It only happens every four years. It gives us 366 calendar days which means we all have one extra day to go geocaching. So of course, Groundspeak are celebrating with a souvenir, actually, make that two souvenirs!

The first souvenir can only be earned on Leap Day itself, February 29, by attending a geocaching event. The other souvenir can be earned all weekend long (February 27-29) by getting outside and finding a geocache.

We have a list of all the events happening on Leap Day on our website here to make it easy for you to find one near you.  No event nearby? Maybe you should be hosting one then.

How would we survive these days without our smartphone apps?  Whether you do your app shopping on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, you are probably often looking for the best and latest apps to help you achieve something.

Like most activities today, Geocaching also has a variety of apps available.  Recently, Groundspeak announced that they are retiring their Classic App (read about it here).  This has forced many geocachers into reviewing which app they are using. We have put together our list of apps here; feel free to try them out.  Please let us have your reviews and thoughts on them, or give us others to add to the list that you also use by contacting our webmasters.

Cache In Trash Out® is an ongoing environmental initiative supported by the worldwide geocaching community.

Since 2002, geocachers around the world have been dedicated to improving parks and other cache-friendly places. Through these volunteer efforts, we help preserve the natural beauty of our outdoor resources! Geocachers around the world celebrate International Cache In Trash Out weekend annually by hosting and participating in Cache In Trash Out Events in their local area. Events might be focused on litter clean-up, removal of invasive species, revegetation efforts or building trails. Together, we make an enormous positive impact. Did we mention that we also have a bit of fun while we're at it?

The 2017 Annual Cache In Trash Out Weeks are scheduled for April 22 - April 30 and September 23 - October 1. Watch our site for a list of CITO events as they get published. Isn't one near you yet, consider hosting one then!

We have put together a guide to puzzle solving, to help start you on your way when it comes to getting the solution for one of those many unfound question marks on your map.

It may not help you solve every puzzle, but will at least get you thinking about them again.

Recently one of the long lost Project APE caches was found.  Groundspeak is running a community poll to decide what to with the cache.  Have your say on whether it should be reactivated in some form, or become a special game piece or trackable by voting here before the 5th March 2017.

The Garden Route is a stunningly beautiful quaint stretch of the coastline we are privileged to be able to enjoy. Sedgefield is one of the smaller towns and, without stopping, one can very easily miss its magnificent tranquillity and authentic natural beauty.

BoazRuthFields regularly walks along the Swartvlei estuary picking up rubbish. As he walked he decided that he needed to share the beauty and uniqueness of the spot with others. He started by placing the first cache in a cave on the water’s edge (GC689QN) but then decided the best way to share the experience would be to place a Wherigo that takes you along the river banks. Combine that with a CITO and the environment will benefit as well. This then expanded into a caching day with a wide variety of caches.

As word got out the day became more popular and the pressure was on to place more caches and by the time the day dawned there were 2 events (one being the CITO), an Earth Cache, Letterbox, Mystery, Wherigo, Multi and 10 Traditionals (all new). This new 8 Icon day combined with a variety of high Difficulty and Terrain ratings resulted in cachers coming from as far as Cape Town and East London for the day.

The day (4 February 2017) started with a breakfast at the well-known Wild Oats Community Farmers Market. There were lots of familiar faces and some new ones. Approximately 20 cachers/teams attended. BoazRuthFields could not attend as he had been rushing through the night on the only available transport at the time, his bicycle, checking on all the caches and making sure all was good for the day.

After breakfast the cachers spread around but most followed the river picking up the new caches as they went. The highlight of the morning was the Kingfisher Creek Extreme cache (GC6ZYFB) that saw a group, with a ladder, in the middle of the river to retrieve the cache. After that one it was down to the beach and into some impenetrable alien bush on the top of the sand dunes.

A short break for lunch and then it was time for the Wherigo and CITO. At this stage it must be mentioned that the river mouth was still closed to the sea and after the rain the river was almost two meters deeper than normal.  Instead of an easy walk down the river bank the CITO and Wherigo was aptly named a “Wheriswim” by the caching group.

The locals must have thought the cachers were crazy. First a ladder in the middle of the river and then a swim down the river with one hand held high to stop the GPS/smartphone getting wet.

The Wherigo followed a story of an Epic Quest. The programming was unique and well thought out. The routing was fantastic.  Once completed the wet and tired group dispersed, either to shower and get dry or to cache some more.

Those that stayed over in Sedgefield met the following morning to do the Waterfall Extreme cache (GC6ZYGV). It was great to do this one in a group with the CO in attendance. It will be very difficult if you are on your own. Another amazing secluded beautiful spot shared.
Thanks to BoazRuthFields “The Sedge” is now on the caching map! Well done! It was an awesome experience enjoyed by all those that attended.
Article submitted by ChrisDen


Tjoklits on the pole - GC6ZYFB


The easier of the “Dune” Caches


CITO/Wherigo in the river


River crossing - GC6ZYGV


Team “Waterfall Extreme”

Cache In Trash Out (CITO)^® is an ongoing environmental initiative supported by the worldwide geocaching community.

Since 2002, geocachers around the world have been dedicated to improving parks and other cache-friendly places. Through these volunteer efforts, we help preserve the natural beauty of our outdoor resources! Geocachers around the world celebrate International Cache In Trash Out weekend annually by hosting and participating in Cache In Trash Out Events in their local area. Events might be focused on litter clean-up, removal of invasive species, revegetation efforts or building trails. Together, we make an enormous positive impact. Did we mention that we also have a bit of fun while we're at it?

The 13^th Annual Cache In Trash Out Weekend is scheduled for April 25 and 26, 2015.  Find a nearby CITO to attend by visiting the International Cache In Trash Out Weekend page on our website.

Follow the Mega Event Facebook group, SA Geocaching Mega Events for more details and to stay up to date.