Cedar Falls Private Nature Reserve is in the mountain wilderness of the Baviaanskloof. It’s best known to hikers as the home of the four-day Leopard Trail, but with comfortable accommodation, spectacular day hikes and lovely pools to swim in, the reserve is also perfect for shorter escapes.
There are two full-day hikes at Cedar Falls – the 8 km Cedar Falls Trail and the 12,7 km Gabriel’s Loop. The latter follows two of the most spectacular sections of the Leopard Trail and really showcases this diverse and pristine section of the Cape Floral Kingdom.
The loop starts at Cedar Falls reception, initially following the first day of the Leopard Trail. We’re soon climbing the ominously named Kickstart Hill. Fortunately, the rocky jeep track is never unduly steep and we top out on a plateau (about 250m higher) in under half an hour. Familiar chats and bokmakieries keep us company as we take in the views back over the Cedar Falls accommodation.
The path now rises gently to the 2,5 km mark, before we begin a gradual descent on a wide sandy track. Rocky peaks rise on both sides and mauve carpet flowers stud the veld. It’s easy going on a flowing trail and I begin to realise why this is such a popular route with trail runners. The wind blows back my hair and I just want to fly!
We leave the path briefly to inspect a ruin. Nearby is a gravestone to Gabriel Jakobus Petrus van Jaarsveld, a sharecropper of long ago, after whom Gabriel’s Loop takes its name.
This story is from the August/September 2023 edition of go! - South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August/September 2023 edition of go! - South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The wilder shore
The final leg of a 30-day trek across East Africa sees lan Tyrer and the Africa - Wild & Untamed crew explore both shores of Lake Malawi. Get ready for an overloaded ferry, a croc attack and being surrounded by elephants...
A river runs through it
Sabie is onthe Drakensberg escaromentialongMpumalanga’s famous Panorama Route. Want a weekend away surrounded by forests and waterfalls? Here's wnat you need to know.
TAKE A HIKE
Harkerville's mini Otter
Sweet & juicy!
This issue's recipes all include lush seasonal fruit like nectarines, plums and apricots. Enjoy!
Big mountain magic
On a clear day, as you approach the Cathedral Peak Hotel, it happens involuntarily: You start to grin. You'll be standing up there soon, gazing over this valley, and the scuttling of ground-level life will seem irrelevant. Join us on a five-day adventure into the heart of the high Drakensberg
Your next weekend away
A self-catering house in the Tankwa, a campsite next to the Orange River, a guest farm near the Drakensberg... Toast Coetzer travelled a lot last year: Here are six of his favourite places to stay if you're planning a road trip or weekend escape.
A life through binoculars
If the name Hugh Chittenden sounds familiar, it's probably because you see it every time you use your Roberts Bird Guide he's one of the co-authors. He lives in Mtunzini on the KZN coast and birding is as much part of his day as a cup of coffee.
Wanderlust in the park
All great cities have great parks, writes Dara Kell: spaces where you can exhale and slough off the stress and grime of urban life.
The Kalahari remembers
The Kalahari is a place of magic and heartache, where drought is an ever-present threat. Drive a loop from Upington to the Kuruman River and discover soulful landscapes, brilliant skies and resilient people who never give up.
Take a Hike
Hug a baobab in the Bushveld
