Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
| Name of Reserve | Trails open | Total Capacity |
1 | De Hoop Nature Reserve | Day Visitor | 120 |
|
| Whale Trail | 60 |
2 | De Mond Nature Reserve
| Sterna – an easy 7km (3 hours) circular | 100 |
De Mond to Waenshuis, Arniston – unidirectional coastal trek, 14kms (4.5 hours) | 100 | ||
Fishing Activity | 80 | ||
3 | Walker Bay Nature Reserve | Beach Walk | 100 |
4 | Robberg Nature Reserve | Gap circuit – a short 2.1km, 30-minute stroll | 200 |
Witsand Circuit – a 5.5km (2 hours) hike | 150 | ||
Point Circuit – a 9.2 km (4 hours) hike | 150 | ||
Fishing Activity | 25 | ||
5 | Outeniqua Nature Reserve | Pass-to-Pass – an easy 7,3 km (3 hour) route | 100 |
Kouma - 6-hour walk, 14,6km | 100 | ||
Cradock Pass – a strenuous 24.8km (8 hrs.) | 100 | ||
Challenging Cradock – 19km (8 hours) | 100 | ||
George Peak – 17km (7 hours) | 100 | ||
6 |
Limietberg Nature Reserve
| Bobbejaansrivier – a moderate 8km (6 hours) out-and-back route | 50 |
Happy Valley – an easy 9km family route (6kms) | 50 | ||
Rockhopper – an 8km (6 hours) moderate-to-difficult linear trail | 50 | ||
Kromrivier – an easy out-and-back 7m (5 hours) | 50 | ||
Elandsrivier – an 8km (6 hours) moderate-to-difficult linear trail | 50 | ||
Miaspoort – an 8km (5 hours) steep climb | 50 | ||
|
| Murasie – 7km (3 hours) an easy out and back trail | 50 |
7 | Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
| Palmiet Trail, 6km (2 hours) route | 60 |
Groenlandberg Mountain Bike Trail (34km) | 100 | ||
8 | Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
| Tweede Waterval, an easy 6.4km out-and-back route (Maximum of 50 persons at any given time) | 250 |
Sosyskloof Trail | 100 | ||
Swartboskloof Trail – moderate, yet steep 18km (6 hours)
| 100 | ||
Panorama – a steep (17km) 6-8 hour) trail
| 100 | ||
9 | Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve
| Walk Activity - long (6km) | 50 |
Walk Activity - short (3km) | 50 | ||
11 |
Cederberg Wilderness (Algeria)
| Skeurkrans - a circular hike (7-8 hours) | 50 |
Wolfberg Arch – an out-and-back hike (7-8 hours) | 50 | ||
Wolfberg Arch – an out-and-back hike (4 hours) from Keurbosfontein. | 50 | ||
Waterfall – an out-and-back walk (4 hours), starting at Algeria | 100 | ||
Uitkyk trail – 2.5 – 3 hours out-and-back, easy walk | 100 | ||
Wolfberg Arch – 6 hours, out-and-back from Driehoek Guest Farm to the Wolfberg Arch | 50 | ||
Maltese Cross – out-and-back hike (3 hours) | 50 | ||
12 | Cederberg Nature Reserve (Kliphuis) | The Kliphuis Wandel Roete 13km’s Circular 6 – 7 hours | 50 |
Kliphuis Circle Route 10km’s Circular 5 – 6 hours | 50 | ||
Amon Circle Route 15km’s Circular 6 – 7 hours | 50 | ||
|
| Honey badger trail (6km) Mountain bike trail
| 50 |
Rock Jumper trail (3.3km) Mountain bike trail | 50 | ||
13 | Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve | Stadsvaal Cave and elephant rock art paintings (Locked Gate Combination) | 100 |
Truitjieskraal (Locked Gate Combination) | 100 |
14 | Rocherpan | Guarrie Trail (7.5km) | 20 |
|
| Beach Hopper Trail (2.5km) | 20 |
15 | Kogelberg Nature Reserve
| Palmiet River Walk
| 26 |
Mountain bike trail (22km)
| 50 | ||
Oudebosch to Leopard’s Gorge (start at Kogelberg entrance only)
| 30 | ||
Kogelberg Trail (24km) | 26 | ||
|
| Highlands Trail Day 1 (16 km 6-7 hours) Day 2 (21 km, 8 hours)
| 24 |
16 | Rooisand | Walking Activity | 40 |
17 | Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
| Rooikat (19km) | 20 |
Heron (3km) Bird hides are open | 20 | ||
MTB Trail (8km) | 30 | ||
Genadendal (14km) | 50 | ||
Agama (8km) | 20 | ||
Braille (3km) | 20 | ||
Boesmanskloof (12km)
| 20 | ||
|
| 20 per Partner | |
18 | Marloth Nature Reserve
| Duiwelsbos (1.1km) | 10 |
Twaalfuurkop Peak Closed since August 2020. To remained closed until trail maintenance carried out. |
| ||
Multi-Day Hike
| 11 hikers in a group per day | ||
Appelbosloop Opened since August 2020 |
| ||
Koloniesbos, (4km) | 10 | ||
Die Plaat (10.5km) Shorter loops available | 10 | ||
Wamakersbos (10km) | 10 | ||
19 | Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
| Guarrie Trail (7km easy trail) | 20 |
Spekboom Trail (1.3km easy trail) | 20 | ||
Mousebird Trail (2.5km) | 20 | ||
Pied Barbet Trail (4.1km) | 20 | ||
Overhang & Back (14.4km) | 30 | ||
20 | Goukamma Nature Reserve
| Blombos Trail (Medium circular 13km; Short Circular 6.5km; Long circular 15km) | 60 |
Galjoen Trail (12km) | 60 | ||
Cape Clawless Otter (6,5km) | 60 | ||
Buffalo Bay Trail (4,2km) | 60 | ||
Bushpig Trail (6.5km) | 60 | ||
Fishing Activity | 10 | ||
|
| Porcupine Trail (9km) | 60 |
21 | Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve
| Grysbok (15km) shorter loops available | 30 |
Bushbuck (10km) Shorter loops available | 30 | ||
Sleeping Beauty (8km) | 30 | ||
Cycle Route (6km) | 20 | ||
22 | Gamkaskloof (Swartberg Nature Reserve)
| Koningsgat Trail (1.4km) | 30 |
Swartberg Nature Reserve
| Ou Tol Circle Route (7.4km) | 20 | |
De Hoek Day (8.8km) Trail is closed | N/A | ||
Grootkloof (6.3km) Trail is closed | N/A | ||
Platberg Circle Route (8.4km) | 20 | ||
Grootwinterhoek Nature Reserve | Protea Pool (1.5km) | 50 | |
Groot Kliphuis (16km) 4 hours | 50 | ||
De Tronk via jeep track (14km) 3.5 hours | 50 | ||
De Tronk via river (13km) 3 hours | 50 | ||
Groot Kliphuis via river (16km) 4 hours | 50 | ||
Die Hel Trail (5km) 1.5 hours | 50 | ||
Groot Kliphuis to Perdevlei via jeep track (7km) 2 hours | 50 | ||
Groot Kliphuis to Perdevlei via river (6km) 1.5 hours | 50 | ||
Perdevlei Trail to De Tronk (12km) 2.5 hours | 50 |
(1) The number of day visitors to the CapeNature reserves was negatively affected by the closure and the eventual reopening of beaches under COVID-19 regulations. In 2019/20, CapeNature received 11 238 day visitors between 29 December 2019 and 1 February 2020. This number decreased to 6 796 for the same period in 2020/21.
Six reserves were impacted on by the closure of beaches. These were De Hoop, De Mond, Goukamma, Walkerbay, Rocherpan and Robberg.(2) Yes, there is a limit to the number of day visitors admitted to the CapeNature reserves.
(a) Each reserve location and trail/activity have their own capacity limits per day. These are updated as and when the National Alert Levels change. See list attached.
(b) Day visitors are encouraged to use the CapeNature online booking portal to purchase permits. This system has an automated display which indicates the availability of permits at the time of booking. The system is a real-time system which is fully integrated into the call centre and clients can book or check availability directly with a booking agent. Both the entity’s online platform and call centre remains our primary platform for client engagements. Walk-in clients are also advised at the gate with regards to daily capacity available at the specific reserve. As online bookings are communicated as the preferred method of obtaining permits, access to trails for walk-in clients cannot be guaranteed.
(1) The number of day visitors to the CapeNature reserves was negatively affected by the closure and the eventual reopening of beaches under COVID-19 regulations. In 2019/20, CapeNature received 11 238 day visitors between 29 December 2019 and 1 February 2020. This number decreased to 6 796 for the same period in 2020/21.
Six reserves were impacted on by the closure of beaches. These were De Hoop, De Mond, Goukamma, Walkerbay, Rocherpan and Robberg.
(2) Yes, there is a limit to the number of day visitors admitted to the CapeNature reserves.
(a) Each reserve location and trail/activity have their own capacity limits per day. These are updated as and when the National Alert Levels change. See list attached.
(b) Day visitors are encouraged to use the CapeNature online booking portal to purchase permits. This system has an automated display which indicates the availability of permits at the time of booking. The system is a real-time system which is fully integrated into the call centre and clients can book or check availability directly with a booking agent. Both the entity’s online platform and call centre remains our primary platform for client engagements. Walk-in clients are also advised at the gate with regards to daily capacity available at the specific reserve. As online bookings are communicated as the preferred method of obtaining permits, access to trails for walk-in clients cannot be guaranteed.
| Name of Reserve | Trails open | Total Capacity |
1 | De Hoop Nature Reserve | Day Visitor | 120 |
|
| Whale Trail | 60 |
2 | De Mond Nature Reserve
| Sterna – an easy 7km (3 hours) circular | 100 |
De Mond to Waenshuis, Arniston – unidirectional coastal trek, 14kms (4.5 hours) | 100 | ||
Fishing Activity | 80 | ||
3 | Walker Bay Nature Reserve | Beach Walk | 100 |
4 | Robberg Nature Reserve | Gap circuit – a short 2.1km, 30-minute stroll | 200 |
Witsand Circuit – a 5.5km (2 hours) hike | 150 | ||
Point Circuit – a 9.2 km (4 hours) hike | 150 | ||
Fishing Activity | 25 | ||
5 | Outeniqua Nature Reserve | Pass-to-Pass – an easy 7,3 km (3 hour) route | 100 |
Kouma - 6-hour walk, 14,6km | 100 | ||
Cradock Pass – a strenuous 24.8km (8 hrs.) | 100 | ||
Challenging Cradock – 19km (8 hours) | 100 | ||
George Peak – 17km (7 hours) | 100 | ||
6 |
Limietberg Nature Reserve
| Bobbejaansrivier – a moderate 8km (6 hours) out-and-back route | 50 |
Happy Valley – an easy 9km family route (6kms) | 50 | ||
Rockhopper – an 8km (6 hours) moderate-to-difficult linear trail | 50 | ||
Kromrivier – an easy out-and-back 7m (5 hours) | 50 | ||
Elandsrivier – an 8km (6 hours) moderate-to-difficult linear trail | 50 | ||
Miaspoort – an 8km (5 hours) steep climb | 50 | ||
|
| Murasie – 7km (3 hours) an easy out and back trail | 50 |
7 | Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
| Palmiet Trail, 6km (2 hours) route | 60 |
Groenlandberg Mountain Bike Trail (34km) | 100 | ||
8 | Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
| Tweede Waterval, an easy 6.4km out-and-back route (Maximum of 50 persons at any given time) | 250 |
Sosyskloof Trail | 100 | ||
Swartboskloof Trail – moderate, yet steep 18km (6 hours)
| 100 | ||
Panorama – a steep (17km) 6-8 hour) trail
| 100 | ||
9 | Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve
| Walk Activity - long (6km) | 50 |
Walk Activity - short (3km) | 50 | ||
11 |
Cederberg Wilderness (Algeria)
| Skeurkrans - a circular hike (7-8 hours) | 50 |
Wolfberg Arch – an out-and-back hike (7-8 hours) | 50 | ||
Wolfberg Arch – an out-and-back hike (4 hours) from Keurbosfontein. | 50 | ||
Waterfall – an out-and-back walk (4 hours), starting at Algeria | 100 | ||
Uitkyk trail – 2.5 – 3 hours out-and-back, easy walk | 100 | ||
Wolfberg Arch – 6 hours, out-and-back from Driehoek Guest Farm to the Wolfberg Arch | 50 | ||
Maltese Cross – out-and-back hike (3 hours) | 50 | ||
12 | Cederberg Nature Reserve (Kliphuis) | The Kliphuis Wandel Roete 13km’s Circular 6 – 7 hours | 50 |
Kliphuis Circle Route 10km’s Circular 5 – 6 hours | 50 | ||
Amon Circle Route 15km’s Circular 6 – 7 hours | 50 | ||
|
| Honey badger trail (6km) Mountain bike trail
| 50 |
Rock Jumper trail (3.3km) Mountain bike trail | 50 | ||
13 | Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve | Stadsvaal Cave and elephant rock art paintings (Locked Gate Combination) | 100 |
Truitjieskraal (Locked Gate Combination) | 100 |
