Type : Full Day Tours

Grading : Not graded

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Eco-Nature
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY HIKING TRAIL

This trail covers a distance of 13km from the Toll House to the crest of Sleeping Beauty and back. It is an easy walk from the starting point and numerous streams are crossed. Where the trail meets the Yellowwood forest at the top of the ravine, water bottles must be filled. At this point hikers are warned to beware of bees, which become aggressive at times. From this forest a long and steep zigzag path winds its way to the top of the neck behind Sleeping Beauty. The last steep climb is 1½km to the crest, from which one of the most magnificent views that the Langeberg has to offer, can be seen

At this point the hiker can return to the Toll House for the night. Minimum overnight facilities are available here. Bunks and thin mattresses provide beds for 14 people

From the neck, the hiker can walk along the contour road in a westerly direction. It descends gradually in the direction of the Karoo until it goes in a southerly direction through a beautiful Stinkwood thicket. This thicket is 6½km from the neck, and this stretch of road is known as “Oom Boet se Pad”. It is another 4km from the thicket to the overnight huts at Rooiwaterspruit, which has bunks for 14 people

From the huts, the trail runs for the last 9km in an easterly direction along a firebreak, and then southwards through the plantation until it reaches the road above the dam. From here the trail runs in a westerly direction along the road, from which it runs between the plantation and the dam until the finishing point next to the water nearby the old school building

The hiker has the choice to begin his hike from here. The trail runs through beautiful fynbos. A few varieties of protea that will be encountered are P.speciosa, P.grandiceps and P.coronata. The large variety of Erica makes this route a paradise for the Erica enthusiast. E.inclase, E.blenna and E.papyraracea are 3 of the rarest species that grow here. A variety of the Ericas are responsible for the pink cover that occurs on the mountain during late winter and early summer

The Tolbos that is encountered is mainly L.eucalyptifolium and on the Karoo side the trail runs through beautiful mountain rose L.tinctum. Along the streams buchus Agathosmas spp. bloom in spring while the confetti bushes Coleonemas spp. and the Shepherd’s Delight, adenandra/fragrans complete the pink panorama. During the summer months the Strawberry Everlasting Helipterum eximium and Aulax spp is in full bloom











THE KRISTALKLOOF HIKING TRAIL

The Kristalkloof trail, 20,904km in length, is an easy 2-day walk. The fit hiker can complete this trail in ±8-9 hours. This trail starts at Kristalkloof in Garcia Pass and the steepest climb is encountered early on, along the ascent to the summit of Wildehondekloofnek. From here the trail runs gradually downhill until it meets the existing footpath between the Garcia Forest Station and the farm Langkloof, 8½km further on. The overnight spot is next to the upper reaches of the Kruis River and beautiful swimming pools can be found lower downstream. Only basic amenities are available at the overnight shelter that accommodates 8 people. From here the trail goes in a southerly direction through the Kloof. The terrain between the 9 to 12km marks consists of steep zigzag pathways. At about the 11km mark one can find an uphill and at about 12 km a beautiful stream will meet the weary hiker. The upper point of the plantation is reached after 14½km and after a kilometer hike through the plantation the trail swings westwards along an easy contour road on the southern slopes of Kamscheberg, which is the catchment area for the Meul River. The trail runs through the top point of the plantation quite near the national road, until it reaches the finishing point in the pass 20,904km from Kristalkloof


Water is available in Kristalkloof and on the southern side of the mountain, but it is suggested that hikers carry water bottles during the summer months especially for the middle stretch through the Kruis River

This trail will fascinate the fynbos lover. In addition to P.nerrifolia, P.grandiceps. P.exima, Berzirlia spp., a variety of Erica species can be seen. The trail from Wildehondekloofnek to the Kruis River runs through beautiful Bridal heath, E.winterii, E.cubica and giant proteas P.cyneroides. Two unique small pincushion species L.mundii and L.winterii are endemic to Riversdale and can be found in Kristalkloof and Kruisrivierkloof respectively from September to November. On the southern slopes of Kampscheberg the trail crosses 4 mountain streams where beautiful tree- and mountain ferns can be seen