Fish Eagle

Badplaas - nope. Oldest one - yep. 75,000 years old which puts it as Old Stone Age (Paleolithic), and probably the oldest known man-made structure on earth.

You're on the right track - it is an ancient calendar, but not Iron Age. That's good enough for the "what" part of the question. Still need "where" - I'm looking for the town name that it's nearest to. And "why is it so special".

Lets have an Mpu question (that's a clue) What and where is "Adam's Calendar", and why is it so special?

Quentin Smythe - Danie Theron Combat School, Discobolos, near Kimberley. He was a lieutenant then, and was my company commander for 3 months. Phew, I wasn't expecting my wild guess to be anywhere near correct, so I haven't got anything ready. Puts thinking cap on.......

I guess 20. I served under a VC for a while in 1970 - what a great guy!!

The Lowveld is seriously geo-asleep at the moment, so we've put together two back-to-back events on Saturday 22nd August and Sunday 23rd August, to try to wake it up a bit. The Saturday Event, Garden of Eden Get-Together, is in the amazing Lowveld National Botanical Gardens, and starts at 11am until closing time at 5pm. The gardens include the Nelspruit Cascades Waterfall, the gorge below, and the confluence of the Crocodile and Nels rivers. We are going to advertise this event in the social column of our local newspaper, and on Radio Jacaranda, so we hope to attract some new players too. The Sunday Event, Mpakeni Event, is in the Crocodile Gorge mountains about 25kms east of Nelspruit. It's a get-together at 12:00 for a braai at a private farmhouse (not the same place as the previous Gorgeous Gorge events), preceded by a hike to the summit of Mpakeni, which is optional, and leaves at 08:30 from the farmhouse. The hike is somewhat easier than the gorge hike, and starts and ends at the farmhouse (phew, no transport arrangements). We'll ascend from the west, and return via the granite mine which is a prime example of how man can mess up a pristine environment, but very interesting nevertheless. It's a very special hike, with incredible unspoilt nature (except for the mine), and stunning views from the top over the gorge. Expect a 3 hour hike with a climb of about 250-300m, and lots of big round boulders. As mentioned in the listing, there is a small element of risk because there have been wild lion and leopard sightings there recently. Please consider joining us for a weekend of fun in the sLowveld.

Interesting question. As far as I know, there's nothing specific in any guidelines about TB's with agendas. There's also nothing about cache content with an agenda. So, as a reviewer I can't comment. However, as a player, on both of those aspects, I'd take guidance from the following statement in the Cache Listing Guidelines which I believe demonstrates Groundspeak's sentiment.... (but that's just my opinion) Groundspeak tries to control the game as little as possible, and the rules & guidelines that exist came about through issues and problems in the past. I would think that the absence of a guideline doesn't necessarily mean that it's 100% OK, rather that it hasn't become a big enough issue to have to do something about it. On the other hand, you mentioned Unite for Diabetes TBs which have an agenda, and are fully supported by Groundspeak. You decide - I think it's one of those areas that the community will apply pressure and exercise control if something pushes the bubble too far.

It's been DISCONTINUED! Big fuss going on in the main forums (linky) Apparently it caused too much server load. All number of suggestions are being made, but all to no avail. Very sad. Please see the announcement on the general forum made a short while ago.....

Yes, it can be frustrating. I clean them up when I spot them, but they should be marked as "missing" by the trackable owner, or the cache owner. That moves them to an "unknown" location. If they turn up at a later date, then the finders just "grab" them. TB Graveyards are outlawed. The above procedure is the right way.

I think it's a programming language created by Mark Shuttleworth...?

Hi CH, Not often that I get caught "in the act" on the Forum The sLowveld's cool, very cool, actually so cool, it's cold.... Roll on spring!!

Latest Update 02/07/2009 - Changes are in BLUE NO-GO AREAS: (MPU/LIM) Kruger National Park - No physical geocaches are permitted, but earthcaches and virtual waypoints of multi/mystery caches within the park are OK, provided that they do not encourage breaking any of the park's rules which can be found here, and provided that they contain educational content. Earthcaches have blanket permission, and it's not necessary to ask for specific permission for each earthcache. Feel free to refer to this post when submitting your earthcache listing. (GAU) Randparkridge, NW Johannesburg, the little park by the dam, approx S26°06.248 E027°56.903. The residents insisted on removal of a cache after an incident, and no new placements are permitted without obtaining specific and verifiable permission. (EC) Van Stadens River Bridge - The bridge is under CCTV surveillance, and any unusual activity on the bridge could provoke police response. INTERIM RESTRICTIONS: (No new physical geocaches while land use negotiations are imminent or in progress) All SANParks reserves other than the KNP, excluding the public areas of Table Mountain National Park, but including the restricted access areas of TMNP (Cape Point, Boulders & Silvermine) All other game reserves in South Africa which have restrictions about alighting from vehicles. After consultation with various local cachers and my overseas collegues, I've decided to lift the above self-imposed interim restrictions which have been in effect for the past 7 months. I do however ask that geocaches be created in an ecologically responsible manner, and that all local rules be meticulously observed. GEOCACHES PERMITTED BUT PERMISSION MUST BE SOUGHT FOR EACH PLACEMENT: (MPU) Lowveld National Botanical Gardens - Contact the curator Avhatakali (Taki) Mamatsharaga on 013-7525531 or email mamatsharaga (at) sanbi.org (KZN) Empisini Nature Reserve near Umkomaas - The reserve's management committee require obtaining their permission before placing any caches. (GAU) City of Tshwane parks - They are supportive of geocaching, but permission must be sought for each placement. Contact: johnc1 (at) tshwane.gov.za All existing geocaches on their properties are in the process of being inspected, and will either "legalised", or removed if they deem it undesirable. This applies to the following properties under their control - Rietvlei Nature Reserve and fishing area at the dam, Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Fearie Glen Nature Reserve, Wonderboom Nature Reserve, Bishop bird park (Rooihuiskraal area), Austin Roberts bird sanctuary, Boardwalk bird sanctuary, Chaimberlain bird sanctuary, Strubendam bird sanctuary, Techno Park bird sanctuary, Moreletakloof Nature Reserve, Pierre van Rhyneveld Nature area, Luton Valley bird sanctuary, Fonteinedal leisure resort, Moretele leisure resort (Mamelodi), Derdepoort leisure resort, Joos Becker Caravan Park, Rooiwal leisure resort (near the Rooiwal powerstation), Klipkruisfotein leisure resort (Soshanguve), Ga-Mothakga leisure resort (Atteridgeville, next to Church street extension - west), Kwaggaspruit leisure resort (Corner of Quagga west and Trans Oranje in Pretoria West), Zwartkops leisure resort, Rooihuiskraal leisure resort (Rooihuiskraal historical grounds), Findel park (Centurion area), The reeds (Centurion area), Hennops river, Quaggasrand (Laudium area), Panorama park (Centurion area), Raslouw park (Centurion area), Sunderland ridge (Centurion area), Colbyn valley (in the East), Lucas rand, Frank Struben Bird sanctuary, Magaliesberg range, Chaimberlains, Klapperkop, Zandfontein At this stage, Rietvlei Nature Reserve remains highly sensitive, but with proper discussions directly with the management, a new cache in that area can be possible. This will be one area that they will hide their own caches to show the rest of the geocaching community some history and awareness of nature. This is a locked thread for information purposes and will be updated as required. This thread has been opened for discussion on these topics, and I invite you to contribute. Tips: Hiding a Cache in Africa

Good idea!! It goes a bit further than just that documentation....mmmm. There are another 2 in the pipeline. Let me think a bit about what will work best in the long term.....

You're it!! "Royal Game" was what I was looking for. Swaziland is very serious about the concept of "royal game", which combined with an innate respect of the monarchy by native Swazis, and stiff penalties, results in one of the lowest incidences of poaching in Africa. For interest, here's the applicable section of the 1991 amendment Act which illustrates how serious they are: Unlike many Acts which state a maximum penalty, note that there are minimum penalties here too...

Umm, nope - not quite what I'm looking for, but you're getting warmer..... The answer I want is two words - it's a very specific name for that list of animals, and it's defined in the definitions at the beginning of the applicable Act. Here's some more info - maybe clues, maybe not..... The above list comes out of the original Act which was legislated in 195? That's when the two word name came into use in that context. However, the Act was amended in 199? Some animals were added, others removed, and the original list was split into two lists This could indicate a change of policy/heart/thinking on the part of the legislators Or adapting to changing worldwide views The two word name now applies to the second list The two words are English 1953 definition - "word1 word2" means any animal or bird, which is named in the First Schedule other than a domesticated animal or bird; 1991 definition - "word1 word2" means any animal or bird which is named in the Second Schedule of this Act or any part of any such animal or bird;

Ummm, nope - not the right answer. But you're sort of getting closer. If nobody's got it by this evening, I'll give a clue in the form of a set of co-ords

Nope. Interestingly, you'll see giraffe on the list, but not wildebeest, hippo's on it, but not croc, duiker's on, but not bushbuck,etc - huh...?

Nope. BTW, "intentionally omitted" means omitted by the legislators, not by me. This is the complete list as itemised in the Act.

Whoop, whoop!! That's COOL!! Yes, that's the one - we drove past it about a year ago, and it's very, very impressive. Hate to have to climb it though..... Thanks to Mrs FE for prodding my memory (she's actually a lot sharper than I am!!) OK, here's our question...... The following list of animals is long, but very specific. Many animals are included, but many are intentionally omitted. This list is enacted in legislation. This list has a very specific name - what name?

How about Swaziland, just north of Mbabane? I remember driving past an enormous outcrop, and wondering why there isn't a cache right on top yet...?

Not a silly question at all. The answer is yes, if the event complies with the event listing guidelines You'll probably need some local help with selecting the venue, making the arrangements, and taking co-ords for the location. Enjoy your trip!! CT has many amazing caches. Your only problem will be selecting which to hunt. Edited to add: Highly recommended is the oldest active cache in SA. It's about a 6 kms easy hike there and back if I remember correctly, but if you're typical geocachers then call that 8 kms because you'll probably return via the skyline path and pick up a few more caches on the way back...

If the cache location has only moved a small distance, and it's still essentially the same cache, then I recommend updating the original listing. If the cache has moved a substantial distance, and has a different focal point, then I recommend a new listing. Try to see it from previous finders' point of view - will the new location show them something different, or will it just be a case "been there, and done that already"? With this cache, it could go either way, so you decide what you'd like to do. If you want to update the co-ords and listing, then you can change the name by editing your listing. If the co-ords change is less than 160m, you can do it yourself with a log entry. Remember to tick the little box which says "has a waypoint" then it'll allow you to enter the new co-ords. If more than 160m, I need to do it - just send me the GC-number and the new co-ords and I'll sort it out. Hope this helps.

Ngwenya Glass, Swaziland. Close to an amazing but seldom visited cache Lion Cavern PM sent.

100% correct.It's an outing, not a publishable event. You're welcome to take anyone caching with you anywhere, anytime. The guidelines apply to an event listing. It is an agenda. The acid test is: - Why only disadvantaged children? Why not all children? - Why only children? Why not pensioners? Any age group? As soon as there's a focus or specific attention to a group, anywhere within the scope of "religious, political, charitable or social", then it's an agenda. Draw a line through disadvantaged, draw a line through children, then you can draw a line through agenda.

Phew!! I think I should say something about your ideas before the planning goes too far..... Sadly, what you're intending won't be a publishable geocaching event. There are 3 issues with something like that - 1. Underprivileged children is an agenda. No matter how worthy the cause is, the fact that it is a cause makes it a violation of the solicitation/agenda guideline which says "Solicitations are off-limits. For example, caches perceived to be posted for religious, political, charitable or social agendas are not permitted. Geocaching is supposed to be a light, fun activity, not a platform for an agenda." 2. The primary purpose of a geocaching event should be geocachers socialising. If the primary purpose is to take underprivileged children caching, or to recruit muggles, etc, it's not a geocaching event. Sure, you may invite underprivileged children and muggles to an event, but that cannot be the primary purpose of the event, nor can it be mentioned on the event page. 3. What you're intending sounds like an organised cache hunt, but I'm not sure. Temporary event caches and caches hidden specifically for an event and published afterwards are normally OK, but having an event to hunt existing caches is not allowed. Please see the event cache guidelines. That would be my view of what you're planning, based on the guidelines and the limitations of my mandate. You are welcome to apply direct to Groundspeak for special permission by emailing "contact (at) geocaching.com" or to contact me off-line to discuss your options.