Water Wise Traditional Cache

This cache will bring you to a spot that forms part of the larger Gamtoos Valley irrigation system.

Water is taken from the Kouga Dam to the Loerie Dam via a main canal while irrigation water for the farms in the valley is distributed by means of a series of canals and pipelines.

Water from here is provided to about 7 400 ha of farmlands in the Eastern Cape or approximately 250 farms. Currently 28% of its water resources are allocated to the greater Port Elizabeth area/Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

This cache site is situated outside of Hankey on the opposite end of the historical Philip's tunnel and Vensterhoek. Vensterhoek is a natural arch that has been created by weathering of the Enon Conglomerate in the area. If you take a good look from this location you will be able to spot the hole in the hill known as Vensterhoek.

Just below this the second irrigation scheme on the Gamtoos River, a provincial heritage site in Hankey today, was carried out by William Enowy Philip, the son of the Superintendent of the LMS, Dr John Philip. His inspiration was the window in the hill between Backhousehoek and Vensterhoek and was dug using pick and shovel and wheelbarrows. The length of the tunnel is 228 meters and the speed of construction was very slow - about 1 to 2 feet a day. It was started in April 1843 and completed in August 1844 – 15 months later. It was in use from April 1845 to 1970 - a period of 125 years.This was the first ever tunnel scheme in South Africa.

Please see the related websites for additional info.