Shona’s wonderful walk on Wild Coast – Day 6
It appears hikers don't stop and smell all the flowers along the way, and we ramble along the rutted coastline, in and out of pockets of exquisite beaches hugged by cliffs of tropical terrain.
First things first… would you like some weed?
A passing merchandiser tries his luck with the group of 10 hikers who have stop to have a quick morning snack under a milkwood tree.
It’s day six of the Wild Coast hike.
ALSO READ: Shona’s wonderful Wild Coast Walk – Day 5
The two words ‘onwards’ and ‘upwards’ were the phrase for the day – for many reasons – the hills just keep rolling in, and we climbed them like mountain goats.
“When you are scared of it, you can call it a mountain,” adds guide Sinegugu Zukhulu.
We depart early from Kuthwini village, the grasslands now disappear as we have crossed the fault line (Egoso), and we venture into the land of magical forests.
“When you sneeze in Pondoland, it is said that you grow old, big, wide and tall like a tree in the Goso forest (ukhule ube ngangomthi wase Goso),” says guide Sinegugu Kuhulu.
We stride past ‘Mboyti’, which means ‘beans’ in Xhosa.
Sinegugu says ‘Mboyti’ got its name from a shipwreck which split a lot of beans.
It appears hikers don’t stop and smell all the flowers along the way, and we ramble along the rutted coastline, in and out of pockets of exquisite beaches hugged by cliffs of tropical terrain.
Sinegugu, however does make sure his guests become familiar with the indigenous or protected plants of the landscape.
“The seeds of the ‘Umzimbiti’ tree make such a loud noise that you think a Tokolosh is throwing stones at you,” he says.
We are clocking some 18 plus kilometres in hot conditions.
By midday, we reach the prominent ‘white rock’ in the distance for lunch.
“The ‘white rock’ (lityelentaka) is also known as ‘the bird rock’. The rock is white due to the comorants which perch on it,” says Sinegugu.
We strut past the great forests, believed to be the best place to listen to birds, and from inside the forest the southern boubou shrike sings to us.
We cross the magnificent Munteku River, and head up the last and final hill to Nontsapho ‘Magic Mamma’ Sigqikini’s home in Dakane village.
The group always looks forward to our home stays – its means steam bread, tea, a hearty dinner, breakfast and ultimately rest for our weary, blistered feet.
* Shona Aylward is taking part in the Wild Coast hike sponsored by the environmental journalism training agency, Roving Reporters (www.rovingreporters.co.za) and the 8 Mile Club, an adventurous group of charity swimmers who raise funds for various deserving charities.
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