GoSA Grapevine April 2021

Another new souvenir, survey responses still needed, TB on Mars and more…

From the Desk of the Chairman

Well would you look at that? April already and so much has happened. We’ve been to the beginning braai (my first and a lot of fun) in Johannesburg. We’ve been to Mars. For those of you completing the Wonders of the World challenge, don’t get too close to the sun. Then of course we’re elated with a new Science of Discovery souvenir challenge and trust that those who got lab cache credits have been put to good use.

Something I’m rather proud of is finally getting another South African cache of the week. Congratulations to vespax! And thanks for the contribution to the South African geocaching community. Generally, I’d be alarmed that a cache which just achieved cache of the week has not been found in the month since it was awarded but I understand the difficulties of caching during these times.

I’ve also been filled with excitement of the future of geocaching from the responses to our survey. If you have not taken it yet, you can do so here. We’re giving a little more time to fill out the survey so we can increase the number of responses and give good and clear feedback as well as align our work accordingly. What I will share in the interim is that it appears that most of our contact happens through Facebook and few people have registered for the newsletter. Some are not even aware of the website...and many want more engagement on other platforms so it’s important that we get this feedback. Thank you to everybody who has shared their feedback already.

I now have another mission for you. That is to get more of your lukewarm caching friends more invested in geocaching. So those who aren’t aware of the tools on our website, let them know…and those who claim to miss caching, encourage them to get out and do a couple.

I’m always encouraged by logs from new names and while I was in Johannesburg last month, the coolest thing happened. I had just found a cache and then gone on to the next one. When I was driving past the first again, I noticed a mother and her young child searching for it. I pulled over, chuckled, and told them I had just found it and the child responded that it was only their second cache ever and they love it.

I look forward to hearing more such stories and indeed we’ll start looking at them for the newsletter in the next few months but for now, I’m off to try complete the Wonders of the World and encourage more people to log their will attend to the Bay Cache Bash. Subtle, hey? *winks*

GIFF is Back!

Lights, Camera, Action! I hope you are as excited as we are to see that GIFF is back on the calendar this year! It is honestly one of the events that we most look forward to on the calendar. GIFF will take place in November so please keep an eye out for the call for submissions for more details on when and how to submit your film! It would be fantastic to see a South African submission in this year’s line-up.

In years past GIFF has been represented by a fun colour—teal, purple, red, orange, and green! This year’s colour if yellow – we LOVE it!

Up Voting Logs

After a trial period in Canada and Norway, GCHQ have rolled out two new voting buttons for logs – “Helpful” and “Great Story” You can now vote for logs which you feel include story worthy moments, an inspiring tale about the journey to the cache, or helpful tips. Let’s hope that this will encourage finders to log more than just TFTC 😊 Voting is only available via the website and the in the authorized developer apps Cachly (iOS only) and Geooh Go (Android only). For more info on this new feature please visit this page

Trackable on Mars

As you would have read in last month’s newsletter, GCHQ have sent a TB code into space! We have all been waiting for the correct images to be sent back to earth and our patience has finally paid off! The photo with the TB code was selected by public vote and featured as "Image of the Week" for Week 5 (Mar. 14 - Mar. 20, 2021) of the Perseverance rover mission on Mars.

NASA's Mars Perseverance rover acquired this image using its SHERLOC WATSON camera, located on the turret at the end of the rover's robotic arm. This image was acquired on Mar. 17, 2021 (Sol 26) at the local mean solar time of 13:50:23.

Can you spot it? Look carefully, it fits in well with the Sherlock Holmes theme. Don’t forget to discover it, so you can earn yourself a new souvenir!

Blue Switch Day is coming!

According to the confirmed souvenir moments list for 2021, there will be yet another souvenir up for grabs at the end of the month, from 30 April to 2 May, as soon as we receive more details from GCHQ, we will share via the WhatsApp group and our social media accounts.

New Souvenir: The Science of Discovery

Now this makes for an interesting souvenir challenge! Adventure Labs are the main focus of this new souvenir – finding them will earn you points which will in turn earn you up to 4 new souvenirs.

The challenge runs from 12 April till 11 July.

The points levels are as follows:

Rocket science: 50 points
Geology: 100 points
Environmental science: 200 points
Futurology: 300 points

Points can be earned as per list below:
Found an Adventure Lab Cache (Adventure Location) Found a cache with 10+ Favourite points Found an Earth Cache Found a Mystery Cache Found a Multi Cache Found it*	10 points 9 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points

*Log a Found It on any other cache type.
The maximum number of points you can earn for any cache log is 10 points.

If you haven’t tried your hand at Adventure Lab caches yet, now is the perfect opportunity! Good luck and have fun!

Cache of the Month

The GOSA committee has taken the decision to put the Cache of the Month on ice for a couple of months until we have decided on how to tweek it so that there would be more interest in the concept. Nominations have been sparse lately and even though a winner gets selected from the nominations, it doesn't necessarily mean it's the best in that category if more nominations aren’t received. If you have any suggestions, please mail them to

The Bay Cache Bash is less than 6 months away and promises to be an absolute Geocaching blast. The organising committee is working on a whole lot of ideas and a tentative program, but at the moment the main aim is to get to 300 Will Attends so that we can apply for Mega status to be given to the event. Unfortunately, the total at this stage is only standing on 193. I'm not going to lie or sugar coat it, but it is worrying. A lot of work goes into organising and coordinating a Mega along with everything that goes along with it and if an event doesn't receive Mega status it's not worth doing it nor will cachers travel to attend. This means that right now a lot of ingredients are being added to the pot of soup, but it is standing and slowly simmering away on a back burner waiting to be moved onto a hotter plate for some serious cooking while we wait to see who wants to come and enjoy it along with us.

We really need the South African Geocaching community's support for The Bay Cache Bash and to get behind the event. Please log your Will Attend, encourage your Geocaching friends to log theirs as well, and start planning your trip. This Mega can only happen if you want it to happen. We know that there is a lot of uncertainty around Covid19 and a possible third wave that makes people hesitant to travel, but I can promise you, it will be worth it.

Please log your Will Attend today at – The Bay Cache Bash 2021

If you have any enquiries you can send an email to –

Current Souvenirs

Souvenirs are virtual pieces of art that you can earn, discover, and display on your profile page. They are associated with a particular location and may also be bound by time.

We are always on the lookout for photos from events or cool caches, as well as any fun, interesting, unusual or exciting geocaching stories to share with the geocaching community. If you want to share yours, send it to us by emailing it to our newsletter writers.