Holhoek Hiking Trail

About Holhoek Hiking Trail

Start: base camp, Holhoek Farm between Bethelehem and Senekal
Finish: base camp
Duration: 2 days, 20 km
Fitness: moderate
Our tip: the highlight is the examples of rock art, and the two Iron Age huts built against the back wall of one of the caves

Not far from the popular towns of Ficksburg, Fouriesburg and Clarens, in the heart of the Witteberg Mountains, is a two-day, figure of eight base camp trail.

The sandstone koppies so prevalent in this area of the Witteberg are said to be all that remains of what was once a desert.

The beauty of the area is paramount – naked rocks of various interesting formations, trees of all shapes and sizes, mountain streams, kloofs, a series of caves (some endowed with San rock paintings), valleys, various ladders and bridges up and along the mountain face and a pleasingly designed route combine to make a particularly enjoyable hike.

The route, designed by Tiaan Strydom of Discovery Trails, is divided into two day trails of 13 km and 7 km apiece. Nights are spent in the same base camp that is, by all accounts, five star when it comes to hiking huts. Two thatched huts fronted by a dam have electricity, hot showers and flush toilets with a lapa and braai facilities that include a fridge, hot plate, pots, pans and kettle.

There is also a wheelchair friendly trail to a waterfall along well prepared and maintained paths.

The beauty of the hike's terrain is difficult to encapsulate in words, but hikers rave about the wide variety of birds, sandstone cliffs, vegetation and the access to rock art.