Bergrivier and Bergvenster. Two hiking trails near to Hankey. Tough. Worthwhile. Great hikes. Saturday 10th July 2021

 

Bergrivier and Bergvenster.   Two hiking trails near to Hankey.   Tough.  Worthwhile.  Great hikes.  Saturday 10th July 2021

Saturday 10th July.    We again hike the Bergrivier and Bergvenster trails near to Hankey.   This is a full day activity as we leave home at 7.30am and arrive back in Port Elizabetha at 16.00H.   

Our first stop is at the Bergrivier cottages where we meet Japie and Dorie and register for the walk.   The toilet break is an important start to the walk.   

Today we are :  Ally; Aletheia and Carin;  Cheryl;  Faye;  Katharine; Gillian K;  Gillian J;  Gill F;  Ayanda, Lilly,  Sethu and Soso;   Kholeka and Neko;   Sonja and Adele;  Jeanne and Glynette;  Robert, Max and Daniel;   Xoliswa;  Zoleka;  Liz and Rina;  Scott;  Unathi

We start hiking at about 9.15am and walk the Red Route up the steep climb to the top of the hill.   We then walk west on through the forest until we reach the lookout point back down to where we have parked the cars.   From here we take the Grey route down to the river.    At the pathway we turn right and then immediate left across the rocks to the west side of the stream.   We then walk upstream crossing it a number of times before we reach the Waterfall.   This has taken us about 2 hours.    Unfortunately we split up and Ally and Faye took a wrong turn so they arrive a few minutes behind us.   We stop for a short snack break.  Lilly and Sethu swim in the freezing water.   

We return to the cars going back downstream and then onto the fields and back up to the cars.   

After a bit of a break we all leave for the Bergvenster at Hankey.   I think there are about 18 of us doing both walks.    Bergvenster is a steep tough climb with some difficult sections over rocks.   It is short and worthwhile to get to the Window.   And then to the top of the mountain.   We all help each other and return safely to the cars.  This takes about an hour.   We have a short visit to the Philips Tunnel.   

We leave for home.  A long drive as I decide to take the Humansdorp road.   The quality of the road is better but it is a long drive and we are all pretty much exhausted by the time we get home.   

Ally on the Bergrivier Trail

Aletheia ... A regular hiker

Dad with Robert

Rocky pathways on Bergrivier

Climbing up to the Bergvenster

On the trail at Bergrivier

Looking back.  We have had a long climb to start the walk

Gillian and Gillian in the Bergrivier forest

Kholeka 

Valley Naboom    Euphorbia

Large Leaf Dragon Tree

Large Leaf Dragon Tree

Sisters -- Aletheia and Carin

Carin on the Waterfall trail

Liz and Gillian

Cheryl and Rina

Faye and Katharine

Sethu and Lilly in freezing cold water

The window of Bergvenster

Ally and Granddad on the top of the Bergvenster

Views from the top of Bergvenster

Walking next to the Window

Climbing up the Bergvenster is not easy. 

Zoleka Triumphant

Unathi framed by the Window

Our break at the poolside

Cheryl;  Ayanda;  Jeanne and Glynette

Soso lends a hand to get up this difficult section. 

On the trail at Bergrivier with Katharine; Ally;  Jeanne; Gill and ?

There are camping and picnic facilities;  Oxwagon bedrooms;  Bungalos for hire and to overnight. 

Look out for the sign on the road to Hankey

Our parting view of the fields down to the Mooihoek Strawberry, citrus and vegtable farms.  

Peter Giddy's hiking and tours group..... To enjoy the outdoors and to discover and explore places you have never seen or experienced.  Meet people and make new friends.  I understand that not everyone is at the same level of fitness and ability.   So I accommodate everyone but providing hikes to suite the individual.   No one is left behind.   

SA Guided Tours and Peter Giddy Guided Tours -- Shore Excursions -- Addo Elephant and other Wildlife Reserves -- Garden Route.  Flowers of Namaqualand -- 

0027 (0) 82 55 03 714    Whatsup
peter.giddy@gmail.com
Addo Elephant Park Day Visit and Night drive. 

• Kragga Kamma Wildlife Reserve
• Daniel Cheetah Project
• Pumba; Shamwari; Amakhala; Kariega -- Day trips Private Reserves.
• Three day tour of Mountain Zebra Park. Graaff Reinet, Nieu Bethesda and Addo. 
• City Historical and Cultural Tours, 
• Horse riding for both experienced and inexperienced riders
• Hikes and Walks around Port Elizabeth (2 hour Nature and Coastal walks)
• Garden Route Adventure Tours (Zip Lines; Segway  in the Forest; Adventure Quad Biking; Bridge Walks; Bungy Jump; Knysna Elephant Park; Monkey Land and Birds of Eden; Big Cats Sanctuary; Oudtshoorn Cango Caves and Ostrich farms)
• Shore Excursions from Passengers ships
• Transfers. Airport; Hotel and Wildlife Reserve.
• Flowers of Namaqualand.  Seven days of adventure and exploring places and sights you never even knew existed.  History and natural beauty of the South West of South Africa
• Karoo to Garden Route. Six days of fun and activities.  Prince Albert; Swartberg Pass; Die Hell; Oudtshoorn; Prince Alfred pass; Plett and Tsitsikamma. 

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For tours and bookings.. email me at.    peter.giddy@gmail.com
Contact me on Whatsup....  0027 82 550 3174