Bobbejaansrivier Trail

Beauty: 8/10. Mountains, rivers, rock pools and waterfalls — bliss! After leaving Eerste Tol behind, one is immediately ensconced in the rugged Cape mountains.
Difficulty: 6/10. Moderate to good fitness and good balance are necessary.
Terrain: Standard trail walking with varied terrain depending on the route chosen. Trail splits can be confusing. The last section of trail gets very steep — caution is advised.

It must be said upfront that the CapeNature Bainskloof hiking area offers a number of well-maintained trails for a range of fitness and technical ability, as well as some of the most easily accessible day trails in the greater Cape Town region — especially if one is looking for rock pools!

For that reason, the Bobbejaansrivier trail is a beautiful route best enjoyed in summer. It is a linear trail that totals approximately 10 km (“out-and-back”), depending on how far you walk in. The trail starts at the Eerste Tol / De Nek parking area, and heads immediately down to the Witterivier. Look out for the yellow painted footprint when crossing the river to find the best way across. You cross the Witterivier and head up the opposite side, for an easy walk along a meandering contour above the Bobbejaansrivier tributary.

Walking along the contour above the Bobbejaansrivier. Photo by @daniapea

After a kilometre or two, you will see some rock outcrops which, while fantastic, offer minimal shade. At this point, you will lose sight of the Bainskloof Pass (and the sounds of any traffic). This is a good time to pause and soak in the mountainous slopes that enclose you in the valley and the beautiful view of the gushing river below.

Taking a breather amongst the striking rock formations. Photo by @daniapea

In summer, this section of the river has an abundance of fynbos in bloom — look out for giant king proteas. Photo by @daniapea

Some easy boulder hopping up the river will get you to the waterfall. Photo by @daniapea

It’s hard to leave this spot — unless you know what lies over the next hill. Photo by @daniapea

Shortly thereafter (at approximately 3.5 km) is the first turn-off to the river. Cairns mark the trail split, and you will see a series of beautiful waterfalls below. A steep descent will get you down to these falls and the first opportunity for a dip. Here, the path is not so clear and losing the marked route may require some easy boulder hopping to get to the waterfall.

The crystal-clear rock pools of the Bobbejaansrivier (bevy of beauties not included). Photo by @daniapea

Photo by @the.reluctant.adventurer

Photo by @the.reluctant.adventurer

Photo by @the.reluctant.adventurer

Continuing along the main trail instead, another — lesser used — path will also take one down to the river, but the main trail winds on, with a slight incline before the valley opens up ahead of you. If you are in luck, you should be able to see the magnificent three-tiered waterfall in the distance, at the head of the valley and below Klein Wellington-Sneeukop peak.

At this point, one can continue straight towards the head of the valley and the main three-tiered waterfall feature, or take another trail split down to the river to enjoy a series of sublime pools and flowing waterfalls.

Should one wish to get to the three-tiered waterfall at the head of the valley, suitable scrambling skills and a head for heights are needed, as the last section is steep and tricky to navigate. This is not recommended for small groups or after heavy rains. The path disappears at this point and, if in doubt, it is not worth continuing as this section is slippery and can be dangerous.

Taking it all in — the second tier of the three-tier waterfall at the end of the trail. We didn’t go further, as the next scramble was too slippery and it was late in the day. Photo by @daniapea

Walking back out, the three-tiered waterfall can be seen far in the background, in the ravine. Photo by @daniapea

Conclusion

All in all, the Bobbejaansrivier trail is a delightful day out in an untouched valley enclosed by a bowl of mountains — and even though you may be just more than an hour’s walk back to civilisation, it will feel as if you’ve been immersed in the most isolated corner of the Cape Mountains.

Bookings / Permits

The Bainskloof area is protected and managed by CapeNature. Permits are necessary for all trails in the area, and cost is dependent on the number of people in your group. Please respect the use of the area and those who also wish to enjoy it by adhering to the CapeNature rules.

For more information call CapeNature on 087 087 8250, or email reservation.alert@capenature.co.za.

Download the Limietberg Hiking Brochure here.

Tips

• Print out two copies of your permit — one to carry with you, and one to leave on the dashboard of your car. Rangers check both hikers and vehicles, and you can be fined if you don’t have the relevant permit.
• Always carry water, even though you will walk near the river for some of the route. Ensure that every person in the group has a hat and a warm jacket for post-rock-pool swimming. Carry everything out that you brought in.
• Start early to avoid midday sun or afternoon heat. Depending on your pace, the first turn-off to the river may take an hour or more, and there is little shade en route.
• The Bobbejaansrivier Trail can be as long or short as you wish — spend all day exploring waterfalls and pools, or make it a half-day hike if you know where you’re going.
• There’s something for everyone on this trail — the easily accessible rock pools alone are a wonderful reward.