Exploring the Koue-Bokkeveld The Koue-Bokkeveld is the name for a mountain range that should be familiar to those who journey to the Cederberg. Always there but slightly beyond reach! Eight South Cape members assembled at the mountain’s base last Tuesday afternoon as it was time to make our acquaintance with this ranges star attraction – [...]
The Groot-Winterhoek wilderness area, to the north of Tulbach, is well-known among serious hikers, while the large pool at “The Hell” is an iconic destination. But it took me many years to eventually get to this area and enjoy the delights of this special wilderness. At least three previous efforts to visit the area did [...]
The invasive alien tree Hakea sericea remains one of the greatest threats to the magnificent Klein Swartberg Mountains. As part of a bigger coordinated effort to control hakea in these mountains, MCSA members Gary Cundill, Hugh Sussen and I, together with Michael Moller, took on some hakeas on the Elandsberg Mountain above Ladismith. We began [...]
Eleven members joined me for a very relaxed and pleasant hike on a perfect winters day in paradise. The trail offers the very best that the lakes have to offer with stunning views and beautiful fynbos. We managed to get the whole way around the edge of Swartvlei without getting our feet wet and negotiated [...]
This was our second winter hike in the Swartberg, starting from the Ou Tol near the top of the pass. This hike surpassed the first in a number of ways. It was easier to organise, there were no postponements, the weather was much better and the route itself was much more interesting. Nine hardy souls [...]
The Old Toll circuit in the Groot Swartberg starts at the old tollhouse and rises up to the crest of the Swartberg Pass before turning eastwards and rising up to a peak. It then heads down to the Die Hel road and back to the tollhouse. It is a pleasant route on a well-marked path [...]
It took me awhile to distinguish between Bonnievale and Bonniedale, but when I did, I found the difference to be remarkable. Bonniedale is much closer to home and is a guest farm situated at the foot of the Attakwas mountains. It is fairly rustic camping with basic ablutions and a cool dam for swimming. One [...]
The month of May in the northern Swartberg, on the edge of the Great Karoo, is a lovely time to camp, hike and rock-climb, as the weather is mild. The Bushman Valley resort is very comfortable with nice camping and chalets and a selection of walks. The huge crags of Horlosiekloof and the more user-friendly [...]
L to R: Joan Louwrens, Greg and Cheryl Devine, Maretha Alant, Jeremy Lister-James, Mandy Arora and Retha Meintjies (visitor) After the first cold big front of the autumn, bringing snow to the Swartberg and Western cape we set out on a crisp and crystal clear day. It was perfect hiking weather and the rain has [...]
Four MCSA members attended the Kransberg Saddle hike. L to R: Janine Smith, Bruce Arnett, Gillian Forbes and Kenneth Willemse We set off at a good pace passing three other groups of hikers/backpackers who were also enjoying a lovely sunny day out in the mountains. After passing the Tierkop hut Bruce decided that a 20km [...]