KLOOFING IN THE HOTTENTOTS WITH NATURE BOY, RYLE DE MORNY

KLOOFING IN THE HOTTENTOTS WITH NATURE BOY, RYLE DE MORNY - AN ORIGIN STORY

We discover the wonders of the Hottentots Holland nature reserve with Cape Town’s foremost Nature Boy, Ryle de Morny.

Expresso’s very own Ryle de Morny took The Insider SA along for an adventure like no other exploring the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve.

The TV presenter, model, actor and entrepreneur is one of Mzansi’s most recognised faces in sports and adventure, with a body to prove it. Being an outdoorsy, action man has made many a social media flash in the pan, with adoring followers looking to him for ideas for their next big adventure.

The lifesaving hero has won world championships for South Africa, has a gym design business and has guest starred in global drama series ‘Blood and Water’.

Joining him on the ultimate Kloofing adventure are two of his closest pals, Darren Peterson and Taariq “Tollie” Hassiem.

The Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve stretches across 7000 hectares of land and is home to more than 1300 species of Fynbos and more than 100 species of birds. The reserve plays an important ecological role and serves as a major water catchment area for large parts of the Western Cape.

These kinds of adventures are what kickstarted Ryle’s brand as a nature boy.

“I was someone chasing success. I was thinking that the degree, the suit, the money was all about what meant happiness. And that’s what I chased until I realised that it wasn’t filling any of the holes that I thought it would,” he shares.

“This is where nature boy was essentially born. It was a reconnection with nature, reconnection with the mental source and a sense of freedom that allowed me to purely just emancipate and become who I am today.”

Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve is about an hour’s drive from Cape Town. Office hours are from 07:30–16:00. Tel: +27 (0)28 841 4301/02 | Accommodation and permit bookings: Tel: 087 087 8250.

The outdoors are a place of peace and reconnection for Ryle, and one he can never leave behind.

The presenter and his friends spent the rest of the adventure swimming and discovering new and wonderful things from the natural world.

“I can truly say that this is an adventure that has set me up for the year,” explains Ryle.

“I have endorphins rushing through me. My main source of energy has been fulfilled by all this magic around me. And I’m ready to slay.”

And we hope you are too!