… projects done
Mole Rat Tunnel
The mole rat tunnel was the chief informant to answering a difficult question posed in the planning stages of this particular overnight tented camp. Since the camp was to be built alongside an urban area, it was felt hat the camp be visually hidden as much as possible, this in an attempt to maintain the wilderness experience one wants while hiking. Since the local vegetation was coastal dune thicket not growing much higher than waist height, this proved difficult to achieve. However, there where taller and larger stands of Manatoka (a poisonous alien invasive species) onsite. Taking the lead from the mole rat tunnel (again, found and photographed onsite) tunnels where cut out under the Manatoka and spaces within them where created in which to build two-sleeper units and boardwalks, all hidden from the human eye. The two sleeper units were covered with endemic woody-creepers. These creepers will over time, cover the structures and archway tunnels from human eye while the alien vegetation is slowly removed. The site is thus left in an enhanced state, with the structures hidden. Kommetjie Tented Camp, Cape Town, 2007