I wonder how long this fertilizer lies on the land to be absorbed and how much ends up in the rivers after a thunderstorm (invasive hyacinth thrives on this, of course). I guess one has to plan to apply it before a period of drizzle and not just before an afternoon thunderstorm.

After the canefields we headed up along an open track through some impenetrable bush with Mauritius thorn.

Fish Eagle called from way up along the ridge. Trumpeter Hornbill joined in too, wailing away. I was trying to teach the others some bird calls and enjoyed the Black Headed Oriole repeating himself to make sure he could be remembered with his liquid oriole call. Along the river banks were lots of Honey Locust trees (Gleditsia triacanthos), at one time blocking our path with its’ evil thorns, so that we had to retreat and find another way. The shrill chirp of the Cicadas was piercing and there was one who was not camera shy.

As the terrain flattened out a bit we came across what looked like an abandoned farm with some 10 Landrovers standing around. Leon and Zak came out to greet us and told us about their involvement with the Duzi as part of the Landrover Club. These were two real Bush Mechanics who fix other people’s Landrovers.

I think one can only get here with a Landrover and not a normal car. Leon led us to the river’s edge which the two “kortbroeks” with us discovered was infested with nettles. With tears in their eyes they retreated. I had been warned of the nettles and Sam was also in longs.

Across Campbell’s Bridge and into a brown field recently sprayed with herbicide, killing all the weeds and grasses. A parked car along the river bank belonged to a fisherman down for the day with his son.

Hyacinth patches scattered here and there. A little further along Bush Pig had ploughed the field in search of tasty morsels.

Out of the fields we headed along a Bush Pig trail ducking along an ill defined path.

The next kilometer was slow going, hacking our way through the thicket, past an animal cage trap, and a sad looking prickly pear infested with cochineal.

The river was brown from past rains.

A Narina Trogon made his presence heard with his familiar call (much like a dove), from across the river. We eventually emerged out of the thicket at a pumphouse stripped of its pump.

We followed a cleared section under the ESKOM lines for a while then along a road up to the old farm. Pigs wandered around.

A lactating hunting dog with puppies.

and further along a graveyard of farm vehicles and what could have been a new stolen bus with GP number plates.

This was the Place of Pigs which I had smelt from far off.

Down the hill we went to meet up with the confluence of the Mpushini with the fast flowing Duzi. This was as far as we could go so we headed back up the hill, and while trying to find the quickest way out we walked past a poultry litter dumping area not far from the river. The stench was unbearable. We hurried up the hill to escape the evil smells. Out on the road we passed Pandora’s farm.

Pandora kindly dropped us off at the Ashburton Spar where we met up with Nkonsinathi who had come to fetch us and dropped us back at the vehicles at the Pecketts. We were treated to boerie rolls and ice cold drinks before we were allowed out the gate. Thanks to Solly and Amy for the delicious tuckers at the end of our day.