History of Toti Ramblers

Toti Ramblers

Coming from Pietermaritzburg and being a regular Rambler, I found that Amanzimtoti had no similar group for me to join.  After 3 years of moaning I decided to see whether there would be a niche for a Rambling Club.  Eight people responded to my advert to meet at Lords and Legends to discuss the merits of starting a group.  Now 2 years on we have a core of approximately 50 regular ramblers and a data base with well over 100 names on it, who attend sporadically. 

This has far exceeded my expectations and I am very excited about the growth of the Club.  There is an annual Subscription fee of R25.00 to cover entrance fees into the various establishments for those who are unable to afford to pay,  and donations to worthy causes.

Every second Sunday, without fail, we meet at a different nature reserve.  The walk varies between  4 and 8 kilometres and the gradient changes with each location.  The Ramblers range from between 9 years old to close to 70 and the pace is adapted to a steady walk with regular catch up stops along the way.

During the past 2 years we have done Treasure Beach walk on the Bluff, as well as the walk from Toti to Isipingo Beach where we ended up  at the Beachwood Mangrove Swamps and were taken on a guided tour.  Inland we have traversed the Geiba Gorge, Paradise Valley, Kraantzkloof, Palmiet, New Germany, Bluff, Vernon Crooks, Oribi Gorge, Umdoni, Kenneth Steinbank, Empisini, Roosfontein, Silverglen and the TC Robertson Nature Reserves.  Some we have done twice.  Right on our doorstep is the wonderful reclaimed land which surrounds the Southgate Industrial Park.  This has been subdivided into Umgogavango and Vumbuku Nature Reserves and allows the public free access to safe walking and this has been utilised by us on a number of occasions  as well.

One does not need to be super fit to become a Toti Rambler – all you need is the desire to commune with nature, a fun personality and a love of walking.  Friendships have developed over the 2 years and after each walk one invariably finds groups sitting around in the shade, picnic baskets open, coffee on hand and laughter filling the air.  What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday morning!