NEW YEAR 2019

What a palaver! But it’s done. Christmas and New Years. Phew. The campsite was PACKED, all the accommodation was full. No bird nor mouse would come near the place for me to hunt and kill. That said, all human folk kept going on and on about how AMAZING it was and what a great vibe and what fantastic people… blah, blah, blah.

No matter - peace has returned to our little piece of heaven, tucked away in the foothills of the UNESCO https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/ site of the Southern Drakensberg. Sure, we still get a few backpackers, campers and/or self catering guests coming through, but in much more manageable proportions. I always find one must keep humans down to manageable proportions lest they think they rule the roost! HA! How wrong they are.

This peace wont last long though. It never does. I can hear their excited chatter about future projects. Our friends from EDUTOURS will be round to visit, hopefully coming for their horse ride and swim in the waterfall with lunch. Then there is much commotion surrounding the 7 DAY HORSE TRAIL TO LESOTHO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhOC8g7Cfyk&t=3s

with our dear friends from IN THE SADDLE https://www.inthesaddle.com as well as Zara’s Planet https://www.zarasplanet.com and soon from Pferd & Reiter in Germany http://pferdreiter.de/ and Rando Cheval in France http://www.randocheval.com/index.php

Moreover, plans are being made for new and old groups of youngsters returning to do their OUTDOOR ADVENTURE RIDE to LESOTHO with optional volunteering at a variety of projects up there.

Well, as you can tell, lots going on. And me clearly having to orchestrate the lot from behind the scenes. Must dash now. There’s killings to be done and pellets to be eaten.

Cool cats: keep it real…. keep it Khotso.

Raymond xx

#khotsomeanpeace

LIKE A HIKE?

Raymond here, back from a beautiful 3-day hike to Lesotho. Okay I didn’t really go but the excitement from the returning guests and the stories they told - I have to admit - made me kind of envious. Usually I sit surveying my kingdom while my subjects do my bidding, but with the new addition of guided hikes on the Khotso menu https://www.khotso.co.za/hikesI’ve been awfully tempted to explore the mountains on and around the farm and venture into the wilds of Lesotho with Vicky, our Resident Mountain Guide.

Hiking alone in the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Ukahlamba-Maloti Drakensberg https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/985 never appealed to me, but I now have a Resident Mountain Guide living in my garden who has mapped out some spectacular routes that she loves guiding people (and cats) on and I’ve booked to join a guided hike next week!

LESOTHO

She has half day and full day hikes on the farm where people (and cats) can see waterfalls, incredible views, hike on beautiful single-track pathways, see wildlife like Eland, Black-backed Jackal, and delicious - I mean beautiful - birds. The variety of wildlife will put the Kruger Park to shame - okay, I’ve never been to the Kruger Park but we have some very good wildlife sightings right here in Underberg.

THUMATHU PASS, LESOTHO

If you’re super fit like my cohort, Pebbles, there are some strenuous hikes to choose from. If you’re a house cat like me, there are some gentle walks you can do too - there’s one along the river to the Olde Duck where you can buy some lunch, and all the other hikes include snacks, lunch and good company. Bring something to swim in in summer - there are so many pools along the way, and rocks to jump off into the water.

SEHLABATHEBE, LESOTHO

Okay, all this talk of hiking is making me hungry. I’m off to raid the backpackers food supplies.

x

Raymond rules Khotso horse trails

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SEVEN DAY LESOTHO RIDE AND HORSE CLINICS

Oh my word… It’s too much for my cat brain to handle… and, if I’m honest, my cat brain doesn't really care, except for the general disturbance, but I had promised to deliver a report…. SO - WHAT A BUSY TIME! 

Future dates for our 7 day trail with In the Saddle are in the process of being set, but I will give you all a sneak peak:

KHOTSO 7 DAY RIDE

• November 18th

• February 24th

• June 16th

7 days of carefree riding through the Basotho mountains on some of the best, most sure footed ponies you will ever experience, staying in some unique spots along the way and meeting the locals - such a thing of beauty. 

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Furthermore, we have had a visit from Waynebushnellhorsemanship, who trained some horses and more importantly some people on how to create a respectful bond between animal and human… sorry, I just threw up in my mouth - it’s really not my kind of thing, but both human and horse seemed to love it. In fact they loved it so much that they are planning an entire weekend of it! With talks by an equine physiotherapist on injury prevention as well as information on nutrition by a representative from http://www.spurwinghorsefeed.co.za/ for some free samples for all participants.

WAYNE, natural horsemanship

Other than that, it’s our last week of rest before all our groups of youngsters come through. I will be spending most of my time hiding in trees and occasionally jumping out at an unsuspecting bystander, but will generally stay well clear be away from the computer for the duration. 

Chat more soon after,

Raymond x

#Pawlove #Adventure #FarmLife #TheDrakensberg #SouthernDrakensberg #Underberg #HorseSpecialists #HorseAdventure #HorseRiddingHoliday #BasothoPony #Mountain #Lesotho #SouthAfrica #GuidedHikes #Hike #LiveFree #Lambs #SchollGroups #UNESCO #WoldHeritageSite #Expedition #7DayAdventure #MountainGuide #HorsingAround #EverybodyLovesRaymond #Kearnsney #DHS #KZN #InTheSaddle #KhotsoMeansPeace