Eagle Cove Trail

About Eagle Cove Trail

Start: Kumbagana Game Park, close to Rustenburg
Finish: Kumbagana Game Park
Duration: 2 days, 18 km
Fitness: easy to moderate
Our tip: a pool at base camp makes cooling off afterwards that much easier

On the same road you would travel to reach Mountain Sanctuary Park, Kumbagana Game Park lies just before the Sparkling Waters Hotel (good to know as it is a perfect spot for a good cool drink, or tea and cake en route home).

The hikes, for there are three routes all circular, trail through the Magaliesberg mountains renowned for its kloofs and ravines, unusual rock formations and mountain pools. With the added bonus of game viewing along the way.

Routes one and three combine well into a 13 km route, whilst route two is 6 km long. Of course there are no rules, and should your group of hikers need only a 6km boost before you head back to civilisation, so be it. But effectively, for the more hardened hiker, the combination makes two days of good hiking through the Rotsboom and Hamerkop kloofs.

The overnight hut is a 2 km brisk walk from the car park and you may want to factor this in to your plans if you intend arriving late on a Friday evening.

Another note worth making is that the descent into Hamerkop kloof is not for sissies. The sheer slope is only possible with ladders and if anyone in the party suffers from vertigo then it is tough going. Hikers say the ladder is well anchored and secure.

Route 1 is 4 km, covering the top part of Hamerkop kloof.

Route 2 is 6 km and is for those with more experience, because of the ladder descent. The rest of the hike is pretty steep too, although the stream will give you plenty of swimming stop opportunities.

Route 3 is 9 km with a number of twists and turns before cresting the Magaliesberg.