Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Trail

About Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Trail

Start: Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area, 35 km from Porterville
End: where you start
Duration: 1 to 5 days
Fitness: moderate
Our tip: there are self-catering houses within the wilderness that you can book through Cape Nature

The Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area lies east of Porterville, south of the Cederberg Wilderness Area. Through the wilderness run a series of day and overnight hiking trails that are clearly marked and fairly easy to follow.

Although there are pre-designated hikes – parking area to De Tronk via jeep track, De Tronk to Die Hel, Groot Kliphuis to Perdevlei via jeep track etc. - you are also able to follow whichever path takes your fancy. Sticking to pre-designated trails is not imperative, although staying on paths is a good idea as the fynbos can be pretty rough on the legs.

Groot Winterhoek is the hardy hiker's dream – rare fynbos, incredible mountain vistas, babbling streams, swim holes and enough designated path to keep one hiking for about five days. But the emphasis is definitely on the rock formations – you will be hard pressed to find such incredible arrangements of rock elsewhere.

There are basic shelters at Perdevlei and huts at De Tronk, but otherwise where you sleep overnight is up to you. Open fires are not allowed anywhere in the veld including the huts at De Tronk. There are also no other toilet facilities bar those at De Tronk, so pack a spade!

Hikers are allowed to explore any caves and and rock art, although obviously the art is protected and should not be tampered with. These are a sign that people lived here some 6 000 years ago.

To book your hike contact Cape Nature or Jacana Travel Marketing. And download a map of the wilderness on the Cape Nature website.