A 74-year-old hiker trapped in the remote and not-to-be-reckoned-with Elands River Mouth was rescued against every odd that made for one of the most trying and rewarding rescues.

Eastern Cape, South Africa (28 May 2025) — Against every odd, a 74-year-old senior hiker made it out of a remote gorge in the Eastern Cape thanks to a team who took a risk to save a life.

Last month, the senior hiker had taken a fall upstream of the Elands River Mouth, Grootkrans. She had fallen and injured herself hours before she could get in touch with help. However, this would be no ordinary rescue.

When NSRI Station Commander Lodewyk Van Rensburg got the call, he immediately knew it would be tough. Getting to the Elands River Mouth is its own mission, given the limited access by road. Once you do manage to get there, you’re met with a gorge boasting steep and sharp cliffs, not to mention a surf even the most ambitious water warriors avoid. Winds are also tough, and on a bad day, fog sets stubbornly, as was the case on the day of the rescue. Not to mention, nighttime was nearing.

All of these factors betted against the hiker’s survival, and all were present the day she needed help. However, the NSRI Oyster Bay team braved it all to pull off the unthinkable, bringing her home.

According to Lodewyk, winds were blowing at 30 knots while the sea climbed to 4 metres. No helicopter support was avaliable to the rescuers, so all they could rely on was their rescue craft and their courage.

“Luckily, we caught water going in,” Lodewyk shares of how the rescuers manager to get into the gorge via crossing a sandbank.

In the gorge, the team located the fallen hiker and had to swim her toward the rescue vessel using a backboard. This, because no paramedics could accompany the rescue team given the tough terrain that was decided not to be conducive for carrying gear.

Just when things were looking up, a new issue arose that made exiting its own challenge, the boat had gotten stuck on the sandbank, prohibiting a swift goodbye to the gorge.

“We stood there for 15 minutes. I asked the crew how they felt, and they said, ‘It’s now’, recalls Lodewyk. The team timed their run between wave swells to catch the right wave and get out. “The second wave broke underneath the boat. We only just made it.”

Hope was finally tangible again as the vessel made its way 12 nautical miles to shore.

At around 9pm, the rescue of a lifetime came to its end. With landing lights set up by Ian Gray of the NSRI’s Regional Operations Support Committee, light quite literally shone at the end of the tunnel.

The hiker was suspected to have spinal injuries and hints of hypothermia. However, her chances of survival were hugely influenced by the work of the brave people who risked their own safety that day.

“To be quite honest, I think the risk that we took was very high,” Lodewyk said of heading out into the gorge. “But when the doctor told us that if we hadn’t taken her out that night, she may not have made it — it kind of changed the whole perspective.”

This rescue is considered one of the most demanding rescue operations in recent times for NSRI Station 36 Oyster Bay. But, it should also be considered one of their proudest!

Sources: NSRI 

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Getting Out of the Gorge: Senior Hiker Rescued Against Every Odd  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A devastating mass poisoning event impacted numerous vultures in the Kruger National Park. But heroes and hope prevailed when many of the birds’ lives were saved. Now, 18 vultures have successfully been released!

Kruger National Park, South Africa (19 May 2025) — Earlier this month, a devastating mass poisoning event impacted vultures in the Kruger National Park.

After suspicious activity was flagged in a remote section of the park early on 6 May, the heartbreaking scene revealed itself with hundreds of vultures affected. Thanks to the joint teamwork of SANParks rangers and Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) officials, along with support teams from Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Briner Veterinary Services and Wildscapes Veterinary Service, 84 vultures were able to be rescued alive.

The poisoning is said to have been the result of an elephant carcass laced with highly toxic agrochemical pesticides, poison laid by poachers to harvest body parts for the illegal wildlife trade. This event is shorthand for the rising threat of poison poaching that is impacting wildlife across Southern Africa.

However, heroes who acted quickly and the hope that guided their efforts have prevailed. In a good news update from the terrible event, the first group of vulture survivors were successfully released back into the wild on 15 May following incredible rehabilitation work.

As the Endangered Wildlife Trust shared along with video confirmation of the release, “these birds are among the survivors of one of the most severe vulture poisoning events ever recorded in South Africa. Their release marks a key milestone in a larger recovery effort still underway.”

The clip of the vultures flying high once more is a powerful visual. It’s a reminder that even when tragedy strikes, it does not dictate the end of the story.

Watch: 18 Vultures Fly High Once Again

Sources: Endangered Wildlife Trust 

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post First Survivors Released into the Wild Post-Mass Poisoning Event  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A micro-film is spotlighting the Black Mambas, a fierce group of women who work in the Kruger to protect our wildlife.

Kruger National Park, South Africa (13 May 2025) — They’re the boots on the ground when trouble strikes. The snare removers who save wild lives, and the women showing young girls that there is more than enough room at the table for women to protect the future of our natural heritage. The Black Mambas are legendary in more ways than one, and now a new micro-film is giving us a glimpse into the mind of a Mamba!

The Black Mambas, an all-female anti-poaching unit formed in 2013, have been a longstanding source of inspiration to their communities. These fearless women have defied initial scepticism, operating without firearms to protect wildlife, and have successfully saved numerous animals from the deadly snares of poachers.

Some of their team have gone on to earn incredible acknowledgements, like Sergeant Nkateko Letti Mzimba, who won the Conservation ‘Oscar’ for Best Field Ranger in Africa, while the team as a whole have supported countless efforts of good for conservation, from their daily doings as rangers to educational awareness for the next generation. 

The micro-film by Wisani Ngwenya puts two Black Mambas into the spotlight: Leitah Mkhabela (Black Mambas Supervisor) and Malongani Naledi (a Crime Prevention Unit Sergeant).

In a short but impactful clip, the two women share what led them to the Black Mambas, what challenges they face and an insight into their brave mindsets.

As Leitah shares, the greater mission of the Mambas is to make the Greater Kruger a harder place for poachers to poach. She was inspired to join the unit after learning of its male-dominated underpinnings and wanted to be one of the trailblazing women protecting animals!

Malongani was drawn to the Mambas because of the rhinos. She didn’t just want to be any hero, but rather one who protects the precious species.

Of course, this is a field of challenges. It’s dangerous, demanding and not for the faint of heart. The Mambas shared that consistent challenges range from elephants chasing them to finding animals trapped in snares. But, as both explain, they are trained for it all.

What was incredible to watch, was the passion both Mambas spoke with, and the humility. These are women who are contributing to a better future for our wildlife every day—through their hands-on work for wildlife, the education initiatives via the Bush Babies Programme and by inspiring more women to break the glass ceiling. Yet, they were remarkably humble in the way that all good leaders are. Indeed, not all heroes wear capes; some (in this case) wear camouflage.

“Being a Black Mamba, it means I’m unique and I’m beautiful. And I’m a woman; I’m a mother. I have a little girl and she shares with me the love or the motherhood with the animals…so that makes me a Mother of the Earth.”—Leitah Mkhabela.

Watch: Micro-film Gives a Glimpse Into the Mind of a Mamba

Sources: YouTube; GTG 

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Watch: Micro-film Gives a Glimpse Into the Mind of a Mamba appeared first on Good Things Guy.

84 vultures have been rescued from a devastating case of poisoning in the Kruger National Park thanks to joint team efforts:

Kruger National Park, South Africa (08 May 2025) — Thanks to an incredible effort, 84 vultures have been rescued from a devastating case of poisoning in the Kruger National Park’s Mahlangeni Section.

The joint teamwork of SANParks rangers and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) officials saw the birds saved within hours after the EWT’s pioneering wildlife poisoning surveillance and detection system.

The alert, triggered at 06:05 am on 6 May flagged suspicious activity in a remote section of the park, and by 08:20, the teams arrived on site.

What they arrived to was a grim and heartbreaking scene—a mass poisoning event that impacted hundreds of vultures. The poisoning was the result of an elephant carcass laced with highly toxic agrochemical pesticides—poison laid by poachers to harvest body parts for the illegal wildlife trade.

As SANParks and the EWT stated in a joint statement, the incident is one of the largest seen in the park. 116 Vultures were found dead at the scene.

But, all was not lost thanks to the SANParks and EWT boots on the ground. They quickly treated birds that were sick but still alive with emergency vulture first aid (atropine, activated charcoal, and fluid therapy) whilst waiting for reinforcements.

Support teams came from the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Briner Veterinary Services and Wildscapes Veterinary Services. SANParks also activated ranger and aerial support that included the Hope for Wildlife helicopter. This was the first time that SANParks’ choppers were used formally in a wildlife poisoning rescue at such a scale.

Ultimately, 84 vultures (White-backed, Cape and Hooded) were rescued alive. 45 were transported by the EWT’s vulture ambulance while 39 more were airlifted to the SANParks K9 facility in Phalaborwa for immediate monitoring. The final group of vulture survivors were transported to Moholoholo later that evening.

The Growing Threat of Poison Poaching

Shares SANParks and the EWT:

“This horrific incident is part of a broader crisis unfolding across southern Africa: the escalating use of poisons in wildlife poaching. Poachers increasingly using agricultural toxins to target high-value species—not just vultures, but also lions, whose body parts are in growing demand for traditional medicine or muthi.

“This incident is a setback to the vulture population in the Greater Kruger Landscape which is trying to recover from similar incidents in the past. SANParks is collaborating with various agencies and institutions to address the current increase in particularly poisoning incidents.

“The latest operation highlights the importance of partnerships in addressing this problem. The recovery and treatment of the live vultures would not have been possible if such partnerships were not in place.We commend every individual who responded to this tragedy. Their courage, skill, and relentless commitment transformed a potential extinction-level event into one of the most successful vulture rescues ever recorded. The operation saw helicopters making multiple trips between the incident site and Phalaborwa throughout the day to assist with the movement of the vultures.”

Sources: Media Release

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post 84 Vultures Rescued From Mass Poisoning in the Kruger National Park  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

While we were hunting for Easter eggs and soaking up family time, South Africa’s real heroes were out saving lives… sacrificing their holidays to keep the rest of us safe.

South Africa (21 April 2025) – While many of us spent the Easter weekend sharing laughs over roast lamb, dodging chocolate hangover, and soaking up some much-needed downtime, there were South African heroes who didn’t get to press pause.

They were on the roads. In ambulances. On the other end of emergency calls. They were the first responders, doing the most, behind the scenes, while the rest of us enjoyed a break.

As the country begins to wind down from the long weekend, it’s worth taking a moment to recognise the men and women of all our emergency services who spent the holidays running towards the things most of us run from.

“Being a paramedic is more than administering medication or stabilising a fracture,” says Craig Grindell, managing director of Netcare 911 and a seasoned paramedic with over 30 years on the job.

“It’s about having the compassion to connect with someone in their moment of greatest need, the courage to face unimaginable scenes and the commitment to put others first.”

And it’s not just Easter. Or long weekends. Or public holidays. The reality is this: emergencies don’t follow calendars. This is why many emergency operations centres are fully staffed, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year, ready to offer expert guidance and have calm, steady voices until help arrives.

So, what does it take to be one of these everyday superheroes?

According to Grindell, it’s not just the technical know-how, solid training, or lightning-fast reflexes. It’s something deeper: “What truly sets a paramedic apart is the sense of vocation and the deep-seated desire to serve others… resilient people who can think on their feet and handle rapidly evolving situations.”

And serve they do. Whether it’s giving up family time to respond to a collision, or calmly walking someone through CPR over the phone, these responders are always ready.

“Each emergency services member is fully prepared to make the sacrifice of missing their child’s Easter egg hunt to be on the scene of a serious accident,” Grindell says.

“That’s the commitment we’re talking about.”

If you ever find yourself in an emergency, Grindell wants to remind South Africans that Netcare 911 is just a phone call away (dial 082 911) or, better yet, download the Netcare App.

“It includes location tracking, emergency call features, and even a callback option within 60 seconds.”

But they’re not the only ones looking after us. Here are five other essential emergency apps and numbers worth downloading or saving today:

ER24 – 084 124
App: ER24 Emergency App
Offers direct access to emergency medical services, including geolocation features.

South African Police Service (SAPS) – 10111
App: MySAPS App
Lets users report crimes, find stations, and stay informed.

Fire and Rescue Services (Nationwide) – 10177
Most municipalities use this as the direct emergency number for fire-related incidents and medical emergencies. Save it. It could save a life.

Arrive Alive – 0861 400 800
App: Arrive Alive Road Safety
Offers road safety tips, incident reporting, and accident assistance.

Namola – App only
A brilliant community safety app that lets you share your location and call for help at the tap of a button. Links you directly to emergency services or community responders.

Grindell also reminds South Africans how crucial it is to stay on the line during an emergency: “Never hang up on the emergency operator and stay on the line for instructions or directions until the ambulance arrives. We can guide you through what to do to assist the person in need.”

And to all the emergency services teams out there, from SAPS and firefighters to nurses, doctors, dispatchers, and those quiet heroes behind the wheel of an ambulance, this one’s for you.

You may not wear capes. But you carry lives.

And we see you.

Thank you.

Sources: Netcare | ER24 | SAPS | Fire and Rescue Services | Arrive Alive | Namola 

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post While We Rested, They Responded: Honouring South Africa’s Emergency Heroes! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

When one bodyboarding Kowie Granny Grommet’s morning adventures led her into a rip current, a man who attempted to rescue her soon found himself being pulled out to sea with her. Luckily for both the Granny Grommets, help in the nick of time was on their 2025 bingo cards.

Port Alfred, South Africa (15 April 2025) — A Friday morning dip and dive at Port Alfred’s East Beach quickly turned into something more dire after two Kowie Granny Grommets found themselves caught up in a rip current.

It’s believed that the female Kowie Granny Grommet (the Granny Grommets are a fun-loving community in which more mature folk partake in surfing activities), had ended up in the rip current first while she was bodyboarding. As for the 67-year-old man who was pulled out to sea alongside her, well, he’d initially gone out with good intentions to rescue his bodyboarding pal (something you should never do without a pink rescue buoy handy or without experience).

At around 9 am that morning, eyewitnesses became concerned that there was a drowning in progress, leading a fellow Granny Grommet to alert the NSRI Port Alfred and its corresponding duty crew to help.

The NSRI’s station 11 rescue base quickly fell into form and immediately launched their rescue craft, Rescue Alpha, whilst rescue swimmers made their way to East Beach with haste.

In mere minutes, the rescue swimmers were ready to assist, and could see the pair caught up in the surf zone as the rip currents pulled them out to sea.

Acting quickly, the NSRI crew pulled both parties out of their plight in record speed, bringing them back to shore to medically assess them.

While everyone breathed a big sigh of relief to see the duo find their land legs again, the NSRI made sure to let the larger group of Grommets know that they were actually at a part of the beach where rip currents are prevalent. The Grommets group made a small move to a safer spot and continued their activities.

Life Hacks: Handling a Rip Current

As shared by the NSRI:

• The first thing to do is to understand if you’re actually in the presence of a rip current.
• These currents are often a different colour to the surrounding sea, and tend to have choppy waters in their channels.
• If you’ve found yourself caught up, don’t desperately race against the current no matter how much of a Chad Le Clos you think you are. Either swim slowly or let the current carry you past the breakers. The good news? The current won’t pull you under its grasp if you’re able to keep yourself afloat.
• Remember, life is like a river, and that sentiment holds a lot of weight if you’re ever in a rip current:

“Take note from looking at the beach of the direction that the current is pulling you, think of it like a river and remember to get out of a river you would swim to the river bank. This means that in a rip current you should swim at 90 degrees to the direction that you are being pulled and then use the waves to help you get back to the beach.”—NSRI.

• Wave for help so that lifeguards can see you’re in trouble.

Helping Someone Else

• If you see someone struggling and there are no professional helpers nearby, look out for the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy, or something that can float. In some cases, these can float out to the struggle area.
• Still, getting help from a lifeguard or calling the NSRI is always a safer bet.
• Pro tip: The Pink Rescue Buoy signs have emergency numbers on them for you to call for help!
• Extra pro tip: Once again, don’t attempt any Olympic swimmer stunts in trying to rescue someone else if you have no training or a Pink Rescue Buoy at hand. This could mean two people in danger and one less to call for help if you venture in untrained.

Sources: NSRI; GTG

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Kowie Granny Grommets Rescued From Rip Currents in Port Alfred  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A life-sized, bronze statue of the late legend Johnny Clegg has joined the likes of Nelson Mandela and OR Tambo in the Long March to Freedom exhibition!

Cape Town, South Africa (28 March 2025) — The Long March to Freedom’s heroes in bronze have welcomed another legend to join them in their immortalised march: the late Johnny Clegg.

Clegg’s life-sized, bronze statue was unveiled yesterday, 27 March, at the Century City landmark and the world’s greatest exhibition in bronze.

Here, Clegg’s statue took its rightful place in South Africa’s history and the story of our fight for democracy.

What is the Long March to Freedom?

The Long March to Freedom is a unique and monumental procession of life-size bronze statues, each of which depicts freedom fighters who never gave up the idea of a liberated South Africa. It tells a story of South Africa that spans 350 years; boasting the company of everyone from Khoi leaders who ruled hundreds of years ago, proud Zulu and Xhosa kings and those who led South Africa to light during our fiercest fight for freedom including Nelson and Winnie Mandela, Beyers Naude, Albert Luthuli, OR Tambo and now, Johnny Clegg.

Johnny Clegg’s Role as an Activist

Many know the artist for his music, but Clegg was far more than a talented songster. Born in England in 1953 and raised in South Africa, Clegg became deeply involved in Zulu culture. As a young man, he defied apartheid and the separation it stood for by forming multi-racial bands like Savuka and Juluka. This defiance was not taken lightly by the apartheid regime, which inflicted deep censorship.

However, Clegg’s voice couldn’t be silenced. His songs, Asimbonanga and Scatterings of Africa, boomed as anthems of unity and still give fans goosebumps to this day.

Beyond the music, Clegg was an unapologetic advocate for social justice. He used his success to challenge the government and promote racial reconciliation, and lived long into the days of a democratic South Africa.

The legend passed away in 2019, passing the baton on to a new generation of changemakers.

“Including Johnny Clegg in Long March to Freedom is a tribute to the social transformation artists can generate through their work” says Dali Tambo, CEO of the National Heritage Project NPC, developers, owners, and operators of the Long March to Freedom.

“Johnny was an exceptional individual; known as the ‘White Zulu’ he bridged cultures with his music, he used it as a weapon of resistance, he challenged injustice, and proved that music transcends all divides. His music was a rallying cry and a message of unity, resistance and hope during some of South Africa’s darkest days. Johnny’s spirit lives on today, not just in the music he created, but in the hearts of those he inspired.”

The sculpture was created by Cape Town artists Barry Jackson and Xhanti Mpakama and was cast by Loup Fine Art Foundry in White River, Mpumalanga.

Sources: Nina Jones/ National Heritage NPC

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Life-Sized Bronze Statue of Johnny Clegg Joins Long March to Freedom Heroes appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Two German travellers unintentionally extended their visit to Table Mountain’s trails well past bedtime recently. But, thanks to the Wilderness Search And Rescue team, the late-night misadventure turned into a successful homecoming.

Cape Town, South Africa (18 March 2025) — Two German hikers unintentionally took the path less travelled while exploring Table Mountain recently, leading to a late-night rescue and, hopefully, important lessons learned.

The hikers had decided to take the India Venster trail—a challenging route, but one that’s doable when you know where to go and can see your way in the light of day. Unfortunately for the pair, a wrong turn took them to unfamiliar territory that would later require a late-night rescue that reached into the early hours of the morning.

“Roughly halfway up the trail, they lost their way and mistakenly crossed over Kloof Corner Ridge onto the Grotto Fountain Cairn Traverse,” explained the Wilderness Search and Rescue, who helped the hikers get home.

The team added that the hikers ended all the way up at Cairn Buttress (which is above Camps Bay) before they realised their wrong turn.

Before 9 pm, the hikers lodged a call for help. The Wilderness Search and Rescue team quickly rallied to the rescue, jumping into what would become a lengthy mission.

Ferried up to the Upper Cable Station, the ‘rescue’ cable car helped the team find the tourists. However, finding the tourists turned into something of a wild goose hunt. Several hours passed until the hikers were finally located just ahead of 2 am where they were greeted with torches for the dark and the warmth of a relieved team.

After being guided down the Lower Cable Station, the late-night rescue (or early-morning rescue at this point) was signed off as done and dusted at 3:47 am.

While everyone involved made it down safe and sound, spokesperson David Nel urges the lesson in the misadventure.

“We want to remind all outdoor enthusiasts that the seasons are changing and ask them to plan accordingly,” David says.

“Start any outdoor activities earlier remembering that the sun sets earlier as the seasons start to change. Pack a torch and an extra warm layer of clothing before venture outdoors. Most importantly, ensure you save the correct emergency number and don’t wait, call us sooner—021 937 0300.”

You can support the WSAR here. 

Sources: WSAR

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Late Night Rescue Mission Saves Table Mountain’s Stranded  appeared first on Good Things Guy.