Macy the Springbok

Just three hours north of Cape Town is the Cederberg Mountains, a dry and mountainous region, that is home to famous arches and rock formations… sounds a lot like Moab, Utah to me. Oh yessss!

The beautiful drive up to Cederberg

 Six of us literally crammed into a five-person car with enough food and supplies for three nights of camping and a two-day backpacking trip. We left after everyone had finished with class on Tuesday and drove north through gorgeous mountains (reminded me of home) until we reached the Nuwerwurst Farm where Steve and Louise warmly welcomed us despite us being a few hours late. The farm is about an hour and a half from the nearest town along dirt and gravel roads. It was so much like home driving around on dirt roads while the sun set on the dramatic canyon walls.

First encounters with Macy.

That night while sitting around the fire and making dinner Judy noticed a little Springbok (a small deer and the mascot of the national rugby team) that was just up the road from us. Of course we all tried to get a look at the Springbok before it got scared and ran off, but to our surprise the little deer only got closer when it noticed us sneaking around for a better look. In fact it almost touched me while I was motionless on the ground. After snapping a few pictures and enjoying some campfire food, we all went off to bed.

Getting ready for two days in the wilderness.

In the morning we packed up the essentials and began our two-day backpacking excursion down the canyon to the confluence of three rivers. It was only 10km down river, but there were not actual trails that took us there so we were left following animal trails and bushwhacking through the dense foliage that inhabited the floor of the canyon. Needless to say, our legs were beyond cut up from all the branches that slashed at our legs and we were beyond sweating in the scorching desert sun.

Around the campfire and watching the sunrise at the campsite.

When we finally reached the confluence of the three rivers we took a refreshing swim in the cool river water and set up camp for the night. After all falling asleep around 8pm we woke up with the sun and got back on the trail before the heat of the day was pounding us. In now time, the sun was high overhead once again and inspired us to take swimming breaks along the river every hour or so to cool off. We ended up finding a lot of really beautiful swimming spots on our way back up the canyon.

One of many swimming stops.

Back at the farm, we were met by none other than that little Springbok. After talking to Steven, the farm owner, we discovered that Macy the Springbok was actually their pet. That sure explained the friendly nature of the little deer. Back around the campsite we got better acquainted with Macy who was six years old… uprising considering her small size.

She licked my face and sneezed in my hair... true love!

After another early night we packed up our little car with all of our things and all six of us, and made the trip back to Cape Town. What an exhausting and memorable weekend!