The week of 11 to 14 November 2019 has been described as one of the best Quarterly Planning Meetings (QPM) of SANBI’s Biodiversity and Land Use Project – for a number of reasons including being accommodated in the beautiful Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate but most notably the site visit to Mariepskop in Hoedspruit, Mpumalanga.
People would say that ‘the destination is not important it’s the journey that counts’, well for the project implementing partners who were in attendance it was not a case of either or, for these participants both the journey to Mariepskop as well as arriving at the top of Mariepskop was …priceless.
The morning of 12 November was the scheduled day for the site visit and it was raining. The first good rains this dry Lowveld landscape had seen this rainy season. Participants gathered and were eager to make their way up to Mariepskop despite the rain. As we moved from the minibus taxis into the game drive vehicles, we realised how exposed we were to the elements but this did not deter participants.
While making our drive up Mariepskop we were met by a Hezekiel Nkosi from the Moletele Communal Property Association, one of four claimant communities who have claimed Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve who spoke passionately about the history and importance of the area to its people.
‘I really enjoyed the almost ethereal experience of driving up the mountain through the different habitats but the most wonderful moment was hearing the community representative explaining in his own words his understanding that conservation and tourism could provide long-term sustainable income for the community and that other alternatives such as mining would not provide the same benefits’ – Alana Duffel-Canham.
After the inspiring engagement with Hezekiel we continued our journey up Mariepskop admiring the biodiversity, the beautiful landscape and sites. By this time, road was a bit muddy, which made our journey a little challenging, especially on the sharp inclines.
Arriving at one of the Mariepskop Forestry Office, the Kruger to Canyons team shared with the participants the amazing work that they are doing in the landscape. These discussions were around the partnerships enabling landscape scale intervention and supporting sustainability, the environmental programmes being implemented in the area, and the significance of working in a SWSA linked to Blyde Dam as well as the Lowveld agricultural sector and the Lowveld reserves.
While at the Forestry Office the participants were contemplating whether to continue with the journey up Mariepskop in the wet and muddy conditions or rather make our way back down. This contemplation was brief as eager participants voted to continue with the journey upwards and onwards. As the group reached the top of Mariepskop the view down into the landscape was blocked by clouds. However, the view and experience of being above the clouds was breath taking, almost magical – as we watched the white cotton like clouds drifting by. The clouds made the scenery more private and secluded as if nature has conspired to give the group a ‘special’ performance.
As best described by Philippa Huntly: ‘The concept of ‘islands in the sky’ became very real as we reached the summit of Mariepskop at 1900m above sea level and emerged though the mist to discover a secret world of fynbos perched high above the savannah and bushveld.’
Authors: Alana Duffel-Canham, Marilyn Martin-Vermaak, Philippa Huntly