Buffelsfontein - October 2011 by Greg Van Der Reis We had an amazing response to this day trip through a private nature reserve which boasts Buffalo, Giraffe, various other buck, tortoises, snakes and other critters. We met at the entrance to the game reserve and after deflating tyres we made our way to the office where we met the guide who was going to show us where the trail started. After leaving the reception area we made our way, following the guide to the start of the trail. On the short route to the start of the trail we saw giraffe grazing a short distance from the road and everyone was hoping to see lots of game. The website describes the trail as a grade 3 to 4 trail but after driving a short distance we realized that the grading used was incorrect and that probably a grade 1.5 was more realistic. We drove through sand, traversing short sections of the dunes but nothing created a sense of awe and excitement as the trail was so easy. After a short distance of approximately seven kilometers we ended up on the road that we had driven on, on the way it to the reception area, this was the midway point of the trail! The midway point has no benches, shade or anything else to make it conducive to a long tea break so we just had tea/coffee out the back of our vehicles. Niel was guiding one group and his group left soon after the tea break to return down the trail in the opposite direction. Niel had said that he would try and find a place where the participants could have a bit of fun playing in the dunes. We departed a short while later and soon caught up to Niel's group in an open area of dunes where he had identified a fun trail that would put a little bit of excitement and difficulty into the day. The route Niel had chosen was not as easy as it looked and after rounding a corner drivers had to turn sharply to the right and climb a second dune. Everyone was out of the vehicles watching the other vehicles trying to make the ascent of the dune. After completing the 7km return drive and Niel's obstacle in the dunes we worked our way back to the reception area where we unpacked our picnic baskets and entered the lapa area for a braai and lunch. The game reserve also boasts some caged lions which I would guess tourists would enjoy seeing considering that the game reserve is so close to Cape Town . Even though the trail was easy it was still great to be out with friends, and spend a day relaxing in the sun. Special thanks to Niel and Kerry for guiding one of the groups.