break. He could not speak any English, nor did he respond to any of our Sesotho greetings or show any signs of comprehension. We offered him a cigarette and sweet (as per our custom), and after receiving it, he demanded more by means of hand signals. After obliging to his request, he made us feel quite uncomfortable and we then proceeded to pack up and continue walking (I even had to stop my Windboiler halfway through coffee prep). He followed us at arms length for about 20 minutes as we walked south towards Verkyker Peak. Eventually he veered off to the west to what we perceived to be in the direction of his home. The only reason I feel mentioning this specific encounter, is that the location coincides with the Majoe-Matso valley to the west (basically between No Man's Peak and Verkyker Peak) that had a tremendous amount of shepherds, livestock and new Motibos, much more than I can recall during any of our previous visits to the area. It is also an area that I believe are not that frequented by hikers.
In hindsight, what may have been perceived as a noteworthy encounter, could in all likelihood just have been a case of a sheer inability to communicate and misinterpreted intentions.
Just bumping up this previous insightful post which has proven to be true in many an instance: www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/23-lesotho-general/55284-notes-on-basotho-culture-for-hikers-and-travellers.html
Last edit: 10 Jan 2025 13:28 by supertramp.
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23 Jan 2025 21:21 #79453
by ALPAT
Replied by ALPAT on topic Berg Alert 2024
Thank you very much for the remarks, comments about security.
much appreciated
much appreciated
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