Once Joan and I set up camp at Monks Cowl we went hiking 1.5 miles (2.5 km) round trip to Sterkspruit Falls outlook platform.
With all the rain and moderate temperatures many flowers still bloomed in fall.
The trail meanders through an indigenous forest of Ou Hout and Tree Fuscias according to the trail guide. We came across a neighbor’s wandering horses.
After the forest, the landscape dips and rolls from the natural depressions called pans or tarns that fill with rain water which deposits silt that seals the ground making it less permeable thus increasing its water-holding capability.
Tarns colonized by plants turn into a marsh.
Which entices a whole lot of life. And I Was traveling with the Bug Lady.
The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park is a bit patch-worked with private land ownership and adjacent accommodations like the Champagne Castle Hotel seen from the trail when looking into the valley.
Cresting a small hill the descent brings into view the Sterkspruit Falls.
While Joan enjoyed a seat in the grasses watching bugs all around I continued a little ways and followed the trail over a stile.
And down to the Sterkspruit River with a patch of forest consisting predominantly of Yellowwood trees towering above.
Tadpoles found refuge in the shallow pools.
As the river flowed down from the heights above.
On the way back we saw more flowers, bugs and lizards flitting, usually away from the camera.
And back in camp the crows hung around.
We drove from Wagendrift near Escort on N3 west to Monks Cowl
