Maalgat Trail #1: What’s The Rush?
The cache, a small camo-taped tablet pot, is hidden near the high point of this short flattish (with minor scrambling to reach the rock pool at the end) 750m there-and-back trail running along the north bank of the Matjiesrivier from Sanddrif to the famous and spectacular Maalgat rock pool.
Permits needed to access the trail are available from Dwarsrivier Cape Nature Office/Sanddrif Reception @ S 32 30.192 E 19 15.375.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat: 08:00-12:00 & 14:00-16:30; Sun & Public holidays 09:00-11:30 & 16:00-17:30. Closed Sundays, Easter and Christmas [027 482 2825]
From the parking area, it takes approx. 20 mins each way with the cache location about half way along. From the rocky traverse here, there are fine views up and down the river valley.
When the cache was placed on a warm autumn evening, the beautiful warm sunlight was highlighting the dense clumps of flowering Palmiet rush (see below) covering the riverbed and obscuring most of the river itself.
To Reach the Cache Location: For info and waypoints see GC9B7YT Holey Rocks! - the cache is hidden en route to this EarthCache.
The short Matjies river originates in the extensive vlei area (Die Vlei) at Driehoek fed by multiple small streams running down from the high mountains on either side of the valley. After some 5km or so the Driehoek River becomes the Matjies river just before passing through Sanddrif, then on down through the Maalgat rock pool.
It is joined by the Krom Rivier just before passing under/over (in flood) the main gravel road drift then continues down through a steep-sided gorge to join the Groot River near Die Mond on the edge of the Ceres Karoo.
Further on the Groot becomes the Doring river which flows down to meet the Tankwa river near Elandsvlei. This eventually and apparently ends (?) in the Oudebaaskraal Dam near Ceres in the Tankwa Karoo.
Palmiet (Prionium serratum) is a robust, evergreen, water-loving/semi-aquatic shrub with an important role in Western Cape river ecology. It is renowned for its practical attributes rather than looks, needs space to grow and can easily take over if not controlled.
It is found growing in large dense stands in marshy areas, streams, rivers and riverbanks on sandstone substrates from the Western Cape to the south of KwaZulu-Natal.
Several Western Cape rivers have been named after this species growing along their courses - two of the larger being the 74km Palmiet River which flows through the Elgin Valley and enters the Atlantic through an estuary between Betty's Bay and Kleinmond, and another with its source just west of Formosa Peak in the Tsitsikamma Mountains which joins the Keurbooms River.
Its genus name Prionium comes from the Greek prion meaning a ‘saw blade’ and refers to the leaf blades. The species name serratum refers to the toothed edges of the leaves.
It grows up to 2m high with a main stem diameter of 5-10cm usually covered with the dark brown, fibrous 
remains of old leaves. The leaves are stiff, leathery and pale grey-green, with toothed edges. They are lanceolate and are arranged spirally around the stem. Its small, brown flowers appear from September-February in a large branched inflorescence.
The plant plays an important ecological role in stabilizing river beds and banks from erosion especially during periods of high water flow. When palmiet is removed, streams may become choked by sediment and banks eroded by unchecked floodwater.
Uses: young flower shoots are broken off before flowering and eaten or used as a vegetable. Its leaves are used to weave baskets, hats and mats. It is also an organic engineering material which can be used as required for binding river banks, and splitting or channelling river water.
See here for more info on this important and useful plant and here for several photos.