Day hikes in Franschhoek Paarl and Stellenbosch mountains

Day hikes in Franschhoek Paarl and Stellenbosch mountains

Venture about 40 km inland from Cape Town and you will discover the world-famous Wineland region of the Western Cape. The magnificent surrounding mountain ranges offer not only a superb wine-producing area but also a series of generous valleys and geographical wonders to hike and explore. Rich in local history and boasting a spectacular diversity of fynbos, you are sure to get a taste of the best the Cape has to offer.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve, Jan Phillips Drive, Paarl South Africa

Paarl Nature reserve is situated 70km from Cape Town CBD. It is dominated by the huge granite rocks that date back more than 500 million years. The three rounded outcrops that forms Paarl Mountain are the second-largest granite outcrop in the world. Paarl meaning ‘pearl’ was so named for the pearlescent glitter of the wet granite after rains. On the foothills of these granite domes, you find the town of Paarl, the third oldest European Settlement in South Africa. We start at 427m (14001ft) and ascend Paarl Rock (543m /1781ft) to stunning views over the Drakenstein Valley and visit the historical old cannon, Then onto Gordon and Bretagne Rocks. We walk to the top of Bretagne Rock (649m/2129ft) with the help of a chain walkway. On a clear day one can see the Drankenstein Valley, False Bay, Table Mountain and Riebeeck-Kasteel Mountain. We descend and walk on a boardwalk through indigenous forest. and then onto a footpath between the two domes to Christmas Camp for a well-deserved rest under the old wild olive trees. From here we walk back to the start of the hike via Nantes dam and end with a walk through the Meulwater Wild Flower reserve Total Distance: Approx. 7 km

Duration: 5 hours

Stop At: Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve, Lambrechts Road, Franschhoek 7690 South Africa

Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve is found at the top of the Franschhoek pass about 15 minutes’ drive from the town centre. The Reserve is part of the UNESCO declared Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve and boasts spectacular views of the Franschhoek Valley (on a clear day one can see as far as Table Mountain), Spectacular fynbos diversity.
Route Description: The hike starts at the entrance gate, past Breakfast Rock and follows the westerly valley of the Perdekloof stream. The trail crosses the stream where we will have a well-deserved rest. Then carries on to the Look Out (1093m/3586ft) approx. 3km from the entry gate with superb panoramic views of the Wemmershoek valley and surrounding cliffs from where we double back to the entry gate. Total distance approx. 6km (3.72miles). The trail is fairly straight and rises approx. 360m/ 1181ft.


Duration: 5 hours

Stop At: Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, Jonkershoek Road, Stellenbosch South Africa

Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is situated 16km from Stellenbosch. Home to the majestic Jonkershoek Mountains with their high peaks and deep valleys. While you hike here you are constantly aware of the massive mountains and the amazing flora surrounding you. We need to obtain a permit at the gate and then drive to the start of the hike. We park the vehicle and start 6.9km circular route called Sossyskloof at 300m/984ft above sea level. The first section is flat with fynbos on both sides of the path. We cross a stream via a wooden bridge and start to ascend the western slopes of Swartboskloof for about 2 km, passing through a beautiful indigenous forest where we will have a rest in the shade before we traverse along a contour path to Sosyskloof waterfall. We hike on to a lookout with an amazing view over the Jonkershoek valley 800m/2625ft above sea level. From here we descend and walk back to the start.

Duration: 5 hours