Where is it?
How to get there?
General Information
Main Attractions
Hut Facilities
Trail Options
Trail Descriptions
Rates
Where is it?
The Magoebaskloof Hiking Trail is near the town of Tzaneen in the Limpopo Province.
How to get there?
To Woodbush Hut
From Gauteng, take the N1 North towards Polokwane (Pietersburg). Turn off at the R71 to Tzaneen and drive for about 70km. Follow the signposts to the Woodbush Plantation. Turn left from the R71 onto a gravel road (also marked Houtbosdorp). The signpost says: Magoebaskloof Hiking Trail (Woodbush Entrance). Follow the signpost to the Woodbush Hut.
To De Hoek Hut
From Gauteng, take the N1 North towards Polokwane. Turn off at the R71 to Tzaneen and drive for about 77km. To get to the De Hoek Plantation, turn off at the signpost: Magoebaskloof Hiking Trail (De Hoek Entrance). Follow the gravel road past the Debegeni Falls for about 7km, until you arrive at the De Hoek Hut on your left.
General Information
You will need to be fairly fit to complete the five-day route. The two-day routes are less demanding and are suitable for families. The trail has three different starting points, namely Woodbush Hut, De Hoek Hut or Broederstroom Hut.
The trails are laid out on the forestry estate, but most of the walking is through magnificent sub-tropical, indigenous forest, over craggy ravines and alongside cascading waterfalls, pristine mountain streams, rivers and dams.
The summers can be misty and rainy (rainfall occurs mainly between October and March) but be prepared for rain at any time of the year. Temperatures range from 15.3°C to 19.2°C with higher temperatures in the lower-lying areas.
Permits for trout fishing in the Dap Naudé Dam are available at the Woodbush office. Angling is not allowed.
The trail is free from malaria and cholera.
Main Attractions
History
Sawpits from the woodcutting era can be seen along the route. Historical sites include the old mule path, bridges and the O' Connor memorial. Alexander James O'Connor played an important role in establishing the Woodbush and De Hoek plantations as the first commercial plantations in the region.
Fauna and flora
The eucalyptus trees are the tallest planted trees in the southern hemisphere, some being 83m tall and 115cm in diameter. Other trees include bluegum (the tallest planted by man), eucalyptus grandis, indigenous sub-tropical forest and ferns. There is an abundance of exotic fungi and plants including the spectacular clivia. Various animals are evident as well as butterflies, frogs and reptiles.
Birds
A variety of birds can be seen along this trail, including the black-fronted bush shrike, emerald cuckoo, olive woodpecker, Knysna lourie, wood owl, barn owl, giant kingfisher, white-throated swallow, Cape canary and forest canary. The dams provide opportunities to see birds such as fish eagles and osprey.
Hut Facilities
The six huts are either old forestry buildings or modern purpose-built wooden chalets.
De Hoek Hut
This hut has 24 bunk beds, two showers, one toilet, hot water and electricity. Braai facilities are available.
Dokolewa Pools Hut
This hut has 16 bunk beds, two showers (no hot water) and two toilets. There is an undercover braai area.
Broederstroom Hut
There are 24 bunk beds. The hut has two showers, one toilet, hot water and electricity. Braai facilities are available.
Waterfall Hut
This hut has 16 bunks, two showers (no hot water) and two toilets. There is an undercover braai area.
Woodbush Hut
The hut has 24 bunk beds, three showers and two toilets. There is no electricity and no hot water. There is an undercover braai area.
Seepsteen Mule Stables Hut
This hut has 16 bunks, one toilet and two cold showers. There is an undercover braai area.
Parking is available at the De Hoek Hut, Broederstroom Hut and Woodbush Hut.
Please note: Parking is available 1.5km from The Dokolewa Pools Hut, Waterfall Hut and Seepsteen Mule Stables Hut – these huts may NOT be accessed by vehicle.
4 Night Trail Options
Woodbush 4 night trail total distance 41.4km
Seepsteen Mules 4 night trail total distance 44.5km
Waterfall 4 night trail total distance 53.1km
Dokolewa Pools 4 night trail total distance 42.3km
De Hoek 4 night trail total distance 41.4km
Magoebaskloof 4 night trail total distance 43.8km
5 Night Trail Options
Seepsteen Mules 5 night trail total distance 61.2km
Woodbush 5 night trail total distance 52.5km
Dokolewa Pools 5 night trail total distance 59.3km
Magoebaskloof five-night trail total distance 61.5km
Magoebaskloof big five trail total distance 62.4km.
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This option is a circular trail and starts at Woodbush hut – De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut
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Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at Woodbush hut
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Woodbush hut – De Hoek hut
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11.5 km
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Easy
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De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut
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9 km
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This option is a circular trail and starts at De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut – De Hoek hut
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Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at De Hoek hut
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De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut
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9 km
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Easy
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Woodbush hut – De Hoek hut
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11.5 km
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This option is a circular trail and starts at De Hoek hut – Dokolewa Pools hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – Dokolewa Pools –De Hoek
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Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at De Hoek hut and hike 1.5 km to Dokolewa Pools hut
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De Hoek hut– Dokolewa Pools hut
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1.5 km
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Ease - Moderate
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Dokolewa Pools hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut
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9 km
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Seepsteen Stables Mule hut – Dokolewa Pools hut
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12 km
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Dokolewa Poools – De Hoek
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1.5 km
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This option is a circular trail and starts at Woodbush hut – Waterfall hut – Dokolewa Pools – Woodbush hut
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Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at Woodbush hut and start hiking to Waterfall hut
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Woodbush hut – Waterfall hut
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12.3km
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Moderate
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Waterfall hut – Dokolewa Pools hut
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18 km
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Dokolewa Pools hut – Woodbush hut
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10.5 km
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This option is a circular trail and starts at Wooddbush hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – Dokolewa Pools – Woodbush hut
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Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at Woodbush hut and hike 1.5 km to Seepsteen Mule Stables hut
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Woodbush hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut
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1.5 km
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Moderate
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Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – Dokolewa Pools hut
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12 km
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Dokolewa Pools hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut
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9 km
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Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – Woodbush hut
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1.5 km
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This trail starts at Broederstroom hut – De Hoek hut - Wooddbush hut – Broederstroom hut
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Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at Broederstroom hut
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Broederstroom hut – De Hoek hut
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18 km
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Moderate – Difficult
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De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut
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9 km
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Woodbush hut - Broederstroom hut
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15 km
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Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – Woodbush hut
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1.5 km
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This trail starts at De Hoek – Woodbush hut – Broederstroom hut – De Hoek
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Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at De Hoek hut
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De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut
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9 km
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Moderate – Difficult
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Woodbush hut - Broederstroom hut
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15 km
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Broederstroom hut – De Hoek hut
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18 km
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This trail starts at Woodbush hut – Broederstroom hut – De Hoek
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Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at Woodbush hut
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Woodbush hut - Broederstroom
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13.8 km
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Moderate – Difficult
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Broederstroom hut – De Hoek hut
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18 km
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De Hoek hut - Woodbush hut
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8.4 km
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This trail starts at Woodbush hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – Waterfall hut - Dokolewa Pools hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut
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Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at Woodbush hut and hike 1.5 km to Seepsteen Mule hut
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Woodbush hut – Seepsteen Mule Hut
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1.5 km
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Moderate – Difficult
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Seepsteen Mule Stable hut – Waterfall hut
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13.8 km
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Waterfall hut – Dokolewa Pools hut
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18 km
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Dokolewa Pools hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut
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9 km
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Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – Woodbush hut
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1.5 km
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This trail starts at De Hoek - Dokolewa Pools hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – Waterfall hut – De Hoek
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Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at De Hoek hut and hike 1.5 km to Dokolewa Pools
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De Hoek – Dokolewa Pools
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1.5 km
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Moderate – Difficult
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Dokolewa Pools hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut
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9 km
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Seepsteen Mule Stable hut – Waterfall hut
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13.8 km
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Waterfall hut – De Hoek
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16 km
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This trail starts at Woodbush hut – Waterfall hut – Dokolewa Pools – Woodbush hut
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Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at Woodbush hut
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Woodbush hut – Waterfall hut
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13.8 km
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Moderate – Difficult
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Waterfall hut - Dokolewa Pools hut
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18 km
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Dokolewa Pools hut – Woodbus hut
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10.5 km
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This trail starts at Woodbush hut – Waterfall hut – Dokolewa Pools – Woodbush hut
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Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at Woodbush hut and start hiking to Waterfall hut
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Woodbush hut – Waterfall hut
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13.8 km
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Moderate – Difficult
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Waterfall hut - Dokolewa Pools hut
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18 km
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Dokolewa Pools hut – Woodbus hut
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10.5 km
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This trail starts at Woodbush hut – Broederstroom hut – De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut
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Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at Woodbush hut
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Woodbush hut – Broederstroom hut
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15 km
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Moderate – Difficult
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Broederstroom hut – De Hoek hut
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16.5 km
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De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut
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8.4 km
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This trail starts at De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut – Broederstroom hut – De Hoek hut
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Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at De Hoek hut
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De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut
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8.4 km
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Moderate – Difficult
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Woodbush hut – Broederstroom hut
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15 km
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Broederstroom hut – De Hoek hut
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16.5 km
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De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut
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9 km
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This trail starts at Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – Waterfall hut – Dokolewa Pools – Seepsteen Mules Stables hut
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|
Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at Woodbush hut and hike 1.5 km to Seepsteen Mule Stables hut
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Woodbush hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut
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1.5 km
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Moderate – Difficult
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Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – Waterfall hut
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13.8 km
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Waterfall hut – Dokolewa Pools hut
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18 km
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Dokolewa Pools hut – Seepsteen Mule Stable hut
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9 km
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Seepsteen Mule Stable hut – Woodbush hut
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1.5 km
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This trail starts at Woodbush hut – Waterfall hut – Dokolewa Pools – Seepsteen Mules Stables hut – De Hoek hut
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|
Parking
|
Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at Woodbush hut and start hiking to Waterfall hut
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Woodbush hut – Waterfall hut
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13.8 km
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Moderate – Difficult
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Waterfall hut – Dokolewa Pools hut
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18 km
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Dokolewa Pools hut – Seepsteen Mule Stable hut
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9 km
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Seepsteen Mule Stable hut – De Hoek hut
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12 km
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De Hoek – Woodbush hut
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9 km
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This trail starts at De Hoek – Dokolewa Pools – Seepsteen Mules Stables hut – Waterfall hut – De Hoek hut
|
|
Parking
|
Distances
|
Difficulty grading
|
|
Park at De Hoek hut and hike 1.5 km to Dokolewa Pools hut
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De Hoek hut – Dokolewa Pools hut
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1.5 km
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Moderate – Difficult
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Dokolewa Pools hut – Seepsteen Mule Stable hut
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9 km
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Seepsteen Mule Stable hut - Waterfall hut
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13.8 km
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Waterfall hut – De Hoek hut
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18 km
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|
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This trail starts at De Hoek – Woodbush hut – Broederstroom hut – De Hoek hut
|
|
Parking
|
Distances
|
Difficulty grading
|
|
Park at De Hoek hut
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De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut
|
9 km
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Moderate - Difficult
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|
Woodbush hut – Broederstroom hut
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15 km
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Broederstroom hut – De Hoek hut
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18 km
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|
|
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This trail starts at Woodbush hut - Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – Waterfall hut – Dokolewa Pools hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut
|
|
Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at Woodbush hut and hike 1.5 km to Seepsteen Mule Stable hut
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Woodbush hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut
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1.5 km
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Difficult
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Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – Waterfall hut
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13.8 km
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Waterfall hut – Dokolewa Pools hut
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18 km
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Dokolewa Pools hut - Seepsteen Mule Stables hut
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9 km
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Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – De Hoek hut
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12 km
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De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut
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9 km
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This trail starts at Woodbush hut – Broederstroom hut – De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut – Dokolewa Pools hut – Woodbush hut
|
|
Parking
|
Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at Woodbush hut and hike 1.5 km to Seepsteen Mule Stable hut
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Woodbush hut – Broederstroom hut
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15 km
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Difficult
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Broederstroom hut – De Hoek hut
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16.5 km
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De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut
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8.4 km
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Woodbush hut – Dokolewa hut
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13.2 km
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Dokolewa hut – Woodbush hut
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10.5 km
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This trail starts at De Hoek hut – Dokolewa Pools hut – Woodbush hut – Waterfall hut – Dokolewa Pools hut – Woodbush hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – De Hoek hut
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Parking
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Distances
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Difficulty grading
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Park at De Hoek hut and hike 1.5 km to Dokolewa Pools hut
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De Hoek hut – Dokolewa Pools hut
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1.5 km
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Difficult
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Dokolewa hut – Woodbush hut
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10.5 km
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Woodbush hut – Waterfall hut
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13.8 km
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Waterfall hut – Dokolewa Pools hut
|
18 km
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Dokolewa Pools hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut
|
9 km
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Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – De Hoek hut
|
12 km
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|
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This trail starts at De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut – Waterfall hut – Dokolewa Pools hut – Woodbush hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – De Hoek hut
|
|
Parking
|
Distances
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Difficulty grading
|
|
Park at De Hoek hut
|
De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut
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8.4 km
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Difficult
|
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Woodbush hut – Waterfall hut
|
13.8 km
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Waterfall hut – Dokolewa Pools hut
|
18 km
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Dokolewa Pools hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut
|
9 km
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Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – De Hoek hut
|
12 km
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This trail starts at Dokolewa Pools hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – Woodbush hut – Dokolewa Pools hut – Woodbush hut – De Hoek hut
|
|
Parking
|
Distances
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Difficulty grading
|
|
Park at De Hoek hut and hike 1.5 km to Dokolewa Pools hut
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De Hoek hut - Dokolewa Pools hut
|
1.5 km
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Difficult
|
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Dokolewa Pools hut – Seepsteen Mule Stables hut
|
9 km
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Seepsteen Mule Stables hut – Waterfall hut
|
13.8 km
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Waterfall hut – Dokolewa Pools hut
|
18 km
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Dokolewa Pools hut – Woodbush hut
|
10.5km
|
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Woodbush hut – De Hoek hut
|
9 km
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This trail starts at Woodbush hut – Broederstroom hut – De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut – Dokolewa Pools hut
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|
Parking
|
Distances
|
|
Park at the Woodbush hut
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Woodbush hut – Broederstroom hut
|
15 km
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Broerderstroom hut – De Hoek hut
|
18 km
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De Hoek hut – Woodbush hut
|
8.4 km
|
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Woodbush hut – Dokolewa Pools hut
|
12.5 km
|
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Dokolewa Pools hut – Woodbush hut
|
10.5km
|
R105.00 per person per night. Please click here to book now!