Hiking In Magoebaskloof
Hiking Trails
Starting and ending in the village of Haenertsburg, this very popular trail meanders around the town, through the Haenertsburg Grassland Nature Reserve. The trail is well marked and features both, a shorter walk of about 5 km (follow white foot print signs) as well as a 10 km hike (follow yellow footprints).
It takes about 2.5-3.5 hours to complete the 10 km loop, depending on your hiking experience. We normally do an early morning trek and arrive back in the village for a late brunch or early lunch. Dogs are welcome on the trail, leashes are recommended. Note that smoking and the lighting of fires are strictly prohibited. Please make sure to take your litter with you.
Apart from beautiful grasslands with sweeping views, both routes also take you through patches of indigenous forest with its rare afro-montane Woodbush Granite Grasslands, one of South Africa’s most threatened vegetation types. En route, hikers will enjoy seeing rare flora and fauna, walk along beautiful small streams and pass by what is said to be a rhino rubbing rock. Here, one can “hug” one of the oldest rock formations in the world, known as greenstone, dating back 3 200 million years.
Ensure to take drinking water. There are idyllic resting spots along the trail and hikers who enjoy to observe details of the great diversity of this pristine Nature Reserve often take a few hours longer to complete the full trail.
The volunteer organisation Friends of the Haenertsburg Grasslands (FroHG) maintains this hiking trail and also has an informative webpage www.frohg.co.za with a range of relevant environmental facts. FroHG is a registered NPO and entirely dependent on donations. FroHG donation boxes are at The Tin Roof and the Foodzone in Haenertsburg. All proceeds are used to clear the hiking trail, remove alien invasive plants and improve the awareness of the grassland.*
*Info via Magoebaskloof Tourism Association
The Louis Changuion Hiking Trail
Starting and ending in the village of Haenertsburg, this very popular trail meanders around the town, through the Haenertsburg Grassland Nature Reserve. The trail is well marked and features both, a shorter walk of about 5 km (follow white foot print signs) as well as a 10 km hike (follow yellow footprints).
It takes about 2.5-3.5 hours to complete the 10 km loop, depending on your hiking experience. We normally do an early morning trek and arrive back in the village for a late brunch or early lunch. Dogs are welcome on the trail, leashes are recommended. Note that smoking and the lighting of fires are strictly prohibited. Please make sure to take your litter with you.
Apart from beautiful grasslands with sweeping views, both routes also take you through patches of indigenous forest with its rare afro-montane Woodbush Granite Grasslands, one of South Africa’s most threatened vegetation types. En route, hikers will enjoy seeing rare flora and fauna, walk along beautiful small streams and pass by what is said to be a rhino rubbing rock. Here, one can “hug” one of the oldest rock formations in the world, known as greenstone, dating back 3 200 million years.
Ensure to take drinking water. There are idyllic resting spots along the trail and hikers who enjoy to observe details of the great diversity of this pristine Nature Reserve often take a few hours longer to complete the full trail.
The volunteer organisation Friends of the Haenertsburg Grasslands (FroHG) maintains this hiking trail and also has an informative webpage www.frohg.co.za with a range of relevant environmental facts. FroHG is a registered NPO and entirely dependent on donations. FroHG donation boxes are at The Tin Roof and the Foodzone in Haenertsburg. All proceeds are used to clear the hiking trail, remove alien invasive plants and improve the awareness of the grassland.*
*Info via Magoebaskloof Tourism Association
The Swartbos trail winds its way very gently through the indigenous forest of Magoebaskloof a medium to difficult trail but is well marked and maintained except for the start of the trail which can be a bit tricky to locate. It starts next to the entrance of the Magoebaskloof Hotel, turn right after the 2nd light pole to the left of the hotel. Maps are sometimes available at the hotel.
Some of the points of interest on the trail are:
The cathedral Tree - this is a strangler vine which straddled several trees and now reminds one of a cathedral vault.
Saw pit - 19th century woodcutters dug a pit beneath large felled trees so they could saw them into planks with one person below and one person on top.
The nose - a ridge jutting out between two river valleys.
The Pipe- a strangler vine where its tree victim has died and rotted away leaving only the tube formed by the vine.
The knoll - this is an unexpected hill in the middle of the Magoebaskloof. Enjoy the magnificent view both back towards the hotel and down the valley to the Tzaneen Dam.
Birds and animals on the trail include the Knysna Loerie with it’s distinctive croaking call. There is a troop of Samango monkeys in the forest. At certain times of the year, when food is available, the rare Cape Parrot will be seen and heard in this area. Their call is a distinctive shriek and they fly in flocks of 20 or more. But come and look for yourself and experience the freshness of mountain air in our forests.
*Info from Magoebaskloof Tourism Association
Swartbos Hiking Trail
The Swartbos trail winds its way very gently through the indigenous forest of Magoebaskloof a medium to difficult trail but is well marked and maintained except for the start of the trail which can be a bit tricky to locate. It starts next to the entrance of the Magoebaskloof Hotel, turn right after the 2nd light pole to the left of the hotel. Maps are sometimes available at the hotel.
Some of the points of interest on the trail are:
The cathedral Tree - this is a strangler vine which straddled several trees and now reminds one of a cathedral vault.
Saw pit - 19th century woodcutters dug a pit beneath large felled trees so they could saw them into planks with one person below and one person on top.
The nose - a ridge jutting out between two river valleys.
The Pipe- a strangler vine where its tree victim has died and rotted away leaving only the tube formed by the vine.
The knoll - this is an unexpected hill in the middle of the Magoebaskloof. Enjoy the magnificent view both back towards the hotel and down the valley to the Tzaneen Dam.
Birds and animals on the trail include the Knysna Loerie with it’s distinctive croaking call. There is a troop of Samango monkeys in the forest. At certain times of the year, when food is available, the rare Cape Parrot will be seen and heard in this area. Their call is a distinctive shriek and they fly in flocks of 20 or more. But come and look for yourself and experience the freshness of mountain air in our forests.
*Info from Magoebaskloof Tourism Association
The longest and most intense hike on the mountain is the Magoebaskloof Hiking Trail. It’s a three day, 50km trail through indigenous forest and pine plantations, although it can be modified to be shorter or longer. Most of the walking is through the forest, alongside fresh mountain streams, waterfalls and craggy ravines.
Along the trail are six basic overnight hiking huts, all of which can be rented out for hikers. The trail can be tailored to start either at De Hoek hut, Broederstroom hut or Woodbush hut. In terms of difficulty, this trail ranges from moderate to difficult. Summers in Magoebaskloof can be very misty and rainy, and the temperatures are cool in the forest, even in summer (average 19 C).
This trail is an overnight trail and requires booking. To book, visit https://www.afritrails.com/trail/magoebaskloof-trail
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Magoebaskloof
The longest and most intense hike on the mountain is the Magoebaskloof Hiking Trail. It’s a three day, 50km trail through indigenous forest and pine plantations, although it can be modified to be shorter or longer. Most of the walking is through the forest, alongside fresh mountain streams, waterfalls and craggy ravines.
Along the trail are six basic overnight hiking huts, all of which can be rented out for hikers. The trail can be tailored to start either at De Hoek hut, Broederstroom hut or Woodbush hut. In terms of difficulty, this trail ranges from moderate to difficult. Summers in Magoebaskloof can be very misty and rainy, and the temperatures are cool in the forest, even in summer (average 19 C).
This trail is an overnight trail and requires booking. To book, visit https://www.afritrails.com/trail/magoebaskloof-trail
A meandering 3.5km on Otterholt farm takes you through pristine indigenous biomes on their farm. Entrance is R30 per person, paid in cash at their entrance. It is also possible to prebook a picnic basket - enquire via contact details.
Otterholt Farm
A meandering 3.5km on Otterholt farm takes you through pristine indigenous biomes on their farm. Entrance is R30 per person, paid in cash at their entrance. It is also possible to prebook a picnic basket - enquire via contact details.