Update on Member + Guest Access to MCSA Properties
At this year’s AGM, members voted overwhelmingly in support of clarifying the Member + Guest Benefit. We’d like to thank everyone who participated and now want to share what this means going forward.
The intention of this benefit has always been to allow members to introduce friends, family, or prospective members to our properties—on an occasional basis. It was never meant to serve as a workaround for repeated access without membership.
Going forward, the following updates are in effect:
Guest Access is Limited: Any individual guest may accompany a member up to three times per year.
Guest Liability Waiver is Mandatory: All guests must complete and submit a simple online liability waiver before accessing any MCSA property.
Immediate Guest Permit Issuance: Once the form is submitted, guests will receive their Guest Permit via email immediately—ensuring the process is quick and convenient, even for last-minute outings.
Enforcement: Our patrollers and access points have been informed that all guests must carry this permit when on club property.
We ask all members to help uphold the spirit of this benefit: to share our spaces responsibly, safely, and fairly.
Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support.
~ The MCSA Johannesburg Committee
National Camp 2025
The Cederberg was proclaimed a Wilderness in 1973, and in 2004 it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site as part of the Cape Floral Region. It spans approximately 70,000 hectares of rugged mountainous terrain, showcasing awe-inspiring sandstone rock formations, such as the iconic Maltese Cross and Wolfberg Arch. The landscape is dotted with ancient San and Khoi rock art, while the mountains glow burnt-orange due to their rich iron oxide content.
Base camp for the National Camp will be at Sanddrif Private Holiday Resort, located on the Dwarsrivier Farm in the central Cederberg. MCSA Tygerberg have reserved a section of the camp site for the meet.
Hikes: Hikes of variable distances and grading and backpacking will take place across the Cederberg Wilderness Area to suit all fitness levels.
Rock Climbing: With assistance from Stellenbosch Section, we will also offer a number of rock climbing excursions, including both sport climbing (bolted routes) and trad climbing. Gear will be available for rental at a minimal fee.
For more information, click here to download the brochure.
**Please note ~Registrations/bookings close 13 June 2025
MEMBER TALK
Biosphere Reserves and pristine waters – the quest to conserve freshwater fish in the Magaliesberg and beyond
Headwater streams in the Western Limpopo Basin represent a critical source of water in the dry savanna of the North West and Limpopo Provinces. These streams often drain mountains and valleys that have historically had little industrial or urban development, although they are increasingly threatened by encroachment of human settlements and mining operations.
The UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme has provided an opportunity for landowners, tourism operators and NGOs to preserve these critical and vulnerable wilderness areas by declaring them Biosphere Reserves. Today these entities, while generally lacking government protections outside their core areas that often comprise national or provincial nature reserves, serve as focal points for conservation advocacy and sustainable development.
Join Assoc Prof Darragh Woodford for an informative talk exploring the freshwater fish diversity of the Magaliesberg, Waterberg and Groot Marico biosphere reserves. Learn how the biosphere reserves have enabled research on and protection of this threatened freshwater biodiversity within the savanna biome.
Date: 4 June 2024
Venue: Robin Hills Scout Hall (11 Oorbietjie Rd, Robin Hills)
Time:18h00
The Magaliesberg Mountains and Cradle of Humankind form part of an internationally recognised landscape designated as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The Magaliesberg Biosphere reports to UNESCO every 10 years on how well the biosphere balances conservation, sustainable development and learning. We need your input to report accurately.
The Magaliesberg Biosphere NPC and University of Pretoria will only use your responses for our research and reports. This survey runs on WhatsApp data bundles. Click here and enter the code to start the survey.
JOIN THESE MEETS!
MEET REPORT
NATIONAL KLOOFING MEET
Despite the rains scaring off a few would-be adventurers, we still had a strong turnout of 24 kloofers from across the country—Cape Town, Johannesburg, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Magaliesberg—making this a truly national meet.
The relentless wet season had transformed streams into rivers and firm ground into slippery mud, rendering two of the planned kloofs impassable. But what we lost in quantity, we gained in quality—the remaining two kloofs were absolutely spectacular, with booming waterfalls and lush, dramatic scenery that only a rainy season can deliver.
Our base camp offered excellent facilities, with spacious campsites and—for the early birds—comfortable chalets. The evenings were spent socializing around crackling fires, sharing stories from the day's adventures (and misadventures).
A big thank you to Jaco for pulling this all together: organizing the meet, securing access to these incredible kloofs, and making sure we had a fantastic place to stay. Rain or shine, this was a meet to remember.
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MAKE A DONATION
Together we can strengthen our Club's future!
Every donation to the club, big or small, makes a difference!
Your support greatly assists the Club to pay off expenses and debts promptly and maintain a strong financial foundation. You can donate by transferring money via EFT with your annual membership fees or donate through our web portal. Please consider a recurring payment, which will make a big difference over time.
Click on the link below to make a donation to MCSA Johannesburg.
