In search of the big tree {Tsitsikamma}

"But memories got left behind while you kept walking on; every time you had to retrace your steps further to return to your memories, and sometimes it was better not to turn back at all." 

- Dalene Matthee

Most South African school children are familiar with Dalene Matthee's work. An author, based in Knysna, she published historic novels of the forests around Knysna and Tsitiskamma in the Western Cape. Flip did 'Kringe in die Bos' in matric, while I did 'Fiela se Kind'. In the first book, it handled about a woodcutter and his relationship with an old elephant bull called Ou Poot. That's about as much as I know about the story. I think I should buy the book. Elephants used to roam free in the area and Flip kept saying that they might come out at any second from the undergrowth.

And looking at all the broken trees - more likely from trees than elephants - I couldn't help but thinking the same.

While driving through this picturesque area on our honeymoon, we saw something called the Big Tree. We decided to go and trek the tree. I think I'll let the pictures say the rest. It is so magical. So untouched.

This tree is estimated to be between 600 and 800 years old, 

stands 36,6 m tall and has a trunk circumference of 9 m.