waterfalls – Page 9 – besthike.com

March 10, 2014March 8, 2014

Victoria Falls, Zambia

While it is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, it is classified as the largest, based on its width of 1,708 metres (5,604 ft) and height of 108 metres (354 ft), resulting in the world’s largest sheet of falling water.

… In height and width Victoria Falls is rivalled only by Argentina and Brazil’s Iguazu Falls. …

The spray from the falls typically rises to a height of over 400 metres (1,300 ft), and sometimes even twice as high, and is visible from up to 48 km (30 mi) away. …

Though a jerk and inept leader, David Livingstone was one of the first Westerners to make a transcontinental journey across Africa. And might have been the first non-African to see Victoria Falls.

Although Livingstone is known as “Africa’s greatest missionary,” he is only recorded as having converted one African. That might be to his credit, actually. 🙂

New York Herald reporter Henry Stanley could not convince Livingstone to leave. The great explorer died of malaria and dysentery.

The baboons look bored. But I was thrilled to finally reach Victoria Falls, one of the great tourist destinations of the world.

From the Zambia side, you get an unbelievable distant photo vantage.

First Gorge, from Zambian side

Walking the Knife-Edge Bridge during high water is something like walking through the waterfall. It’s not always easy to see the Falls.

Drenched anyway, I made the wet descent to the river on the Boiling Pot trail.

That day I didn’t see anyone bungie jumping from the Victoria Falls bridge. But I hear it’s awesome. (VIDEO)

My photos don’t do this natural wonder of the world justice. Nobody leaves disappointed. Victoria Falls are magical.

Click PLAY or watch a video on YouTube.

I’d love to return, just to visit from the Zimbabwe side.

February 7, 2014February 6, 2014

Gxalingenwa hike, South Africa

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

One of the best day hikes in South Africa.

At Sani Lodge Backpackers in the Drakensberg you get everything you need.

Step out the back door, you’re on your way.

After about 250m you reach the perimeter fence of the KZN protected lands. Permit to hike costs about $3.

Every step is beautiful in the Drakensberg. Wide open.

Some African dung beetles are endangered. NOT the ones in these mountains. There are plenty.

Lizards are constant companions.

You see a lot of scat, many interesting prints, yet not much wildlife. Animals here have evolved to be elusive.

I was thrilled to see my first grey rhebok.

Alpha males “cough” at you from a safe distance.

Wild flowers were still in profusion, mid-summer. We’d had a lot of rain.

I left a Summit Stone for some future hiker to discover.

Here’s Gxalingenwa cave. These two spent two nights here, sheltered from the rain.

Later I learned you are not officially allowed to camp there.

From the cave I had to either backtrack … or finish a loop down the river.

I’d been warned that the water was high. That I’d most likely need to wade the creek several times.

Boulder hopping my second crossing, I fell in. 😦

And — since the shoes were wet — I waded 3 more crossings.

Russell at Sani Backpackers wants to improve the trail staying on one side of the creek. One day.

I was glad to have done Gxalingenwa as a loop. It’s very pretty coming down.

Some hike up to these waterfalls from the roadway.

The only downside of the Gxalingenwa loop from Sani Backpackers is a road walk finish.

Happily, I was picked up. Given a lift by University researchers who happened to be staying at the Backpackers.

more photos from this day hike

February 4, 2014

Lake of Eternal Life, Iceland

HANK LEUKART:

Brian and I start by trekking two classic, connected Iceland treks: the Fimmvörðuháls and Laugavegur Trails, the first of which begins at a huge waterfall called Skógafoss on the southern coast.

We feel almost disappointed to be enveloped by the sublime, rolling, green hills and plethora of waterfalls, because it feels like we’re in the most beautiful place in Iceland already — we’re getting a fantastic payoff way too early in our trip. Soon enough, though, as we continue through the snow and glaciers near Fimmvörðuháls Hut, it becomes obvious that there’s no chance Iceland will ever disappoint us no matter where we go. …

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

In January 2014, the Icelandic government announced plans to revoke 30-year-old environmental protections, putting Mývatn Lake, the Þjórsá River, and the Highlands in danger of destruction so that new hydropower plants can be built. Three waterfalls on the Þjórsá River — Kjálkaversfoss, Dynkur, and Gljúfurleitarfoss — may be ruined. Now may be the last time in history that hikers can see all of Iceland’s natural, untouched beauty …

read more – Without Baggage – Mission Iceland: A Tale of Two Brothers

Two brothers search for eternal life in the Icelandic wilderness.

January 22, 2014January 21, 2014

Thukela Gorge, South Africa

I hiked to the top of Thukela Falls, one of the highest in the world. There’s another terrific trek in the National Park to the base of the Falls.

Trip report from the Cooking in Tongues blog:

Royal Natal National Park, Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa, September 26, 2011

I’m up early hoping to catch the first rays of light on the Amphitheater. The cliff face glows in the early morning light just before 6. …

… about nine miles round trip up the gorge with great views of the Amphitheater. …

We follow the river upstream until we come to the confluence of two rivers. Here you have the option of taking the “tunnel” along the river through the gorge or climbing the chain ladder up about 50 feet to a path that bypasses the “tunnel”. …

read more …

January 21, 2014January 21, 2014

Amphitheater trek, South Africa

Trip report by site editor Rick McCharles.

Within 36hrs of landing in JoBurg I found myself atop the Amphitheater cliffs looking down at one of the highest waterfalls in the world.

How did I get here?

It’s easy.

Catch the Baz Bus to Amphitheater backpackers in the northern Drakensberg.

While checking into the hostel, sign up for their most popular guided hike. It’s offered about every 2nd day for about $50 all inclusive.

7:30am departure.

Here’s our guide “Sim” parking one of the hiker shuttle vans at Sentinel car park 2,500m (8,200 ft). This is the only official day hiking trail leading to the top of the Drakensberg escarpment.

Yep. That’s the Sentinel. You cannot climb it without ropes. We’ll skirt the base.

The trail zigzags up towards the big peak. Then traverses right.

Entirely above the treeline, we did not see much in the way of wildlife. Aside from lizards, of course.

It was an easy start with perfect weather.

One short ladder on the ascent.

The crux of the hike is up this gorge.

It’s a 300m scramble. Not too difficult overall.

Atop the Amphitheater cliffs, we stopped for lunch. Our guides were disappointed that clouds obscured the fantastic views.

Note the big birds that stopped for lunch with us.

20min further is the top of Tugela Falls.

The water is quite warm. … I’m told.

Our guide told us that one hiker fell from here on a winter trek. Slipped on the ice.

Finally I called on the old Gods and new to dissipate the clouds.

Everything opened up. And we were shocked to see where we’d been standing so casually.

It’s about 1km down.

The Amphitheatre is widely regarded as one of the most impressive cliff faces on earth, over 5km (3.1mi) in length.

Surprisingly, these cliffs are not much used for BASE jumping and the ilk. Apparently winds are not favourable here.

One girl from Finland had been to Roraima via Venezuela. She said there were definitely similarities with the top of the Tupuis there …

… But many differences too.

The standard route is a Lollypop loop. Rather than backtracking we descended via long ladders.

From the bottom, it was another cliff traverse to regain our original trail.

The vegetation in South Africa is different than what I’m used to. The most interesting plant is this … Pineapple something.

One intensely scenic day. We all left happy.

This New Yorker was on the last 4 days of 2 years of traveling.

Back at the car park we enjoyed a gymnastics performance.

headstand South Africa

And saw one sleepy snake close to where we parked the vans.

more pics from this trek

I didn’t delete many photos as most up there in the Bergs were cool. 🙂

January 17, 2014January 21, 2014

arrived Drakensberg

Just checked in at Amphitheatre Backpackers in the northern Drakensberg. Superb location. Weather is great for January.

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South Africa is incredibly easy to travel staying in hostels like these. Getting around by Baz Bus.

I’m already booked for the essential Amphitheatre trek tomorrow, guided. That takes us to the top of Tugela Falls (Thukela Falls), a total drop of 947 metres.

The day after we’ll take a cultural hike in Lesotho. Or climb Cathedral peak — if enough people sign up. 🙂

• Thukela Gorge Walk trip report (Sept)

related – India hates tourists

December 10, 2013December 15, 2013

Manaslu Circuit – day 4

by site editor Rick McCharles

I awoke early. Went out to get some photos at first light.

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I went also to find a good and quiet boulder for a movement. I’d been constipated on this trek so far, my bowels clenched at the smell of every Nepali outhouse.

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Jagat means “checkpoint” (or something like that) in Nepali. Everyone must have the correct permits. Nobody can sneak past unseen.

Actually, Brion and Betsy were missing one of their 3 required permits. Their trekking company had bungled.

Happily, they were able to pay an additional fee and buy it here.

In Nepal you should be careful to treat all water. I used tablets. New to me was the steriPEN.

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Amazing.

Much improved from my last trip to the Himalaya are LED light bulbs.

I once carried a 100 watt bulb and replaced the one in my guesthouse cell for the night. No more need for that. The LEDs are quite bright.

We got a fairly early start, the valley still in shade. Days are short in November. Sunlight precious.

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We stopped along the river to watch a brick maker.

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Already loving this trek, it got even better as the BIG mountains came into view.

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On the other hand, between 10am and 2pm is rush hour.

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If you happen to get behind one of the big French expeditions, it can be slow going.

There are far more French hikers on Manaslu than any other nationality. They mostly tent.

For some reason they mostly eat at guesthouse restaurants rather than at their campsites. That helps the local economies.

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Electricity is more available than on Everest or Annapurna. There’s plenty of solar. And a number of micro Hydro stations en route.

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Tourism is to credit for that, I believe.

Not all the local people are happy with the increased number of funny looking foreigners walking past.

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The young will have grown up with tourists.

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No motor vehicle road will ever be blasted here.

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My guide figures it will take 15-20yrs.

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I love this kind of trekking.

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We slept in Dyang 1800m. More snow was falling up high.

more snow

It’s starting to get cold at night.

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see high resolution photos from this day on flickr

day 0 | day 1 | day 2 | day 3 | day 4 | day 5 | day 6 | day 7 | day 8 | day 9 | day 10 | info

December 9, 2013December 15, 2013

Manaslu Circuit – day 3

by site editor Rick McCharles

Already tired of tiny, potentially unsanitary tea house bedrooms, I’d slept in my tent the previous night.

Yep. As I’ve done on my previous Himalayan tea house treks, I carried a tent. Only 2lbs (Hubba) … I like having the back-up plan.

I slept in my tent until 1:20am when guides woke me in a panic. At the next guesthouse campsite, a thief had cut through a tent and stolen a backpack. It contained a Passport, camera and plenty of cash. Everyone insisted that I must move indoors. For my own safety. 😦

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There are people everywhere in this valley. Here Brion was looking for a public toilet. The “blue door”, he was told.

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That one wasn’t bad. But as a general rule I’d recommend you avoid Nepali toilets. It’s more sanitary to sit in the woods. … Assuming you can find a good spot.

This was cute. Kids blocking off their home from pack animals.

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Here’s some fencing trying to keep out hungry beasts.

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Harvested crops are usually stored up high out of reach.

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Tradition here is to use ladders to get up and down.

I had the standard Himalayan meal for lunch.

Dal bhat consists of steamed rice and a cooked lentil soup called dal. Potatoes on the side they call “curry”. The spiciest component they call “pickle” (achar). Often greens are included as they were this time.

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Porters and guides can rarely be persuaded to eat anything else. It’s dal baht 3 meals a day. They always eat separately and after their clients. In fact, one of the highest priority jobs for any guide is to act as your waiter. They do everything they can to keep you happy and healthy on the Trail.

Pretty pretty.

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Steep gorges like this are prone to washout.

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Winter loomed. Every home had enough wood stockpiled.

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Compared with Everest and Annapurna, there are far more waterfalls on Manaslu.

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Impressive too are the many beautiful butterflies.

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Everyone is anticipating this adventure to boom over the next few years. We saw many, many guest houses under construction.

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We were surprised to get some rain. It should be bone dry in November. … We didn’t realize at the time that this same day it was snowing up on the high Pass.

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