Enjoy a hike and guided tour
With just a few people taking part, there were three guides to three hikers most of the way.
The selected few who chose to go on the 8km Melville Koppies hike on March 6 were lucky to get a bit of a guided tour thrown in too.
ALSO READ: Enjoying the variety of Melville Koppies
With just a few people taking part, there were three guides to three hikers most of the way.
With one hiker training for the Otter Trail and burdened by a pack weighed down by coffee-table books, it was a chance to stop frequently to catch their breath.
Geologist and Melville Koppies guide Musarrat Safi had the chance to point out and explain one of the geological marvels on the Koppies.
The ancient granite and greenstone basement was formed 3.3 billion years ago.
A billion years ago, a massive meteorite hit the Earth, creating the Vredefort Dome (near Parys).
This event caused the overlying Wits quartzite rock to be tilted to the south, slipping downwards over the ancient granite and greenstone basement and exposing the rocks, which normally lie deep below our feet.
The extreme temperature and pressures created by the shearing of these two rock formations caused the alteration of minerals to form mica and kaolinite.
The contact between the basement and the Wits quartzites is not normally seen above ground.
Mica is used to make the shine in make-up and kaolinite to make glossy paper amongst their other uses.
Melville Koppies Central is open every Sunday between 08:00 and 11:30.
Choose from a 5km self-guided hike, a guided tour, which can be booked by contacting 079 532 0083, a 3km self-
guided heritage trail or just take a map and guide yourself along the extensive network of paths.
Join a guided 8km hike starting at 08:00 sharp on the first Sunday of the month.
Entry costs R80 for adults and R40 for children.
Income from the sale of tickets is used for the maintenance of the Koppies, which amounts to R22 000 per month.
Security on the Koppies is provided and visitors can park in secure parking opposite the entrance at Marks Park in Judith Road, Emmarentia.
For more information, contact wendavid@mweb.co.za or call 079 532 0083.
Also follow us on:
 
 
 
