PETER GIDDY.: Van Stadens Flower Reserve Hiking trails. River trail and Forest walk including the Boulder walk. Saturday 24th July 2021

Van Stadens Flower Reserve Hiking trails. River trail and Forest walk including the Boulder walk. Saturday 24th July 2021

Winter flowering Oleander leaf Protea

Recent wet and windy weather caused a number of people who had made a reservation for this hike to cancel. The morning began at a low temperature of 4 degrees C. When we arrived at the reserve the temp was 9 degrees. However as soon as we began to hike we could feel the warming effect of the clear sunny day. By the time we were two km into the walk we were really uncomfortably warm with our jackets and we had to remove layers.

Today we started off on the River Trail. We had met at the circle where the board explains the various trails. We walk across the road bridge over the N2 and then into the mountain fynbos. We were on the West slope of the cliff side and so the easterly wind did not reach us. This is a beautiful trail overlooking the river below. After the rains the stream was flowing strongly and the surrounding glistening rocks created a fairy land valley. At the 3km mark we all decide to walk the Boulder Trail. This is a little more difficult and should not be taken lightly. The trail has some steep descents and equally difficult climbs with a steep drop off on the right hand side of the pathway. After the last of the boulder sections we have to climb out of the valley and up to the picnic area. Here we take a short break for a snack and a breather.

We move over to the Forest walk by first climbing under the Van Stadens Road bridge. Emerging onto the south west of the N2 freeway we make our way along the pathway to the option to do the lower or the upper Forest walk. The last time that I did the lower trail I found it to be unkept and not much fun. So we take the upper trail. This is not a particularly long walk and we are soon climbing up and out of the forest. Today we had a faster group than on some previous occasions. I imagine that the people who had decided to brave the weather may have been fit. We walk the final Km to the cars and everyone goes their own way.

Today the walk of about 9km took us under three hours while it has on previous occasions taken us over 3 hours to complete. The weather was perfect for the trail. Not too hot. We did not feel the effect of the east wind nor did the recent rains affect the trail or stability at all.

In the hike group today: Gillian and Sehlon; Scott; Ritva; Faye; Hayley and Brittany; Brenda; Kholeka, Sino, Snash, Neko: Unathi, Simphiwe, Songs, Khanyiso and Ceekay; Ayanda, Lilly and Soso/ Joining s at the start is Vukile and Zikhona;

Entrance to the reserve

Unathi, Ceekay and Simphiwe enjoy the break

Our group. Approaching the end of the Forest Trail

On the Forest walk

At the start it is cold. The map above me explains the trails we will be taking

Rocky pathways

Explaining the route

Cliffs and amazing views

Cycads survived the fires of 2017

Unathi and Ceekay at the bridge

Simphiwe under the bridge

The valleys and winter sun

Kholeka and Neko

See the stream flowing strongly below

We take the Boulder walk

At the fork. If you go up then you will take the easier River Trail

This trail is really something special

Under the bridge with Brittany

Riva leads the group

Ritva at the bridge

The van Stadens valley and the Van Stadens bridge

Burnt Protea? Common Sugarbush

Ceekay climbs up the boulder walk

Scott

A steep climb out of the valley

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 by providing hikes to suite the individual. No one is left behind.

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