There's more to hiking ...

Don't just hike

Don't just go out for a hike, stop and use your senses.  We are privileged to be gifted with so many other aptitudes that we do not just have to use our legs when hiking.

We have the sense of smell, which enables us to enjoy the sweetness of the spring flowers but also the pong of dassies' droppings.

Touch is wonderful, feel the silky soft moss on a rock in comparison to the prickly thorns of cacti.

Sight is one of our most precious gifts, admire the fantastic views which we experience on our Sunday hikes in the Magaliesberg, look at the various plants, shrubs, grasses.

Listen to the gentle flowing of water, the songs of various species of beautiful birds or the bark of baboons.

Taste the sweetness of the crystal clear waters of the Magaliesberg or the bitterness of the stamvrug.  Please do not try any wild plant fruit unless you are absolutely sure you can identify the plant.

At night, don't let your senses go to sleep, feel the warmth of the fire, hear the crackling of logs or the jackal's call, admire the stages of the moon and astonish at the galaxy of stars and enjoy the taste of water from a stream before slipping off to bed.

Remember the four seasons of the year and take note of the changing vistas, from the dull yellows and browns of winter to the lush green of summer.  Feel the difference in temperatures.

There are so many wonderful enjoyments to hiking so take the time to savour the gifts we were born with.  The list of natures wonders is far too long to be noted but we endeavour to make you aware of 'don't just hike' go out there and enjoy.  We are concentrating specifically on the Magaliesberg area, where most of our Sunday hikes take place, but obviously we can only cover a minute number of nature's wonders.  Where possible we have put a relevant link to a suitable website.