The barn owls are here again, roosting on the roof of Zebra Moon. Their call is definitely not a melodious ” too whit too whooo” , it sounds a bit like paper being torn or glass scratched; however they are beautiful little owls and it’s great to have them back.

The grape vines that we planted 3 years ago are yielding their first edible grapes, although the birds are winning the early thing, they seem to know exactly when a grape is sweet enough. That leaves us with a choice between bird pecked grapes and face contortingly sour grapes. Now the saying “sour grapes” makes sense after all these years.

The large tree to the left of the entrance steps decided to finally reveal its identity this year by giving a small crop of plums! The tree looks 10 years old but has never produced a single plum, must have something to do with the tap we fitted close by this year?

We have the second group of German volunteers here this week, unfortunately for them the weather is cold and rainy.

Zebra Moon is currently hosting 25 German volunteers who are in South Africa for a year. They are all working at Schools and Charities around South Africa. The workshop is a chance for them to meet up with fellow volunteers who are spread around the country and to discuss their experiences and to find ways of dealing with the challenges they face. They will spend four nights at Zebra Moon and will spend some time taking in the local attractions. A trip to Genadendal is strongly recommended by ourselves, it is always surprising how many visitors are unaware of this beautiful treasure trove of history that is just a few minutes away. Other activitiea on offer are river swims, a hike focussing on fynbos medicinal plants, a township tour through Heuwelkroon and Boschmanskloof, volley ball and relaxing around the village. Zebra Moon is becoming more popular as an affordable workshop/conference/team building venue that offers a village experience that can combine outdoor activities with civilized village life.

 

During the last week of holidays we decided to hike to a rock art site in the mountains above Genadendal. There are only a few known rock art sites in this area, which in a way makes them more special. We were in luck and tour guide Paul Adendorf was available to take us to the site. We set off early because we knew the day was going to become very hot. To begin with you follow the Genadendal trail which leads from the Genadendal Church Square into the mountains. After over an hour of climbing we headed off the trail and walked through fynbos to look for the site. It took us another half hour to reach the shelter, which is more of an overhang than a cave. It was vey exciting to see the paintings, a small collection of possibly twenty images. My thoughts went to the artists and how their lives were destroyed by the European settlers. It was a privilege to be in the same cave as the San artists and their families and also sad that these people are no longer around to teach us about their lives. There is something special about being in a rock shelter in these beautiful mountains, and imaging the artists and their people going about their daily lives.

Visiting a rock art site a privilege and there are certain basic rules to follow. You shouldn’t touch or soak the paintings with water, fires and smoke are also damaging and lastly one should leave only foot steps behind. We recommend visiting with a local guide, this creates employment and also means that the site will be properly supervised. This site will be very difficult to find without a guide as there are no paths leading to it.

After an hour of admiring the paintings and absorbing the special atmosphere of the rock shelter we headed back to Genadendal and arrived back 5 hours after we set out.

We then became aware of different interpretations of the art. There is one painting of what looks like a donkey, it could perhaps also be a quagga or zebra.

Some claim the fact that it is a donkey means that the painting is very recent as donkeys were evidently not found in this area until the 1700′s. It is also suggested that the paintings could be fake. The truth may become clear once more research has been done ( these paintings were discovered by Paul about 5 years ago). My personal opinion is that the paintings look very genuine and I can’t imagine who would go to the trouble of making such good forgeries in such a remote and difficult to find shelter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Landmark Foundation has placed several camera traps in the mountains above Greyton and Genadendal as part of its ongoing research into isolated leopard populations in the Western Cape. Two different leopards have been recorded and it appears as if they are a male and female, so the exciting possibility exists of leopard cubs in the near future.

This research aims at establishing the current status of leopard populations so that conservation efforts can be designed to safeguard them. A concern is that there are several very small populations that are separated by large areas of agricultural or urban land. The danger of in-breeding exists, and it is hoped to try and establish safe corridors through which these separate populations can be linked.

The camera traps have added a fascinating dimension to appreciating wildlife in our mountains. Hikers have always known that leopards were around from sightings of spoor and droppings, however these claims were always treated with mild disbelief by others. The fact that many of the larger mammals that live in the mountains are very shy and nocturnal meant that the chances of seeing them were very slight. Now we have photographic evidence of these animals, often on the same paths we are hiking on.

Other animals that have been photographed include: klipspringer; grey rhebok; porcupine; honeybadger; genet ; cape hare; baboon and  mongoose.

Zebra Moon have sponsored accommodation for the Landmark Foundation team and are planning to sponsor a camera in 2012. We are creating several activities for School groups with leopard conservation as a theme. Leopards are a great way to get an environmental message across as most people are more interested in large cats than fynbos ants! However as leopards are apex predators the whole ecosystem must be functioning properly to sustain leopards. School groups will be able to hike to one of the cameras and download the photographs, in the evening we will then screen the photographs – this is very exciting to see what has been captured on film at the very spot you hiked to!

Summer Holidays are upon us in a days time, most Schools break up tomorrow!

Why I am going to spend time in Greyton these holidays?

Its cheap, especially if you stay at Zebra Moon. In Summer, Greyton is an especially shady village and if you have had enough wind, the wind blows alot less in our sheltered valley. Swimming in a mountain stream on a hot day is a delight, the water is always refreshing, and if you go into Noupoort it is more like bracing ( very bracing!). You can spend a few days unwinding in the Village, coffee or milkshakes at one of the great eateries.

In the heat of the day Zebra Moon is beautifully cool, they built well 50 years ago. Catch up on your reading, then after a lazy tea you can go for an afternoon hike on one of the many routes, or cycle around the Village.

Once you have recharged your batteries, consider a short drive to Genadendal and its beautiful shady werf and impressive Museum. Or if you are feeling very adventurous, head to Hermanus via Caledon and the Hemel en Arde valley and enjoy their beautiful cliff walks and beaches. Then come back to the tranquility of Greyton.

A big plus in Greyton is that you can walk pretty much everywhere: slow down, enjoy the walk and reduce your carbon footprint!

Having been running Zebra Moon for three years now, I have seen many School camps come through and have spoken to many teachers and parents.

I have come to realise that a School camp is not just an excuse to get out of the classroom for a holiday, but that it is potentially a very powerful tool for creating changed behaviour, and for learning many valuable lessons. I have seen huge behaviour change in a class after a two night camp. We are privileged to have the Somerset College Trek spend a night in the grounds of Zebra Moon every year and the Trek represents the highest committment to outdoor experiential education in the Western Cape, with the whole Grade 9 setting off in groups of about 24 for a 27  day trek that covers 360 kms by foot, mountain bike and canoe. The tremendous positive results achieved by the Trek are being taken note of by other Schools, with several implementing similar ( mostly shorter) programmes.

While a 27 day experience is the envy of many, a carefully planned two day camp can achieve much. Why does a School camp have such potential, and what are the necessary ingredients to maximise this potential?

My personal observations:

It is useful if the camp takes place in a new and unfamiliar environment.

There should be new and unusual experiences that take children out of their comfort zone.

There should be an element of physical challenge that needs some perseverance and a little bit of pain to achieve.

While children are taken out of their comfort zone, this should be done in a well supervised and supportive environment.

Team activities have great potential for building team cohesion.

Reflection and thinking about activities and the camp as a whole are important, and need to be done while the activity is very fresh on children’s minds.

There should be lots of fun.

Self awareness exercises in a natural environment are recommended.

Even a short night hike or night activity is great fun and builds confidence.

No electronic gadgets ( cell phones, ipods etc)

Good facilitators who who want the best experience possible for the children.

 

Most children are now day scholars so a camp has two important facets that are present and need no special attention to achieve: 1) children are away from home, parents and siblings ( sometimes for the first time) and this is on it’s own a great learning opportunity.

2) Children are together with their class mates for an extended period of time and learn a lot about each other outside of the normal classsroom environment. There is a chance for old friendships to deepen and for new friendships to form as children see different parts of each others characters. The children are also all in new territory away from family and friends and the group suddenly becomes far more cohesive as they face these new challenges together.

We were very pleased to be chosen  by Michael Oak Grade 6 for their annual School Camp. 28 Children and 6 adults used Zebra Moon as a base for a variety of activities in the area.The Zebra Moon building, having been a School Hostel in it’s previous life, is ideally suited for groups of up 50 children, with boys and girls on different floors with their own bathrooms.

The Grade 6′s did alot of hiking and walking, including the 7km hike to Genadendal. Here they were met by Mr Baadjes, the resident education officer, and taken on a fascinating tour of the Genadendal Museum. The Museum has a wealth of artifacts and displays and includes a working water mill, a printing Museum, a transport Museum and the main Museum building with a fascinating depiction of the History of Genadendal. This is always a great discovery for those who never knew about Genadendal.

Being a November camp the cool waters of the pools in the Gobos River were a great attraction. The Children were kept busy with a variety of indoor activities as well, the one activity that looked  particularly interesting was body mapping, in which Children look at their bodies from various perspectives: my strengths; things I want to improve; my goals and aspirations;things I like; things relatedto the head, heart and limbs. All this written on a full sized outline of your own body.The group also fitted in a night hike to the river.

The parents and teachers, with help from the Children, prepared all the meals in the large Hostel kitchen. A range of delicious meals and braais were prepared and it looked as if the Children were very well catered for.

Thanks to Joan Sleigh for organising the camp, it is always a pleasure to have her Class on camp.And to the other staff and parents for all their hard work- helping on a School camp is not a holiday, its exhausting keeping up with the Children and nights are never early!

Zebra Moon is offering a variety of specials to make a visit to us even more attractive.

There are specials for honeymooners and wedding anniversary guests. A stay for 3, pay for 2 nights. Incentives for groups and families.

A two night stay in our twin or double bed roomswill qualify you for a third night free as well as a complimentary bottle of wine.

See our website for details.

Zebra Moon is a great place for a break this summer. Affordable ( yes, cheap) and with all the attractions that Greyton can offer: cool mountain pools to swim in, horse riding, mountain biking. A beautiful shady village to mooch around with lots of restaurants and coffee shops. For the more energetic there are some serious day hikes as well lots of short hikes and mountain biking on scenic routes. Zebra Moon has mountain bikes to hire.

Genadendal with all its history and tranquil atmosphere is a short hike or drive away.

We offer a venue that is great for birthday groups for children and adults, book the whole venue and letus help you plan some fun activities.

Unwind after a busy year and enjoy a well earned break.

On Saturday 19 November 2011, Zebra Moon sponsored a water table at the second Genadendal Mission MTB and trail run. Nikki ran the seconding station single handedly, offering much needed drinks and snacks to riders on a day that evidently reached 37 degrees in the sun at 2.00pm!!

The event went well with over 200 entrants across the events and a great vibe at the finish at the Moravian Church in Genadendal. Runners and riders enjoyed the shade of the massive oak trees and the sounds of the Genadendal brass band. Great medals and prizes for all categories were handed out as well as lots of lucky prizes. This event combines a start/finish with atmosphere and a sense of history with amazing routes in the surrounding area.

An event on communal land and commonage has the advantage of being part of a vibrant community, and in this case also an active Moravian Church congregation. This gives a great atmosphere and an opportunity to experience the Village of Genadendal. However riders and runners are asked to be respectful of the inhabitants and their way of life. A good example is the fact that Moravian Church Square provides a  beautiful and inspiring venue and organisers need to respect the sanctity of the Square. This means careful choice of music and the volume, the language used by announcers, no alchohol and trying to inconvenience the Church  as little as possible.( There are often weddings and funerals on a Saturday).

I think this gives a refreshing wholesomeness and family orientation, a nice return to old country values in this often brash, loud and branded world!

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