This cache is part of my “River Nile” series. If you want THAT to make sense, you need to read the description for “Sauce of the Nile” (GCB2PFQ)
There will be a Bonus Cache associated with this series. The information needed to locate the cache can be found on the logs of selected caches on the Oran Park side of Camden Valley Way. This section of the series is still being completed.
The Sudd is a vast swamp in South Sudan, part of the course of the White Nile. Originally meaning “barrier” or “obstruction” the name became identified with large floating islands of vegetation. As such, the “position” of channels is ever-changing, and today’s clearway can be tomorrow’s dead end leaving would-be travellers stumped.
For centuries, this huge wetland proved to be the impenetrable barrier to the discovery of the Nile’s source. The ancient Egyptians were stumped by the Sudd and failed to reach areas south of it, and in AD 61, an expedition of Roman soldiers dispatched with the same task by the Emperor Nero were similarly stumped.
After hundreds of years, someone had the idea to bypass the area altogether, by setting out from the opposite direction, exploring inland from the east coast of central Africa, hoping to avoid being stumped in the way earlier efforts had been.
The British explorer, John Hanning Speke, is credited with finally discovering the Nile’s source, having initially been stumped by illness, and hostile locals. However to simply say that is to grossly undersell what is a fascinating yarn.
If you are interested, the Youtube Interview with Candice Millard, author of the book “River of the Gods”, at the Library of Congress’s National Book Festival, is well worth a listen.
In modern times, the long-running civil war in Southern Sudan had a significant effect on the wildlife, and hence the whole ecosystem, of the Sudd. The plentiful supply of weapons meant park rangers efforts were stumped, and poaching went unchecked for many years. This has also had a rebound effect further downriver, and farmers efforts at crop production were stumped.
The best way to reach the cache when you park at the suggested WP is to walk across to the metal “snail” (also part of the “Gregory Hills Public Art” A.L.), continue past it, and enter the bush about 25 m further along. You will see a ‘trail’ of sorts a couple of metres down the slope. This can be used to access this cache as well as a way to reach "Sauce of the Nile". If you come to a large ants' nest in the way, you're on the right track!
Think “short straw loses”. Please own up to how many tries it took you.
FTF glory for Hillster. Celebrations!