Exploring the Source of the Diep

  ‘The river was our mother, and just as you would never harm your mother so we were careful never to harm the river. There was a lot of indigenous wisdom about the rivers’ - Sicelo Mbatha, reflecting on the values he learnt as a child.

This is the message of our Source to Sea project. The project aims to help young people to understand the value of rivers, to our ecosystem, our biodiversity, our physical and spiritual health. The Princess Vlei Forum has designed a workbook with a series of observational and reflective exercises to focus the learner’s journey to understanding rivers.
    A group of high school learners from Manenberg is joining us on a journey to study the length of the Diep River - at it’s source, at the point where it enters the Little Princess Vlei, when it has been canalised, and the estuary at Sandvlei when it enters the ocean.
     On March 29, fourteen teenagers from the Manenberg based ‘Brave Rock Girls’ organisation, went up to Cecilia Waterfall, which is near the source of the Diep River on Table Mountain. We set off on a misty morning, for many the first time they had walked on this iconic Cape Town mountain.

On the way up, we looked at the river, and noticed how it moved rapidly down the mountain, tumbling over the rocks and small waterfalls. We spoke about the indigenous trees growing nearby, and the impact of our history and colonialism on our rivers and forests.
      After an hour of uphill hiking, we reached the waterfall. This perennial waterfall is a perfect place to study moss forests, and the life they support such as the tiny Moss Frog. Learners studied the moss plants through magnifying ‘loupes’ to see the intricate and delicate foliage, and tried to identify the different plants.
      The outing was educational but above all a fun and energetic experience for all, giving learners a good insight into how the Diep River begins its journey to the sea. Further excursions will enable the learners to study the river at different stages of this journey.

• Photos by Robin Moodley and Bridget Pitt
• Thanks to the National Lotteries Commission for funding this project.