Sunday 15 May 2011

Highmoor.

Took a trip to Highmoor Nature Reserve in the Drakensberg today, Sunday 15th. They don't call it Highmoor for nothing, it is high, about 2000 metres. The road to Highmoor , is the same road through the Kamberg valley that I took going to Kamberg Nature Reserve, but instead of turning off as you do to Kamberg you carry straight on.


Took some photos of the Berg as I approached. I had never been to Highmoor before, so it was a surprise for me when I saw how close I got.


Giants Castle on the left of the photo, Well tended farm in the foreground.


Took this photo, on the way, of the avenue of trees leading into Brackenwaters farm. This farm has a large dam, which the fishing club I belong to has access. Good fishing for bass in the summer and trout in the winter.


Narrow bridge on the road to Highmoor. The last bit of the road to the gate is gravel, but well maintained.

Mountain stream upstream of the narrow bridge.

Down stream of the narrow bridge. The water below the bridge was quite deep. Looked so cool and inviting, had to fight the urge to jump in. This is a tributary of the Little Mooi River, a brown trout stream. The Little Mooi flows into the Mooi river, also brown trout water. (Mooi, Afrikaans for beautiful, or pretty) Brown and rainbows don't occur in the same water together. Though both were seeded in these waters. In some streams Rainbows took over, in others brown trout.

Entrance to Highmoor.

Warning sign at the entrance, and they ain't kidding.

Start of the climb into the mountains.

Looking down into the gorge from the road. A long way to the bottom.

Fore head, nose and chin of the giant of Giants Castle. Taken on the trail to the first dam.

This is for Kay in Canada. The Rainbow trout in South Africa originally came from the Kamloops area in Canada.

I still have a lot of photos of my day in Highmoor, but I'll save them for another post.

Rule no 1 when fishing in the high mountains, taken warm clothing. The weather changes in minutes. I rediscovered that today.

No cabins at Highmoor, but you can camp, the cost R25 per person, about US$7.50. Just come prepared for cold nights.

5 comments:

Kay L. Davies said...

Thank you so much, Phillip. You made my day! I did wonder about you having rainbow trout in South Africa.
Did you know there are places near Kamloops, BC, where a photo very similar to this one could be taken? Next time I'm out there, I'll have to remember to get some pictures for you.
I smiled when you said you had the urge to jump into the water below the dam, because your photo made me think of the same thing!
— K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Gorges Smythe said...

Big country. Reminds me of the photos I've seen of the American West.

Desiree said...

The most marvellous scenery, Phillip! I have fallen far behind with blogging just recently and am slowly attempting to catch up. I have missed visiting your wonderful blog :)

Kay L. Davies said...

I forgot to mention this, I was so excited about Kamloops Dam — your first photo here looks like an oil painting. It's beautiful.
— K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Dustin's Fly Box said...

those are some gorgeous pics! You got a new follower