A punctual meeting at 8am near the Glentana off-ramp from the N2 was slightly thwarted by a locked gate across our path leading to the trailhead. However, a twenty-minute delay did little damage to the enthusiasm of the 12 assembled South Cape members and guests and shortly after 9am, once photo formalities were completed, progress was underway towards our target some 893 metres above us.


(L–R): Gillian Forbes, Clive Louw, Christelle, Jaco and Johan Olivier (guests), Mimi Kay-Shuttleworth, Dennis Lange, Ed Kay-Shuttleworth ( Leader ), Ian Du Toit, Analyn Knight, Pierre and Som Kruse

The intermediary target of Kleinberg which stands at 1101 metres was reached after about two hours of steady but relatively gentle ascent. Here the group had the opportunity for a tea break and to consider the route ahead which was now revealed for the first time since leaving the parked cars. From Kleinberg a short drop of 50 about metres leads across a ridge, a kilometre or so in length, which gradually rises until it reaches what I will refer to as the “Wall”. Pictures cannot begin to convey to those who haven’t been there the severity of the


Kleinberg at 1101 metres – a good half-way house

incline. It’s a wonder that vegetation still manages to cling to this slope but it’s this vegetation that saves the day and allows the visitor to crawl up its flank with all four limbs providing rotating anchor points in careful succession.

Up and Down the Jonkersberg “Wall”

With strict instructions not to wander too far left where the waiting cliffs quietly await unsuspecting prey, there was a sigh of relief ( from the Leader at least )as the final member of the party arrived at the top of the “Wall”. A moment was needed to catch our breath after the 20-minute scramble and then another kilometre or so of uphill to the radio structure that is stationed atop of Jonkersberg.

The structure is brand spanking new, presumably replaced recently after the fires three years previous and provides a wonderful cement apron upon which to seat and enjoy one’s picnic. Having arrived at about 1245 we spent exactly sixty minutes basking in the glorious sunshine, eating lunch, drinking coffee, and chatting.


Summit photo looking East with Cradock Peak in the far distance

And then it was time to put the whole procedure into reverse. As is often the case the descent was easier and faster, and we were back at the vehicles in a good 30 minutes less that we had taken to go up.

Meet Leader ~ Ed-Kay Shuttleworth