Searching for Swallow Tail - Getting lost on the Wild Coast of the Transkei
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- Опубліковано 31 лип 2024
- I had been told that Swallow Tail Falls just off the Mtentu River on the Wild Coast of Transkei region of South Africa was really worth a visit. It's about a 3.5 km canoe paddle up river for the mouth of the river and then, if you find the right tributary, it's about another hour of hiking along rocks and river till you get to the waterfall.
My first attempt was not successful because I couldn't work out which tributary to the main river I was meant to hike up. If I had just listened properly to those who knew, I would not have got lost.
But even getting lost was worth it. The paddle is beautiful and the forests and waterfalls along the way are beautiful. After a few km's it's very unlikely that you will encounter any people at all. It's a paddling and hiking paradise.
When I did return, with less equipment and more direction, I managed to find the waterfalls. The hike along the river may be the best part. Around every corner you encounter a fantastic rock pool or aa waterfall. One is so fantastic, you may think you've arrived at Swallow Tail Falls. But it's actually just the snack. Swallow Tail Falls is very special. It plunges from about 18 meters, which is high if you are right under it, into a crystal clear pool. It can be cold because the sun hardly ever reaches the bottom of the falls.
I like adventuring on my own, but it's always better with someone else, and in this case it would have been a lot safer. I was quite lucky not to injure myself badly. What you have to do is cross the river a few time and clamber over some big rocks, so it's not a difficult hike. When it becomes difficult to find a path along the river rocks, you will find a foot path along the side. Anyway, even though it is an easy hike, you still have to concentrate. I was just walking along, quite lost in thought (I had a lot on my mind), when I slipped... and I don't even know how I slipped. Normally my reactions are quite fast, but this time, I couldn't get my hands up quick enough and I smashed face first into a rock. As I was blinded by the blow, I could hear the "ping" of my tooth breaking. There was blood everywhere, but I used my camera to ascertain the damage, and decided, besides the swelling and the pain, that it wasn't the end of the world and should definitely continue to Swallow Tail Falls. It would have been no good to have failed twice to find it.
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00:00 Intro
00:39 Let's Go - Paddle Up the Mtentu River
01:34 Incredible Forests
02:05 Getting Lost
03:00 Baboons
04:12 The Big Rock - Egyptian Geese
05:07 Giving Up
06:43 Super Moon
06:53 Restarting
07:29 Let's Go pt 2 - Hike Up The River
07:58 Smacked In My Face - Chipped My Tooth
08:53 Swallow Tail Falls
09:32 Phone Call to Someone Special
I LOVE THIS CONTENT. I THINK OF HOW MUST TRUST CAN PEOPLE GIVE TO EACH OTHER IF WE ENJOY OUR LAND LIKE THIS.
I MEAN CONTENT LIKE THIS SHOULD BE OUR TURNING POINT. SHOWING THE BEAUTY OF OUR NATURE.
Thank you so much! That is very encouraging.
Hi Ben! This is beautiful!! I really enjoy the way you tell your story. Thank you for sharing the detail about Swallow Tail Falls. I look forward to see more of your work. (I was extremely happy when I realised that I met you at Epupa Falls and you gave me some tips and tricks re photography.)
Hey Jo!!! That's so incredible to meet up again! Thanks for the encouragement. I think I'm going to do a lot more adventure/exploration stuff. I really enjoyed that video. How the hell are you? Still living out your Cruiser?
My kind of adventure.
Absolutely gorgeous
Thank you! 😊
Thanks a lot Mr Ben what a beautiful place thanks for taking us all the way sorry for the accident
Planning to go explore the Wild Coast a lot more, so keep watching! Cracking my tooth was carzy! I've had it fixed... Thanks for the support!
I am very happy you fixed your tooth wooray
Nice, Ben, good to see you!
Hey Julio! Thanks for watching! I'm planning to do a lot more exploration videos... like this, just go to a place and take the audience on an adventure. Hope it works! All the best!
Wow - just realised which Julio Costa you are! How the hell are you? Did you see that The Comrade King is also on my channel. I remember you explaining to me how video worked. That was 34 years ago! It was all so new in those days. Incredible how the technology has changed. Thanks so much for reaching out. I hope you're doing great! All the best.
Are you still in the Olive business? LOL. I love these moments, it makes this all worthwhile.
@@Transkei_Stories No, but still in the television business! In Jhb. Let's meet up some time if you're up here...!
@@Transkei_Stories THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!
Thank you for sharing, loved watching it, so beautiful indeed! We were there in October and didn't manage to get to the falls either. So we have a good reason to return, just like you did 😅. Sorry about your little accident with your teeth 😬.
Did you hear Mtentu Lodge burned down during Christmas 😢. I'm afraid they need all the help they can get to rebuild it.
Thanks again, I watched all of you wild coast inserts. I'm from the Netherlands but we have a cabin on the ocean in Leisure Bay (Port Edward).
Kind regards
Bert Bakker
ua-cam.com/video/WsDyIZDrHd8/v-deo.htmlsi=k6PihdP331d6cZJR
I made this amateur film for friends and family😊
Hi Bert. So happy you like my content. So you also got lost? 😂😂😂
It’s tragic that the lodge burned down, but I know they will rebuild quickly. So many people love Mtentu Lodge and it’s a cornerstone of sustainable tourism development. Hopefully they will be up and running within a few months.
@@bertbakker6336where’s the link to your film?
@@Transkei_Stories ua-cam.com/video/WsDyIZDrHd8/v-deo.htmlsi=k6PihdP331d6cZJR
awesome episode you mentioned the palms and yes that location is a jurassic world, the rare pondo land palm or mini coconut palm is only found on that rivers northern shore and mtentu.This tree is a living fossil, being the last remaining lineage of the palm trees that were widespread in southern Africa in prehistoric times
That's it!! It's crazy... that palm tree is endemic to only two rivers in the world. The Mzikaba and the Mtentu; The North and South Borders of the Mkambati Nature Reserve. There's a funny story about how it got named in John Costello and Div DeVilliers' book on Mkambati. Thanks for watching and engaging!
that river is also the deepest in the country at some places more than 100 feet@@Transkei_Stories
@@timeepicvideos What a Place! Can't wait to go back.
@timeepicvideos is that the Msimkaba or Mtentu River thats so deep😮
@@bertbakker6336I think it’s the Mzikaba?