Hamerkop Route Hike - Gifberg

By Vicky · Published Jan. 26th, 2026

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The Hamerkop Route at Gifberg Holiday Farm is a short yet challenging hike past and up gorgeous waterfalls (though dry at times!).

Hamerkop Route Hike Map

Location

The Hamerkop Route Hike starts at Gifberg Holiday Farm, located here. It’s about 4 hours north of Cape Town, and 3 hours south of Springbok. See our overall Gifberg Holiday Farm Guide for more details.

Tips

Don’t forget a sunhat and plenty of water. The weather can change quickly, especially in summer when thunderstorms suddenly appear, so take a rain jacket.
This route can be slippery after rain. There is some scrambling on this hike and jumping across/wading through water, so it’s not for everyone.
In the wet season, the waterfalls are really great, while in the summer, they may run dry.
You can swim in the pools along this route (if not dry).
Useful for many hikes, get an offline hiking App such as Organic Maps.
For other hikes here, check our Gifberg Guide. Find even more hikes in our South Africa Hiking Guide.

Hamerkop Route Hiking Route

This walk starts from next to the bridge, on the opposite side to the reception and camping. You’ll see a hiking sign close to the bridge, heading south along the river (towards the camping area). Don’t accidentally take the path north, as this hike is the Gifboom Route and much longer.

The hiking trail starts through the bush near the river. It then swings left, away from the river, and through more vegetation. In the wet winter season, the path can get slightly overgrown and be a bit tricky to find, so keep an eye out for the signs. Make sure to check out the Bushman Paintings at the overhang!

Further on, you reach the river again. It’s quite rocky here, with fun orange cliffs and several waterfalls. Keep a close eye on the signs, as you cross back and forth across the water before half-scrambling up the cliffs.

Hamerkop Route Hike - Gifberg, south africa

potholes and pools for swimming on the hammerkop hike in gifberg

At the top, the route continues further along the stream, with lots of potholes and pools for swimming. Eventually, the route heads left and down the other side of the stream for a short distance. The trail then bends right, heading towards the road.

The final section of this walk is down the road. There’s then a small cut-through leading diagonally off past the barn, bringing you back to the main buildings. This is the end of the Hamerkop Route Hike at Gifberg Holiday Farm.