Place of the Guineafowls Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Knagur Green: Due to no response from the CO after the request to maintain or replace the cache, I am archiving it to, stop it showing on the listings and/or to create place for the geocaching community.

The Geocache Maintenance guideline explains a CO's responsibility towards checking and maintaining the cache when problems are reported.

Please note that if geocaches are archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance, they are not eligible for unarchival. This is explained in the Help Center

If the CO feels that this cache has been archived in error please feel free to contact me within 30 days, via email or message via my profile ,quoting the GC number concerned

Thank you for understanding

Knagur Green
Groundspeak Volunteer Reviewer

More
Hidden : 9/18/2012
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Helmeted Guineafowls are acknowledged in African folklore to be birds with protective powers. The Zulu word for them is Impangele.

When passing through Howick to visit our famous falls, why not take a detour and find this cache!  A fantastic spot with a view of the MidMar Dam wall, this venue is home to a number of "families" of Helmeted Guineafowls. 

The Helmeted Guieafowl is a peculiar looking bird, weighing up to 1.6kg and measuring 53-58cm in height.  It is known for its bare head and neck, blue face, sleek black body with white spots on the feathers. It's "crown" looks like a helmet, hence the name.  They live in large flocks and forage for insects, seeds, fruits and small reptiles.  Guienafowls prefer to walk or run than fly and they cover distances of up to 10km in a day.

It is recorded that the Ancient Romans domesticated guineafowls by interbreeding them with chickens, as a sorce of food.  It was hoped that the hardy nature of the guineafowl would strenghten their chicken stock.  Guineafowls are also recorded in Ancient Greek mythology in a legend where the 4 sisters of Meleagros, son of King Oeneus of Calydon, transformed into guineafowls after the death of their brother.  Their tears of sadness are said to have stained their black feathers with pearl coloured streaks.

In Howick, many homes have guineafowls as "pets"!  The birds roam freely between properties, walk along pavements and can be seen roosting on fences, in trees and sleeping in the sun on lawns.

This cache is dedicated to these "protectors" of our wetlands and property.  The cache is well disguised.  Make the connection to the sign and look vertically in line with the guineafowls' tail!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Gur srapr vf abg zrnag gb xrrc gur thvarnsbjyf va!

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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