Topless Pool

There was a time when the world was a cold, dark and barren land full of ice. Not much grew and food was hard to find. !Xo was tired of this cold weather where they always had to find shelter to protect them from the cold and always feeling hungry. !Xo wanted to make a change not only for himself but also for his clan but had no idea how to do this.

So one day whilst !Xo was foraging for food he came across a plant that had purple, blue and red leaves. He picked a few of each colour and prepared a unique mixture consisting of these leaves mixed with certain bugs and water. Once this mixture was well mixed and ready !Xo started one of his all night chants. In the morning !Xo felt that his ancestors leading him to a ostrich egg and the skin of a springbuck. He needed to take these items to the end of the world.

So !Zo gathered up his belongings with an ostrich egg wrapped in the springbuck skin and started his journey to the end of the world.  After many months of travelling he came to the edge where the earth stopped and the water seemed to end as well. Not sure what to do next he awaited to hear from his ancestors. After a night long ceremony !Xo heard the ancestors instructing him to throw the egg into the deep abyss ahead of him and out of the abyss will dawn a bright new future. So following the instructions from his ancestors !Xo threw the ostrich egg covered in the springbuck skin into the abyss. !Xo looked intently at the egg as it hurled down. He noticed that it started to glow and soon light was shining through the springbuck skin and just before it hit the bottom it seemed to jump high into the air and disappear.

!Xo was a bit disappointed as nothing seemed to change after the egg disappeared. And so !Xo headed back home sad and dejected for it seemed that nothing changed. But things did start to change slowly at first and then more quickly. First of all there was now a bright yellow egg in the sky coming and going every day, first it was just a little piece but by the time !Xo got back home this egg was spending many hours up in the sky. Things were changing, from the ice disappearing to plants growing to more animals wondering around. Even the coldness seemed to be disappearing. Eventually it got so hot that the clan folk no longer had to search for shelter for the cold and they no longer needed to keep warm and so they discarded the animal skins that kept them warm. And this is how to this day the ostrich egg gives life and is used in many ways and why the Khoisan go topless because of the warmth that the egg provides.

This trail is on the Tsitsikamma Striptease River Trail. The owners of the nearby Lodge which maintain this walk has given full permission for the caches to be placed. Also due to the nature and terrain of this walk it is recommended that minors are accompanied by adults. 

1. Due to heavy rains or work in the nearby plantation we never know when the trail will be closed so a phone call is always welcomed. You can phone 042 280 3702

2. Anyone hiking must report to reception to sign the permit (which is free) and they must report back after completing the hike.

3. It is advisable that hikers must wear suitable shoes as some areas are more difficult.

4. You may drink the water from the river as it is safe to drink but it is also recommended that you bring water and refreshments as it is not a short Hike. It can take from a min of 4 Hours of brisk walking without stopping for a swim or looking for the caches.

5. With the trail being called the Striptease Trail please be aware that you may encounter nudity on this trail. For those who are brave and daring and want to engage in nude caching please only do so from the start of the trail and not from the lodge.

6. Photo logs are more than welcome, clothed or unclothed, but please just remember that this is a family activity so if you are daring to pose unclothed please make sure that all private areas are concealed either by the cache or by the natural surroundings.

7. The trail is well marked just follow the blue markings and you won’t get lost.

8. Please remember that this is a nature area so no fires, no pets (unless it’s your spouse), and don’t leave anything behind, not even your spouse.

9. Please be back by dark as we don’t want to send out a search party for you as they tend to party instead of searching for you.

10. Gates and reception open at 7am.