Author Archives: Nikki Brighton

About Nikki Brighton

I live in Howick, between the river and the hills. I enjoy pre-dawn walks with my dog, sitting on the veranda with crochet and tea, and harvesting vegetables outside the kitchen door. I am particularly wild about weeds.

Preven Chetty

Posted on April 7, 2024 by Nikki Brighton

Last week we lost a vibrant, authentic, talented, creative Earth lover and river champion. Preven Chetty was an integral part of our River Walk team, from the spark of inspiration over beer in uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve – every step … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Preven Chetty | 1 Comment

History of DUCT in Howick

Posted on July 13, 2022 by Nikki Brighton

On 26 September 2002 a delegation of nine Bushmen from three different San groups in Western Kimberley travelled by bus to Howick having heard with concern that something was happening at KwaNogqaza (Howick Falls. “We heard the spirits of the … Continue reading →

To The Sea

Posted on May 31, 2022 by Nikki Brighton

One spin-off of our 2012 uMngeni River Walk, was a request by Paolo Candotti of the Kloof Conservancy for us to walk the Aller Stream, a tributary of the uMngeni (near Molweni). The conservancy wished to initiate a river health … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged #AdoptaRiver, #AllerRiver, #Blue Lagoon, #Green Hub, #Kloof Conservancy, #Molweni, #Palmiet River, #WESSA Youth Group, umngeni river | Leave a comment

Simunye – sonke siwumfula owodwa

Posted on May 26, 2022 by Nikki Brighton

Penny starts today’s River Reunion blog post: Where to begin? How to describe the magnitude of today, a day of reunion, sharing, re-visiting, memories, reflection, resonance, reverence, wonder, friendship, and laughter. Meeting past DUCT colleagues over tea and cake whilst … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged DUCT, DUCT River Care Teams, DUCT River Health Champions, isithumba, Kwa Ximba Conservancy, KwaXimba, miniSASS, Mkhambathini, Nkanyezi, river walkers, umngeni river, valley of 1000 hills, Water Blessing | 2 Comments

Return to the uMngeni

Posted on May 25, 2022 by Nikki Brighton

The team gathers after 10 years to revisit parts of the uMngeni River. Today, the upper reaches where they walked on Day 3 of their original journey from the source to the sea. Pandora Peanut Butter and Jam sarmies (Penny … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged invasive plants, KwaZulu-Natal river, River Blessing, streams and rivers, uMngeni catchment, umngeni river, uMngeni River Walk | Leave a comment

The Butterfly Effect

Posted on May 6, 2022 by Nikki Brighton

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man. –Heraclitus Some things are always changing, at least in some respect. For us river walkers, no two experiences of being … Continue reading →

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River Reunion

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Nikki Brighton

Extract 1 May 2012: “We got to the top of the hill (an elevation of 1904m) and then headed down to the spring where the mighty uMngeni flows from. Here it starts as a little trickle. After a picnic with … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged mayday for rivers, Mike Farley, Pandora Long, Penny Rees, Penz Malinga, Preven Chetty, river walkers, umngeni river, umngeni vlei | Leave a comment

Tell Ten People

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Nikki Brighton

Ten years ago, an intrepid group of firebrands, took the initiative to walk the uMngeni from its source to the sea, and to tell the public about what they saw along the way. Andrew Fowler of Uplands River Conservation shares … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged river walk, uMngeni catchment, umngeni river, uMngeni River Walk, Uplands River Conservation | Leave a comment

John Fourie

Posted on August 30, 2021 by Nikki Brighton

If anyone can make a plan, John can. John Fourie was an integral part of the original River Walk team that spent a month exploring the uMngeni river from source to sea in May 2012. John died on 20 August … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged John Fourie, uMngeni River Walk | 4 Comments

Celebrate the uMngeni

Posted on May 5, 2017 by Nikki Brighton

Tomorrow some of the River Walk Team will join Andrew Fowler and the Natal Fly Fishers Club to celebrate the work they have done clearing the riparian zone of invasive plants. Why not come along to Explore the banks of the … Continue reading →

Posted in River action | Tagged invasive plants, Natal Fly Fishers Club, river walk, uMngeni catchment, umngeni river | 2 Comments