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| winter time at Rookwood |
Saturday was close to the middle of winter and it was a long
weekend. All the dogs were restless and
with the rest of the family leaving for a vintage car and air show in town, I
decided best to take the dogs for a long walk on Rookwood.
My choices, as usual, are numerous but I decided because I had
Jack and Sam, who are now nearing the age of 10 years, water was a
priority. So after stocking up with some
drinking water for myself and two bread rolls (to be shared with the dogs), we
set off down the road towards the river.
Of course when the binoculars, blue backpack and camera are spotted,
this means WALK for the collies at Rookwood.
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| Charlie's corner |
As most of the river is dry with diminishing stagnant pools to
the fountain, I skipped walking in that part of the river. I climbed the hill above the fountain and
headed for the Rooikat camp. Once
through the little gate Angie and Oz run on ahead. This camp borders onto the river which has at
least one permanent fountain in it and therefore permanent water further
down.
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| Scott and Sam surveying the scene |
I did not head towards the kranzes
and down to Charlie’s corner, which is
the permanent fountain, but headed straight down on the inside of the camp to
where a side stream feeds into the Tuli river.
Jack and Angie find warthog residences but are encouraged to leave the
inhabitants alone.
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| the autumn colours of the bush on the opposite bank |
On my way down I saw two kudu cows eating quietly in the camp
next door and disturbed a mountain reedbuck ewe ahead of us. At our feeder stream, I stopped to give the
dogs (especially the older guys) a bit of a breather and a bit of bread roll. The opposite bank ahead of us still had some
lovely autumn colours with the Cussonia trees still holding their grey-green
leaves.
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| the Cussonia tree holding its grey leaves |
After a while I head through the
wild olive tree grove to the gate that leads into the weir camp which is the
last camp on the river before it runs into the neighbour’s veldt.
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| the olive tree grove |
Walking in the weir camp is always nice as one
often feels like you are walking in semi-forest with lots of tall White stinkwoods,
Red currant Rhus and thorn (Acacia)trees either side of the river.
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| the Tuli river still trickling along |
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| the dogs enjoying the weir camp |
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| forest scenes |
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| like walking in the forest |
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| the lovely Half-collared Kingfisher |
The river is still is trickling along quite
nicely and Oz, Jack and Buksie take to swimming in the deeper pools. It is here were we see the Giant and the
lovely Half-collared Kingfishers
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| baboons watching us pass by |
The troop of baboons watches us from the rocks above on the
opposite bank. The banks are covered
with kikuyu grass which has turned crispy with the frost that is typical of
this time of the year.
At the end of the camp just before I turn up left to head up
the bridle path we come across some Vervet monkeys. Here we meet some cattle that are chewing
their cud. It is quite a long climb up
to the top of the windmill camp. As we
pass the rock dome I spot a lovely male Kudu with Eland grazing up in Gary
camp. At the top of the next camp we
meet up with a huge herd of cattle lying around the water and see that Sally
the ‘hans’ Angus has calved a little ox calf.
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| Aloe ferox with White stinkwood without leaves |
We leave the reservoir and the cattle behind and
turn for home. On our right I can see
the Aloe ferox flowering – such a typical Eastern Cape aloe
The wind is blowing
quite strongly and the high level cloud dropping the temperature
considerably. Our last stop is at the
trough at the top end of the kraal camp.
Here we take a decent break as Jack and Sam are really struggling along
now.
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| typical winter scene at Rookwood |
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| the long road through the dry grass |
Our final descent down the hill gives us views of the valley
below and the house against the hill. As
I walk the last kilometre up to the house, some of the dogs run ahead to wait
at the last gate while the stragglers as well as my little shadow, Scampie walk
right behind me.
Even though the days are now really short and the veldt has
this dry brittle crisp feel about it, Rookwood still offers much to enjoy.
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| the setting winter sun with the White-browed Sparrowweaver nests in the foreground and Mapassa on the horizon |
