Weekend getaway: Hike in the Magaliesberg
No, pack lightly, because you sleep out just one night.
“When last did anyone see a yellow foot?” asks Marius Jooste, one of my six hiking buddies. We’re spread out on a footpath among scattered boulders in a Magaliesberg kloof.
Everyone starts looking for the painted footprints that show the way on the two-day, 25 km Summit Trail in the Kgaswane Mountain Reserve. The little markers every few metres aren’t easy to miss, but we chat and laugh so much that our attention wanders quickly…
In the fresh Bushveld air, among wild seringa trees, it’s hard to believe that a mere hour ago we drove past a KFC in Rustenburg.
Kgaswane’s hiking trails are less than two hours from Pretoria along the N4.
Leave early so you can start hiking by 9 am. That way you’ll have enough time to stop often and look for animals. This morning we’ve already seen zebras, duiker, waterbuck, eland and sable antelope on the slopes.
The morning warms up as the winter sun bakes down, and the guys with the heavy backpacks start sweating. Fortunately there’s a lovely mountain pool halfway along today’s trail.
In the late afternoon we arrive at the Witkruiskrans Camp. There are two A-frame huts, each with six beds with mattresses and enough wood to keep a cosy six-hour campfire going. (We know; we used up all the wood.)
You can take a hot shower if you warm water over the flames, and there’s a flush toilet.
We go to bed just before midnight. We’re heading back home tomorrow afternoon. But first we’ll climb to Hoogstepunt (1 690 m) to go and eat an orange and enjoy the view of the Bushveld plains.
Go! says: The paths are rocky, so wear sturdy hiking shoes and good socks. Pack plasters for blisters.
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Submitted on 17 May 2012 | 19:51:22
Hi Kurt. I love doing these type of videos, too. They are so much fun and I think I'm beettr at speaking to the camera and what's on my mind when I'm walking those trails. It's such therapy walking through there, man. I hear you on the dogs, that sucks that you were chased up a tree like that. You are right, though, people just don't care. I bet they would have cared if their dog bit me and I beat the crap out of it to defend myself, they would have been pissed at me for that probably.UN:F [1.8.7_1070]please wait...
Submitted on 4 October 2011 | 19:24:06
I meant to write - the contact details above don't seem to be working, do you know of another email address please
Submitted on 4 October 2011 | 19:22:43
Hi, Sounds like a great hike. I'm struglling to find the contact details for the Kgaswane Mountain reserve, do you still have them?
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