Loerie day trail in the Sabie area, Mpumalanga
Forest Fall nature walk in the Sabie area, Mpumalanga
Graskop Day trail in the Sabie area, Mpumalanga
Secretary Bird day trail in the Sabie area, Mpumalanga
Beestekraalspruit day trail in the Sabie area, Mpumalanga
Bakkrans day trail in the Sudwala area, Mpumalanga
Rooikat Nature Walk in the Tzaneen area, Limpopo
Hanglip day trail in the Makhado area, Limpopo
This difficult day walk of 14 km starts at Castle Rock Caravan Park or the Ceylon Plantation and takes the visitor through the beautiful valleys of the Sabie River. From the Ceylon Plantation office, the walk leads to the magnificent Bridal Veil Falls and past the Glynis and Elna Falls to a ridge that provides a picturesque view of the Sabie valley. From the ridge, the trail follows a gum belt (eucalyptus trees planted between plantation sections to break the wind) after which the trail joins a forestry track before descending to Castle Rock. The last section of the trail takes you along the Sabie River. A shorter trail option branches off from the main route about 7 km before you reach the Ceylon Plantation and then winds down after 3 km to reach the starting point. Click here to Book Now!
How to get there
Drive along Sabie's main street to Graskop. Turn left into Lydenburg Road. Turn right to Merry Pebbles or, if you want to start the walk at Ceylon, drive for 2.6 km. Turn onto the gravel road for about 3 km to the Bridal Veil Falls. Park inside the fenced-off area at the Ceylon Plantation.
A walk through fragrant pine forests refreshes mind, body and soul. This circular route of 4 km starts and ends at the Green Heritage Picnic Site. From the picnic site, walk through pine plantations and along the edge of an indigenous forest (for 80% of the way), all along the Mac Mac River, until you reach the Forest Falls. The breadth of these falls is greater than the height. Walk on the opposite side of the river to return to the Green Heritage Picnic Site. Trees are named all along the route. Click here to Book Now!
How to get there
From Sabie, take the R532 to Graskop. Just after crossing the railway, there is a picnic area on the right, the Green Heritage Picnic Site. The hike starts here.
The day trail start at the Graskop Hut, which form part of the Fanie Botha overnight hiking trail. This moderate 13.3km day trail takes you through a patch of pine plantation. Crossing the railway line you stroll over a concrete bridge of the Mac Mac River and descend into the indigenous forest where you reach the Forest Fall. Reaching this fall you will experience that breadth of these falls which is greater than the height before ascend uphill for a few meters. The last stretch is fairly easy until you the reach the overnight hut again. Click here to Book Now!
How to get there
Follow the N4 to Graskop (R532). When entering Graskop (before you reach the bridge) turn right at the stop into Trichardt Ave. Follow the signposts to the Graskop hut (± 2km) on gravel road.
Put on your sunscreen (there is very little shade on this route) and pay an entrance fee of R5 at the gate. This crescent route of 3 km starts at the Mac Mac Pools and winds through the surrounding veld and scattered indigenous trees. Click here to Book Now!
How to get there
From Sabie, take the R532 to Graskop. The Mac Mac Pools are about 10 km from Sabie on the right.
For permits and maps, contact the following:
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Komatiland Eco-Tourism:
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013 - 754 2724
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Graskop Info:
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013 - 767 1833
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Mac Mac Forest Retreat:
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013- 764 2376
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Bike Doc:
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013 - 764 2123
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Big Sky:
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013 - 764 2682
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Valley View Backpackers:
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013 - 767 1112
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Merry Pebbles:
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013 - 764 2266
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Trips SA:
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013 -764-1177
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Sabie Forestry museum & info:
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013 - 764 1058
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The Beestekraalspruit is a circular trail of 11 km and takes about five hours to complete. The trail takes you to the edge of Beestekraalspruit and into the spruit itself. The trail then gradually descends into Beestekraalspruitkloof with its indigenous forest. Click here to Book Now!
How to get there
Take the N4 to Mpumalanga and turn off on the R539. Drive past the Sudwala Caves. The tar road becomes a gravel road. Drive for about 10 km on the gravel road and then turn right into the Uitsoek Plantation where the road is again tarred. After reaching the pond on the left-hand side, turn left onto a gravel road. Follow the signs to the hut on the hiking route.
Alternating between pine plantations above the Houtbosloop and indigenous scrub forests in the kloof, this circular trail of 11 km takes you to the Bakkrans Waterfall. Click here to Book Now!
How to get there
Take the N4 to Mpumalanga and turn off on the R539. Drive past the Sudwala Caves (the tar road that you have been driving on will become a gravel road). Drive for about 10 km on the gravel road and then turn right to the Uitsoek Plantation where the road is tarred again. When you see the pond on your left-hand side, turn left onto the gravel road. Follow the signs to the hut.
The beauty of nature is rolled into this one-day route. Witness beautiful landscapes, a variety of birds and a few furry friends. Animals, such as the bushbuck, common duiker, bush pig and baboon, occur along this route. Bird lovers may spot a rare bat hawk, jackal buzzard, purplecrested lourie or backheaded oriole. Set against the Krugerkop and Tandberg, is the New Agatha Plantation through which the Rooikat Day Walk winds. After passing through pine plantations, the trail follows the course of the Bobs River. Hikers pass several cascades, rapids and pools in which they can take a quick dip. Picnic facilities are available at the Die Akker Picnic Site. Click here to Book Now!
How to get there
In Tzaneen, take the Agatha turn-off in Agatha Street (the turn-off is close to the Ben Voster High School). Drive for about 12km to a T-junction, turn left to the Letsitele Valley / Coach House Hotel. Drive for about 5km to the New Agatha Plantation signboard. Turn right. Follow the dirt road for 2km to the office or gate.
The Hanglip Day Trail consists of a 20 minute or a 2.5 hour trail that both explore the interesting southern slope of the Soutpansberg in the vicinity of the Hanglip buttress. This is an excellent birding trail, with birds such as the Knysna and purplecrested lourie, and the Narina trogon occurring here in abundance. There is also a beautiful viewpoint that overlooks the lower-lying savannah areas. Click here to Book Now!
How to get there
Take the N1 North out of Pretoria to Makhado, approximately 380 km from Pretoria. In Makhado (still on the N1), turn left at the third four-way stop into Stubbs Street. At the second four-way stop, turn right into Forestry Road and keep driving until you reach the gate to the Hanglip Plantation.