Walker Bay Trail |3 DAY ITINERARY
3 days – 4 nights
Day 0 : Arrival at Farm215 early afternoon
Day 1: Farm215 to Witkrans Farm | 4 hours
A shortish day through the fynbos mountains along the Kraaibosch dam, through Flower valley, a large valley filled with fynbos and indigenous forests and a Unesco supported project for sustainable fynbos harvesting and education.
Day 2: Witkrans to Stanford River Lodge | 5 hours
We will pass through Grootbos Fynbos Nature Reserve, famous as a botanical hot-spot. Before we reach De Kelders (Gansbaai – a fishing village) we will head west through the coastal shrubland and traverse the vast magical almost surreal sand drifts (Grys Dunes) of die Plaat. The mysterious landscape will give way to the beach
We ride through the Walker Bay Nature Reserve to the unspoilt white beaches of the Walker Bay whale sanctuary. This is arguably the best land based area in the world to watch Southern Right whales (whale watching capital of the world from June to December – whales and their calves often come within metres of the coastline). Admire these magnificent creatures and their ‘aquabatic’ displays, splashing, crashing and blowing, breaching, lobtailing, spyhopping and sailing close to shore.
Enjoy the long, sandy beaches and experience the thrill of beach gallops. Halfway to Hermanus, we turn into the D3wns and head for the Kleinriver and the oasis of Stanford. We sleep at Stanford River Lodge with time to swim and canoe in the river.
Day 3: Stanford River lodge to Farm215 | 6-7 hours
This is the long day. A full 37km takes us back along the beach , through dunes and over 2 mountain ranges. Back to farm215
Walker Bay Trail |5 DAY ITINERARY
5 days – 6 nights
Day 0 : Arrival at Farm215 early afternoon
Day 1: Farm215 to Windheuwel Farm | 3-4 hours
A shortish day through the fynbos mountains along the Kraaibosch dam, through Flower valley, a large valley filled with fynbos and indigenous forests and a Unesco supported project for sustainable fynbos harvesting and education.
Day 2: Windheuwel to Stanford River Lodge | 5-6 hours
We will pass through Grootbos Fynbos Nature Reserve, famous as a botanical hot-spot. Before we reach De Kelders (Gansbaai – a fishing village) we will head west through the coastal shrubland and traverse the vast magical almost surreal sand drifts (Grys Dunes) of die Plaat. The mysterious landscape will give way to the beach
We ride through the Walker Bay Nature Reserve to the unspoilt white beaches of the Walker Bay whale sanctuary. This is arguably the best land based area in the world to watch Southern Right whales (whale watching capital of the world from June to December – whales and their calves often come within metres of the coastline). Admire these magnificent creatures and their ‘aquabatic’ displays, splashing, crashing and blowing, breaching, lobtailing, spyhopping and sailing close to shore.
Enjoy the long, sandy beaches and experience the thrill of beach gallops. Halfway to Hermanus, we turn into the Downs and head for the Kleinriver and the oasis of Stanford. We sleep at Stanford River Lodge with time to swim and canoe in the river.
Day 3: Beach ride to lagoon mouth | 4 hours
A round trip. We follow the Kleinriver to the lagoon . Riding on the water’s edge has wonderful views of the surrounding mountains and wonderful birdwatching , sure to include sights of flamingoes. A shorter day, we will come back to Stanford river lodge for lunch. There is an option of wine tasting at Springfontein farm or taking a canoe onto the river for a paddle for sunset! A chance to laze on the river’s edge, eat and replenish.
Day 4: Stanford River lodge to Witkrans Farm | 6 hours
This is a lengthy return long day. Day follows the Klein river before cutting through the fynbos dunes to approach the beach at Meerkom in the Walker Bay nature reserve, adding 4km of beach riding to the day. This makes for a full 35km taking us back along the beach , through dunes and over mountain ranges down into Flower valleyand onto our cottage at Witkrans Farm. Highlights are beach gallops, maginificent mountain fynbos and views of the ocean.
Day 5: Witkrans Farm to Farm215 via Pearly Beach nature reserve l 6 hours
A glorious day of mountain vistas, beach canters, trailing rock pools and finally cutting back inland to home at Farm215
Southernmost tip Trail
6 day – 7 nights
Day 0 : arrive Farm215 mid- afternoon. Introduction and Dinner
Day 1: Farm 215 to Witkrans Farm / 4 hours
From Farm215, we make our way through protea and fynbos plantations via the hilltops overlooking the wide Valley of the Uilkraalsrivier with its green meadows. We cross the Uilkraalsrivier and climb the kloofs to “Witvoetskloof” a mountain flower farm. From here we descend the mountain to Baviaansfonteyn. This unique farm is graced by ancient trees and a myriad of mountain streams. It is unlike any other location, with mountains rising behind giving a sense of seclusion and nourishment not found anywhere else in the rugged and harsh terrains of the Overberg. We arrive early to spend a half-day enjoying
Day 2: Witkrans– Klein Paradys / 5 hours
We ride down from Mount Dyer into the lowland and limestone fynbos of Heidehof and Avilla, situated in the Rooi Strandveld, and ride towards the sea.
Reach the coast just before lunch, passing Pearly Beach and onto Klein Paradys.
This area is a centre of limestone fynbos. Soils are alkaline, organic-rich and usually confined to small pot holes in the limestone pavement. Colonisation of this type of ground by acid-loving fynbos plants was a major physiological challenge, resulting in the evolution of many limestone specific species. Experience the unique scent and fragrance of this limestone landscape.
We will ride over a long undisturbed sand beach with a lot of rocky outcrops and pools. Depending on time, weather and our horses’ moods, there will be an opportunity to play on the beach. The horses are always alive to the splash of the waves cooling their feet.
Day 3: Klein Paradys to Ratel River / 5 hours
We continue along the coast to Buffelsjagsrivier and then on past Quoin rock to Ratel River for the overnight stop,situated right on the coast. Ratel River is an old limestone built estate that forms the gateway to the Agulhas National Park. Minnie Groenewald of the local community, will treat us to local flavours and cuisine of the Overberg. Enjoy the stars under the bright African sky and listen to the sound of the ocean at night.
Agulhas National Park / Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative (ABI)
The Agulhas Plain is a prime conservation area because it is exceptionally rich in plant species and was once covered with lowland fynbos and renosterveld. Approximately 2500 indigenous plant species with 100 endemic to the area and 112 threatened species are found here. The lowlands of the Cape Floral Kingdom is a global biodiversity hotspot. It contains some of the world’s most endangered ecosystems, renosterveld and wetlands yet very little remains.
Three hundred years ago, black rhinoceros and other large mammals roamed free on renosterveld plains – of the 81 terrestrial mammals known from the Cape Floral Kingdom, 72 used to occur on the Agulhas Plain. The bloubok, a spectacular relative of the Roan antelope, used to live exclusively on the Overberg renosterveld plains, but was shot to extinction in the 1700s. The geometric tortoise – one of the world’s rarest – is found only in renosterveld and is highly threatened. Renosterveld is often considered the ugly sister of Fynbos but it is really a Cinderella. For most of the year this vegetation looks dry and dull but during spring the incredible displays of delicate geophytes and carpets of annuals transform this typically grey vegetation into a spectacle of variety and colour. It’s really a wonderful vegetation often overlooked – it has the highest diversity of bulbs for any vegetation type in the world.
There are also a wide variety of wetlands in the area. They may at first site appear to be smelly wastelands but these wetlands with their complex ecosystems support specialised forms of life, some of which occur nowhere else. About 130 species of birds and also many plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals are inter-dependent on the wetlands’ intricate food webs. The Agulhas coastline also supports a rich marine and intertidal life and rare coastal birds breed along it. The nearby islands are home to many seabirds and seals.
Not only is the area of great ecological importance, but also an area with a rich cultural heritage. More than 100 shipwrecks dot the coastline and many other national monuments and historic buildings are found in the area. Stone hearths and pottery together with shell middens and other archaeological sites are lined with the era of Khoisan migration and settlements.
This area is thus part of what is called the Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative (ABI). The Agulhas National Park was proclaimed in 1999 with land of 100ha around the lighthouse at the southernmost tip of Africa, this has been expanded to 20 000ha through the farms in the coastal strip which we traverse on the way to Cape Agulhas. The eventual goal is a conservation area of 120 000ha.
Day 4: RatelRiver to Renosterkop / 5 hours
Explore incredible dune systems and rocky coastline around Brandfontein. This day is short with regards to distance and allows us time to take in the powerful nature of this untouched area. We will have lunch in the middle of the dune system and take advantage of this surreal terrain for photography and exploration.
We will be staying at Renosterkop, another of the historic buildings found in the area. A plaque at the roadside indicates that the buildings are amongst the oldest in the Strandveld, built from 1795.
Meals will be prepared( again by local community of Elim) around the open fire, usually “braai” or potjiekos” typically South African and often a surprise. Enjoy campfire, potjiekos and stories….
The horses wander, paddocked around the house so you will have them close enough to hear their nickering through the night.
Day 5: Renosterkop around southernmost tip of Africa and to Rietfontein / 6 hrs
We will visit the southernmost tip of Africa. Despite the number of places called “Two Oceans” in Cape Town, the residents of Agulhas will be quick to assure you that the mighty Indian and Atlantic oceans do indeed meet at the Southern Tip of the African continent at Cape Agulhas, and not in Cape Town, even if Cape Point is a tad more dramatic. A low key cairn marks the furthest south one can go in Africa without getting one’s toes wet. A demarcation line indicates the Indian Ocean on the left and the Atlantic on the right. Be warned: strong winds and fierce elements in this wild powerful place are not uncommon. This dramatic wind-swept coastline is also known as the graveyard of ships, as more than 120 wrecks have been recorded in the area.
Standing there watching seabirds hunt their respective dinners, we have no doubt that you will feel a sense of awe that you are at the very southernmost tip of Africa.
Once we leave the southernmost tip, for hours there will be only you and the rest of the small group of horse riders in undiscovered parts of the Western Cape. We will be alone with nature and without any other human beings or man-made structures. Public roads will be rarities you will cross at a few short intervals.
.
Day 6: Rietfontein to farm215 / 8 hours
A wondrous trail through the fynbos covered mountains providing stunning vistas of the coastline below. The last day of trailing brings us through the hamlet of Baardskeerdersbos and then over the mountains to base at Farm215.
This is a long day in the saddle. Lovely open riding, long trots and canters. Home to Farm215 for some well earned luxury.