Marine and wildlife conservation photographer Jean Tresfon embarked on an aerial voyage last Wednesday to assess the aftermath of the weekend’s severe storm and its impact on the surrounding landscapes.
Departing from the Morningstar Flying Club, Tresfon charted a course towards Franschhoek, where he observed the Wemmershoek and Berg River Dams, both filled beyond their 100% capacity.
Tresfon then ventured closer to Chamonix Estate in Franschhoek.
‘At the base of the mountains near Chamonix Estate, a deluge of mud and water had come down the river and smashed through the town, with the devastation clear to see.’
Tresfon ascended to an altitude of 2 500 feet, attempting to cross over Franschhoek Pass. However, the wind proved far stronger than anticipated, and the pass suffered significant damage from mudslides and rockfalls.
Tresfon climbed to 5 000 feet, eventually enjoying a smoother journey over the pass and onwards to Theewaterskloof.
Theewaterskloof Dam, which Tresfon had photographed when it was a mere 11% full several years ago, now stood swollen at an astonishing 109% capacity.
The area surrounding Theewaters Sports Club was flooded, with numerous waterside properties submerged beneath the rising waters.
While the dam wall remained intact, an overflowing torrent cascaded through the sluice into the Riviersonderend River, spreading across a vast floodplain encompassing Helderstroom and Elandskloof.
‘I turned and flew along the Van Der Stel Pass and the Botrivier, absolutely gobsmacked at how the flood waters had gouged a massively deep channel into the earth.’
The bridge at the junction of the Van Der Stel Pass and Hawston View roads had been obliterated, and further downstream, the primary bridge on the N2 had suffered the same fate.
‘This will not be a quick fix, and my guess is that the N2 between Botrivier and Calendon will be closed for a while.’
Continuing his journey, Tresfon reported that the Botrivier Lagoon was brimming with water, with a newly forged channel extending into the sea.
Upon reaching Hermanus, Tresfon observed that the Onrus River had widened its course to the sea.
‘From what I could see, there were several properties along the river banks that had a very lucky escape.’
The Klein River lagoon had also created a substantial new channel towards the ocean, its murky waters visible for miles.
As Tresfon approached Stanford, he noted numerous waterlogged properties along the banks of the Klein River. The village itself bore the marks of flooding, with numerous properties near the river’s edge affected.
‘After a quick pitstop to refuel, Tresfon headed back along the coast to get a few photos of the southern right whales before climbing up over the mountains to Elgin and flying along the Palmiet River.’
Tresfon kept moving up the river as he marvelled at the miles-away sight of water gushing over the Kogelberg Dam wall. He circled the area, enthralled by the sheer volume of water pouring over the dam’s edge.
Heading further upstream, initial reports on social media from the Theewaterskloof Municipality suggested the Eikenhof Dam wall had burst. However, Tresfon discovered the dam wall to be completely intact, though evidence of the floodwaters’ overflow and the creation of a new channel next to the existing sluice was unmistakable.
Passing over the upper and lower Steenbras Dams, Tresfon encountered turbulence on the lee side of Sir Lowry’s Pass, a challenging conclusion to his aerial journey.
However, he persevered and returned to his home base.
Before concluding his expedition, Tresfon made a brief detour to explore the Dieppe River and the historic Vissershok Farm, offering a glimpse into what this formerly navigable channel to the sea might have looked like in bygone eras.
‘Small sailing ships are believed to have navigated here from Table Bay in the 1700s to collect and deliver cargo that would have included wheat, grain and cattle. With the river swollen from the floods, it is easier to imagine this as the original watercourse to Table Bay.’
‘Landing back at Morningstar after nearly four hours in the air, I was once again humbled by just how insignificant we are compared to the power of nature!’
Also read:
Whales, waves and wonders: Jean Tresfon captures the Cape from above
