Incredible South Africa #1 // Travel Stories of a climber

Being a professional & addicted climber we are always dedicated to discover new countries and new climbing spots allover the world. Every now and then other climbers discover new areas full of rocks and boulders waiting to be climbed and that's why we went to South Africa in 2012. casual sunset - where´s simba?

The area we went to is called Rocklands (quite obvious simple name isn´t it?) 2 hours to the north of cape town. We booked our flights for our european summer time to have good conditions in SA for 4 fullfilled weeks of climbing. The rocklands are situated near clanwilliams on a pass across the cederberg mountains and are large… just really, really huge fields of beautiful orange, blue & grey sandstone as far as the eyes can see.
We booked some rental cars in advance covered with full insurance (the roads can be quite dangerous and not established) and drove to our lodges in the middle of a pass in an incredible valley.

huge fields of rocks & african steppe

freddy on a hike through the big fields - carrying a crashpad on his back to prevent us from injuries while falling

each evening at 6pm i stopped climbing and just watched the sun set

I think in Africa I (re)discovered my love for clear air, unique, crispy blue & golden light and the wind howling through valleys of grass,sand and rocks. It's just a different taste on your tongue and your nostrils feel happy and healthy after living in a city for more than 20 years. The next town is 25 km away and you have the possibility just to be yourself and let life happen. Sometimes that's the best we can do right?

i´m enjoying the sun and just feel happy

still have to finish this climb - time to come back soon?

more about our climbing and cape town in my second blog about SA!

Most of the pictures made by vertical axis - professional climbing photography
video as well by my friends vertical axis

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