Reiche Hiking Trail, September
Hike Leader: Libby Deysel
Report: Peter Wedge
Libby Deysel had arranged this hike which was new territory for the majority of the 17 souls who braved a blisteringly hot day with very little if any shade towards the end of the walk in the early afternoon.
The following hikers made the day and at the Fountain Hill Estate location at 08h00 on the Sunday 10th September.
Libby Deysel – Leader
Ali Engelbrecht, Karin Allan Sandi Christie,
Phateka Ntaba,
Astrid Fraser
Beth, Angela and Lawrence Bester Anita Cohen,
Vanessa Taylor Morgan Naidoo
Heidi Olivier Merle Ryan
Mel Veness Barry Jennings
Peter Wedge
The Estate is on the Wartburg road and is probably about 20 000 hectares in total with sugar cane and other crops. It’s also a game farm with giraffe, wildebeest, Nyala and other antelope roaming freely around the estate.
There are also chalets (self catering) where you can stay overnight and this would make a very rewarding weekend within an hour from Howick or 40 minutes from Pietermaritzburg. It’s also a mountain bikers dream spot with great vista views.
We drove after everyone had arrived to the starting point for the Gorge Walk. We saw the waterfall from the top of the gorge escarpment. Very similar to Brides Falls in the Karkloof. With the dry weather recently the water coming over the top is like Mares Tail Falls – wispy and not very much water. The Gorge itself is a geological fault of outstanding natural beauty.
We hiked to the start of the gorge descent about 3kms which eventually becomes very rocky and you have to watch your step. It’s probably also an offroad trail. Ali had recently bought a Toyota Hilux with all bells and whistles. This would be a good challenge for the vehicle off road capability.
The descent is probably around 200m which at the gorge bottom becomes quite a pleasant grassy trail with the river to your right on the way into the waterfall – about 2kms away. The Gorge itself is quite ethereal – another world!
We all had a break here and the indefatigable Ali, Mel and Heidi decided to scramble to the bottom of the waterfall itself by way of an obstacle course of boulder hopping. The three of them made a great pic under the fall itself and they had the benefit of the cooling spray.
Back now along the grassy path and the ascent to the top of the gorge. The gorge walk there and back is about 8kms but seemed longer in the heat of the day.
We then entered the Butterfly Trails sans butterflies! Probably too hot for them. This took us to the top of the escarpment with superb views of the surrounding countryside. Albert Falls is within view from the escarpment.
After another short break we walked in the heat of the day along a rough track at the top of the escarpment with large rock outcrops for about 3kms until we saw the cars parked in the distance.
We all had a break here again, water now getting low for most of us and then the seemingly never ending walk in full sun on the dirt road to the cars. Bliss and shade at last but all of us feeling the heat and needing 15/20 mins or so to recover.
This was a great hike with fantastic views and plenty of game to boot.
Well done to Libby for organising the hiking trail – 13kms and 5 hours according to Ali.
All glad to be back, later in our respective huts and hot showers to follow!
