PENGUINPOST29 - Flipbook - Page 28
Far preferring to be outdoors and enjoying
the wonders of nature, I quickly realised
that sitting behind a computer and actually
writing a book would take tremendous effort,
willpower and commitment on my part. To
this end, I approached a good friend and
fellow outdoor enthusiast, Lizet Meyer, for
help. She proved to have enough energy and
enthusiasm for the both of us and threw
herself at the project wholeheartedly, juggling
a very demanding career and a move to
Australia in the process. Without her total
dedication to the cause, this book would
never have seen the light of day.
It took many months of research, late
nights and the occasional butting of heads
to get all the information together. Once we
had thrashed out the contents of the guide,
we hiked the Fish River Canyon again on
short notice to make sure all the relevant
information in the book would be correct.
The help we received from the Penguin
team was extremely valuable. Since neither
26
THE PENGUIN POST MARCH/APRIL 2024
There are
very few
places left
in the world
where one
can just
disappear
off the
radar.
of us had written a book before, it took a lot of
editing and patience to get us to the finish line.
Essentially, the hiking fraternity in Southern
Africa is divided between people that have
hiked the Fish River, and people that are going
to hike the Fish River. Careful planning is an
essential prerequisite when such a venture
is undertaken. Our hope is that this book
will help many future hikers to better plan,
prepare and do the necessary training required
for the hike. Having the right gear, enough
food and, of course, ensuring you are able to
carry everything on your back takes careful
deliberation, and hopefully this book can be
vital in helping to guide prospective hikers.
There are very few places left in the world
where one can just disappear off the radar. Once
you begin your descent into the canyon, you are
completely cut off from the outside world. There
is no mobile reception anywhere on the hike, no
news comes in and no news gets out. There are
no facilities inside the canyon. You have with
you only that which you can carry on your back,