Every month, the Nyanga Hiking Club go on a new and exciting hike around Cape Town or the greater Western Cape – This opens a whole new world to people in townships.
Cape Town, South Africa (15 September 2020) – A hiking club was started in Nyanga to get the youth out of the township and into the beautiful wilds of Cape Town. Every month, they plan a fun and slightly challenging hike along one of Cape Towns scenic routes.
The idea was borne from Lulama Benge Dingiswayo and Justin Ashley. The pair met through the Cape Town CAN which was involved in Lulama’s greening project which we wrote about this week. Justin is an avid hiker and he wanted to help reward the children and teens involved in Lulama’s project.
As with everything over the last few months, the world came to a standstill. Many people grew frustrated by being locked indoors. The value of being out in nature was realised and more people wanted to head out. The first hike took place on the 6th of September and about 20 children and teens along with a few adults joined.
Fun was had by all and many have fallen in love with being out in nature for the first time since the lockdown. Justin leads the hikes to ensure all safety protocols are adhered to and Lulama gets the kids together. The hikes have been selected for the next three months. If you are keen to join them, you can reach out here to let them know.
27 September: Newlands Forest (Fire Station to Picnic Table up Woodcutters, then along contour path to Fernwood Track, down to the Ruins and back)
8 November: Wreck of the Kakapo (Kommetjie Surf parking along the beach to the wreck and back)
13 December: Vlakkenburg Peak (Constantia Nek up to Vlakkenberg Peak and back
If you take part in the hike, you are invited to bring a nice snack to share with the children and teens. Other ways they need assistance is transport and hiking gear – specifically backpacks and good shoes.
“Given that many of the children’s parents are financially constrained, and don’t have private transport of their own, it is difficult to transport the children from Nyanga. Safe and reliable transport would mean many more children could participate.” – Justin and Lulama
Will you be joining the hiking club on their next hike? Let us know in the comment section.