Page 24 - Cape-Camera-Sept-Oct-2021

September/October 2021 Cape Camera

A Member’s Travelogue

All photographs by Cathy Bruce

Escaping from tough times - finding solace in nature
by Catherine Bruce
“This is all the heaven we’ve got
Right here where we are…”*

The Orange River is South Africa’s longest river and largest river basin that extends
from Lesotho into South Africa and Namibia. It forms the international borders

between the three countries and on its journey from east to west – finally reaching
Oranjemund on the Atlantic Ocean – it collects much wealth in the form of dia-

monds and minerals. But it is the water that is its greatest treasure as it provides a
most valuable source for irrigation and hydroelectric power.

As the river nears its destination, it cuts through the stony,
mountainous desert of the Richtersveld, rich in minerals, geo-
logical formations and not much else, and now an internation-
ally protected area incorporating parts of South Africa and Na-
mibia. Here the river, edged with greenery, sandy banks and
water worn stones, flows blue against bare stony mountains.
What good are diamonds and gold if there is no water? This
river has sustained plenty of life throughout its history and to-
day wildlife and humans congregate here to enjoy the bounty
of water in the desert sun.
I dreamed of this when I had time during our forced lockdown
to contain the Covid 19 Pandemic. It was a tough year, with
emotional ups and downs. When the pandemic became a re-
ality I was tutoring students and studying and planning tour
guiding. Slowly many hopes and dreams turned to sorrow, the
realization dawned slowly but hit hard. There was no income
for students and tourist practitioners alike. I gave food and of-
fered help where I could, but the effects of the pandemic were
overwhelming. It was hard to see people go hungry, not able journey for six or seven hours by road from where I stay in Her-
to pay their debts and forced to close their businesses. It was manus, Western Cape.
even harder to hear of friends who had died of Covid 19 virus. Our group of 12 people met in Blaauwberg, Cape Town a month
I was anxious about my family and friends and worried about before the trip to co ordinate logistics. Covid restrictions were
income. still very much a reality and complicated the cross border regu-
My mind was occupied with these concerns, and I found it dif- lations when crossing the border to Namibia and back to South
ficult to imagine anything creative for a time. So it was a huge Africa. We needed negative Covid tests, passports and vehicle
relief when I was able to join a kayaking adventure for a few papers. We had a rundown on what to expect of the kayak trip
days on the Orange River with Comehike Hiking Club. I jumped and the equipment to bring. Limited space on the kayaks meant
at the chance to escape the maelstrom of life for a while, to the bringing minimal personal stuff. It had to be well thought out
comfort of familiar places with familiar people, almost in my as we would be camping in the wild with no home convenienc-
own back-yard. The kayaking trip starts just after Vioolsdrift es like beds or light. The strong possibility of capsizing on the
border of South Africa and Namibia near Noordoewer after a water meant planning for watertight containers and securing

23 Cape Town Photographic Society