Rivulets (K 8)

Name: Rivulets

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Historic fact:

Other interesting info:



The parish consists of the following communities: beginning in the far East in Matsulu Township we have two communities, the community of St Joseph, which is located in Section A of the township and Matsulu B & C community (they worship in a school called Sibusisiwe High School) which cater mainly for Section B and partly Section C.1 We then move to the Greater Kanyamazane area, which consist of the following township or locations: Lekazi, Msogwaba, Daantjie, Mpakeni, Lupisi areas. We have three communities in the greater Kanyamazane area, namely Holy Cross in Lekazi, St Stephen’s in Msogwaba Trust and St Bernard in Daantjie Trust.


We move towards town where at Crocodile Valley there is a community called Mayfern. We have a worshipping community there and they worship in a school building. In Nelspruit town we have the community of St Peter’s which is located in the Sonpark area, not far from the Civic Centre. The priest house is also located in this community. 7 km from town toward the west is another community called Mataffin. The community has a church building in which they worship. Further west about 30km at the Sudwala Cave turn off from the N4 is another farm community called Rivulets. They too are a small community but have a building for worship. On the Schoemanskloof turn off about 10km from the turn off is another farm community called Mashobotho. They worship in a former school class which is now used for church purposes. Further on the N4 west is the last community of the parish called Elandshoek. They worship in a school 2km from the turn off on the N4.

http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache:hWyUBFOsLCsJ:nelspruitcatholic.org/.%255CDownloads%255Cdocument%2520for%2520website.doc+Rivulets&cd=8&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=za

Where to stay:

Day three
I was on the bike at 5.30am and cycled leisurely down the tar road to the N4. I turned left and rode almost 2km towards Nelspruit before turning off to Rivulets Station. The bridge over the Crocodile River is at 720m above sea level -- the lowest altitude on the trip. You turn right on the other side of the railway line -- the main line to Maputu -- and follow the service road for the railway, first on one side of the line, then on the other. Every now and then the railway goes through a tunnel while you pass around the hill. One halt is intriguingly called Reception.

After a stretch next to the N4, the path crosses the railway line and heads for the mountains -- away from the road and the railway. There's a row of asbestos-cement houses and at the end of them a beautiful waterfall and a big sign saying "Starvation Creek Game Reserve" and "No Entry". After wondering for a moment whether there the starvation had anything to do with the row of asbestos cement houses, I ignored the "No Entry" to find a rather overgrown path going off to the right. There's a lot of climbing to be done, but this is beautiful country with all manner of bushveld and natural forest.

Just before 25km from Mankele I made a mistake at a Y junction, following the more obvious road to the right. It was soon clear that this would not bring me to the track I could see on the hillside ahead, and I corrected the error, following a muddy, seldom-travelled path. Just before 30km I went wrong again, turning left on a road along the slope of the mountain. Only after quite a distance did I turn around, ride right through the ruins of what must have been some lookout sitting on a promontory, and follow the correct road, thus losing almost all the height I had gained.

After climbing almost back to the same level, I got to a point with a beautiful view of the Crocodile River and the N4 snaking through the mountains towards Gauteng.

The next 12km is a long climb, mostly through plantations, but very pleasant. Eventually one gets to a grassy plateau surrounding Kaapsehoop, with sandstone formations, and sparse clutches of trees such as Protea, Aloe and Waterberry. The interesting routes I had planned on Google Earth for the last few kilometres to Kaapsehoop came to nothing, and by 1pm I was in town. I booked into the guest house where I had made arrangements and was served some sandwiches. I showered, rested and explored the town. It is small but very touristy and quite attractive. One of the several herds of wild horses in the area had invaded the town and were begging carrots from tourists. There are places to eat pancakes or have a drink, and a footpath to the escarpment leading through a very interesting collection of sandstone formations.

By late afternoon it had started raining heavily. I looked at the weather report, which predicted heavy rain. It was clear that riding would be out the next day. I arranged with Neels, who owns the Kaapschehoop Guesthouse with his wife Ria, to take me to Badplaas the next day, and went to bed.

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-01-18-cycling-from-ohrigstad-to-chrissiesmeer