“The simple act of walking is meditative. It allows us to clear out the baggage”. – Ivan Groenhof
Ivan spent three months walking in the wilderness, and came back with a new perspective on life.
He the initiator and co-founder of the Rim of Africa trail, the first Mega-Trail in Africa that is located just outside of Cape Town, South Africa. His knowledge of the environment, commitment to conservation, and passion for encouraging a cultural and personal reconnection to nature makes him an inspiring leader.
Vocabulary chunks to learn from the video :
• I go back to remember
• I don’t think words can do justice
• Walk me, I’m here, I’m waiting for you
• The simple act of walking
• In some form of state
• It allows us to clear out the baggage
• The more attuned we become
• Reconnection happens
• Dirt and grubby
• Healthy and fit
• A shift in my outlook
• This is what it means to be human
• This is what it means to be alive
• The world is a bigger place
• We are born to walk
• Get off your chair and then remember
Vocabulary chunks to learn after watching the video :
Climb another first descent
Raising goats and sheep
Living in their yurts
Their kindness and hospitality is at a level that I’ve never seen before
A huge thank you
Solar generators, solar panels
Flash lights
It’s really exciting to be able to give these gifts to these families
And they were so appreciative, so happy
You can just feel the joy
We get to share the sun
Charge from the sun anytime
Loving life
During the summer of 2013, Mike Libecki, Ethan Pringle, Liv Sansoz, and photographer Keith Ladzinski headed for the Tian Shan Mountains. The remote range sits on the border of Kyrgyzstan and China and is home to several nomadic families. The Kyrgyz live and work in the high alpine herding animals during the summer months, then moving their herds back down to lower elevations for the winter.
The group was lured to the region by the massive untouched walls, and while there they were fortunate enough to experience the hospitality and culture of the Kyrgyz people. Mike had visited the area 13 years prior, so the region and its people held a special place in his heart. He brought with him gifts of power, solar panels and lights, thanking each villager for their kindness and generosity by Sharing the Sun. Read more about their efforts @Share The Sun
If you’re looking for the complete coastal forest experience, Tsitsikamma, in the Eastern Cape has to be on the top of your list. Walk through the ancient forest, chill on the beaches, kayak up rivers and hike some of the most famous trails South Africa has to offer.
Did you know?
Tsitsikamma has the longest slide in South Africa, it is 211m and 50m above ground zero.
The Tsitsikamma National Park forms part of the greater Garden Route National Park. The area is covered by large areas of forest as well as commercial plantations and fynbos. There are also many rivers in the area that have carved deep gorges into the mountains as they wind their way from the plateau to the sea. With a pleasant climate all year round, this is the perfect place to get your adventure on.
Why not leap off the world’s highest commercial bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge? Or take a idyllic kayak up the Storms River? How about a bird’s-eye view of the forest with a canopy tour? Or an breathtaking hike along the Otter Trail or Dolphin Trail? Why not do it all?
If you love nature, the coast and all that goes with it, then you’ll love Tsitsikamma. With an abundance of bird and marine life (not to mention the cheeky Cape Otter), you can really get in touch with nature.
The Tsitsikamma region of the Western Cape stretches from the Bloukrans River in the west to Eerste Rivier in the east, and from the Tsitsikamma Mountains in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south.
It’s also the largest marine reserve in South Africa and is home to an ancient indigenous rain forest with 116 types of massive trees, including the giant Outeniqua yellowwood tree. There is a great walk that leads to a very special yellowwood called “The Big Tree”. This wooden giant is estimated to be over 800-years old, stands 36.6m high and has a circumference of almost nine metres, it’s not called “The Big Tree” for nothing.
With activities, shops, accommodation and tour operators all readily available, there’s no excuse not to have a go at one of the many, exhilarating and breathtaking adventures on offer. Read more HERE
Map of the area :
One of the best hikes in the world ! Read more HERE (besthike.com)
worldatlas.com
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