Hike onto Stellenbosch Mountain

Stellenbosch Mountain humbly from below

Today, I planned to hike the Stellenbosch mountain. On my previous pictures (e.g. the view from office) it is not included, but it is even closer to the city than the Simonsberg.
So walking three blocks from downtown, crossing the bridge and walking along the river towards the soccer/rugby field, I have this magnificient view of what’s up next: steep incline 🙂

And as there’s not a cloud in the sky, I am glad to have sun-screen with me. Thankfully, a colleague at University gave me good advice on the various trails, so I quickly turn after the sports-field into the hiking area through the forresting area of the bio-department of the University straight up the hill.

All along the way towards the ridge, which I am to follow later on, I hear drums beating a steady rythm: some students are sitting on a prominent outlook and have a good time playing music and chatting (actually on above’s picture it’s the hump next to the left lamp-post).
This is a good first stop and gladly I drinking from my 2l of water…

The next stop is at the saddle-point where the nice, grass and brushes, easy-going hike is about to end. At this saddle-point, there’s a small house next to a larger antenna installation, with network repeaters and dishes, that seem to relay networks — the outside door is open, so one may sneek-peek into the interior to see in total twelve 12V car batteries tight to the solar panels on the roof and lots of switches blinking away.

The view — even though the altitude is not that high is amazing, already (please note, even at this much reduced scale, the image has 6079×322 pixels, so please click on it):

360° panorama towards the valley of Stellenbosch and Joenkershoek Valley.

On the way up, I am glad to find stones-piled on top of each other on larger boulders; friendly reminders that this is the (one of many) path(s). Otherwise, now I am alone.

Except for this one rabbit, that panics from underneath a stone right into my feet! He panics, I panic, we both are punting and rushing away… No time for a picture, mister. Silly rabbit. One can tell by the many left-overs on the ground, that he’s many buddys, too.
And foes: under a large boulder, in the sand one can clearly make out the path of a snake.
At around noon, I am at the top — well not directly the top, that would’ve been another 150m. Instead I am at 1051m and am done: there’s a large boulder to sit on — and a picture-perfect view. One may see Cape-Town’s Table Mountain, the ocean’s waves rolling in to the south and the next destination Simonsberg Nature Reserve ,-)
Enjoy.

View from Stellenbosch Mountain at 1051m

On my way down, some more animals crossed my way: the Dassies. One was warning his two pals to hide — again from their remainders in their hide, there must be many more!
Then a thin white snake was sneaking underneath a stone and hid-away — thank goodness.
And finally a nice lizard that was kind enough to wait for me preparing the camera and finally being able to shoot the image 🙂

Friendly lizard