Baken pupils had fun at the koppie

Pupils of the newly-formed Baken Akademie in Northwold (see previous article) went on a mini hike up the ‘koppie’ at Golden Harvest Park on 16 January.

The koppie is as old as ancient man, explained the group’s tour guide, Friends of Golden Harvest Park committee member Leon Bradley.

He pointed out the various trees and birds, while a child asked if there were lions in the park.

Although the park is home to innumerable wildlife, there are no lions, and the koppie is inhabited by mongoose, mole rats and field mice.

After 15 minutes of traversing indigenous foliage, the group reached the top of the koppie and admired the view of Randburg.

The experience was fun and educational, said the school’s principal Martin Gericke.

“Learning must always be fun,” he smiled. “If it is not fun then it is not learning.”

Bradley told the group, “The koppie is important because it is secluded from the rest of the park and does not have many invading plants. Almost everything is indigenous.”

He also said that the archaeology department at the University of the Witwatersrand once conducted a study of the koppie and found evidence that ancient man lived there.

Details: Baken Akademie www.bakenakademie.co.za