TRINITONIAN APRIL 2018_ONLINE (1)

TRAVEL
South Africa’s
Treasure Troves
FIVE FAMOUS GEOLOGICAL SITES WELL WORTH A VISIT.
By Donna Verrydt
Geological rock formations
Robberg Nature Reserve
WESTERN CAPE
History: Robberg, meaning “mountain of seals” was the
name given to this headland by Dutch mariners back in
the 15th century. Later, the Portuguese “re-discovered”
the area and called it Formosa Bay – or “beautiful bay”.
It has been declared a Provincial Heritage Site.
The Robberg coastline, a national treasure
Location: The peninsula forms the 245-hectare nature
reserve that’s run by Cape Nature. If you’ve ever been
to Plettenberg Bay, you will surely know Robberg, which
lies 5 kilometres to the south of the seaside village.
Geology: Robberg provides a look at the sedimentary
basin that was formed when the new Southern African
coastline was formed following the break up of
Gondwana (the ancient supercontinent) more than 180
million years ago. Nelson Bay Cave offers artefacts of
human life from the Stone Age. Evidence shows that
the cave people ate seabirds, bush pigs, Cape buffalo,
crustaceans and oysters (who wouldn’t!)
Nature: True to its name, Robberg has a healthy colony
of Cape fur seals which also attracts the great white
sharks that patrol the rocky cliffs from the water.
Don’t miss... There are three popular hikes here.
The longest is The Point (9km round-trip) and the
shortest is The Gap (less than an hour). The hikes offer
breathtaking scenery and the chance to encounter
mammals and birds too.
A Cape fur seal
The legendary Nelson Bay Cave
filled with fossils and artefacts
64 | The Trinitonian
Wooden walkways facilitate easier walks for hikers