Light & Shade ...

Looking back from the Karkloof Falls view site yet another small stream wends its way through from the forests to plunge down into the Karkloof Stream which itself becomes a tributary of the uMngeni River close to the Howick Falls Gorge. Visible in profile from the extreme edges of the picnic site this horse tail falls really needs to be seen from the south east face - I must make a plan to get there somehow, sometime.  I first saw this stream when the cyclists participating in the Karkloof Classic MTB event rode past this station, a cyclists’ see-saw having been set up to add a bit of fun and variety to the event. They would then cycle across the slatted wooden bridge before heading back into the forests and hills to return to the country club. Could a mountain biking venue get much better than this? Trails are open to the public most all year round, by courtesy of Sappi forests, permits being obtainable from cycle shops in Howick.

It is fairly clear from this shot why the lighting on the opposite facing falls was so challenging. Being winter the sun arcs across the southern sky making it almost perpetually overhead above the falls. But it does work well for the stream, creating interesting contrasts of light and shade, and millions of tiny reflections in the clear stream waters.