By Vicky · Published Jun. 5th, 2021 · Updated Mar. 10th, 2023
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A stunning two-day hike in a beautiful wilderness three hours from Cape Town. Climb up into the mountains of Boosmansbos Wilderness Area and overnight in a basic hut in the middle of nature before heading back down into the forests of Grootvadersbosch the next day.
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Location
This walk starts from Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve Office. The last 15 km of the road are gravel. The final section is uphill and if it has rained very heavily a normal sedan car may struggle. This trail is a convenient stopover on the way to the Garden Route from Cape Town. You hike through Groovadersbosch to reach the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area.
Boosmansbos Hiking Trail Route & Map
Get the route by downloading the .gpx or .kml file below. For navigation with Maps.me on your mobile phone, simply download the .kml file and open to add it to the Maps.me bookmarks.
We checked in with the office at Grootvadersbosch before repacking our hiking rucksacks and setting off along the main track towards the mountains.
Tips
- Take: sunhat and sunscreen, plenty of water and food and camping gear (possible to stay in a hut)
- A stream near the two overnight huts can be used for water – we used a UV water purifier* to clean it before drinking.
- On the way back down you can swim in a stream.
- A permit is needed for this hike (email [email protected]), R70 per night per person
- The two huts provide shelter but nothing more – take your own mats, sleeping bags etc. We set up our small tent inside the hut.
Day 1 of hike in Grootvadersbosch and Boosmansbos
The route is initially on a wide concrete path and heads through the forested valley of Grootvadersbosch. As soon as you reach the middle of the valley the long climb upwards begins.
Into Boosmansbos Wilderness Area
You soon leave the forest behind and continue upwards on a good trail through fynbos full of birds. When you leave the forest, you leave Grootvaderbosch and enter Boosmansbos Wilderness Area.
The trail continues up and slightly over the ridgeline, revealing many more mountainous ridges stretching into the distance.
After continuing fairly flat for a few kilometres, the path descends slightly and the two little stone huts of Helderfontein will come into view.
At the Helderfontein Huts
We stayed in the smaller of the two huts at Helderfontein. There would be room for at least 4-6 to sleep on camping mats in this hut. The larger hut could accommodate 6-8 adults easily. It was surprisingly cosy in the hut.
Day 2 of hike in Grootvadersbosch and Boosmansbos
The weather was better on our second day and we woke to beautiful sunshine. After a quick breakfast of instant porridge and a cup of tea, we set off along the path and down the mountainside.
It was easy walking on a nice path, all downhill until we reached a deep kloof not far from the end. To cross this the path heads a long way down before climbing diagonally up the other side. Since it was sunny we cooled off with a lovely swim in the stream flowing through the kloof.
After climbing out of the kloof it wasn’t far back to the forest and small valley of Grootvadersbosch. We extended our hike by 1 km on a short loop through the forest to see the tall redwood trees. We then hiked the final little uphill back to the car park.
Read about more overnight hikes in South Africa, such as the Arangieskop Hike, Boesmanskloof Hiking Trail, 4 Day Hike in the Cederberg, or check out our South Africa Hiking Routes Page.
This two-day hike in Grootvadersbosch and Boosmansbos Wilderness area was the second stop on our two-month road trip around South Africa which we wrote up as a book, Chasing Ostriches*. Find out more by clicking the link!
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