Summit Trail, Kgaswane Reserve

About Summit Trail, Kgaswane Reserve

Start: basecamp, Witkruiskrans
Finish: basecamp, Witkruiskrans
Duration: 25.3 km, 2 days
Fitness: difficult
Our tip: take cooking facilities with you as the braai area at Witkruiskrans is not under cover

Kgaswane Mountain Reserve, originally known as the Rustenburg Nature Reserve, lies in the Magaliesberg, roughly an hour and a half from Johannesburg. Its 4 257 hectares serve as the backdrop for the self-guided Summit Trail, a two-day backpack hike that includes rock formations, the chance of spotting the sable antelope, and the Tierkloof waterfall - one of the highlights of the trail and a great swimming hole.

The hike begins at Witkruiskrans camp, a collection of three large A-frame huts, two of which come with six beds in each, whilst the third functions as a kitchen. There is a flush toilet and a bucket shower.

Day one is best begun early as it starts with an ascent that is very steep and heavy going if in the heat of the day. But the views at the top are, by all accounts, worth the slog. You will know you're in the home stretch when you reach the beacon indicating Naga Camp.

Naga camp lies on the west side of the reserve and also takes up to 12 hikers in two rooms, with a flush loo, and bucket shower.

Day two climbs again up the western ridge and follows the summit to Boekenhout Knop. The hike then descends into a ravine filled with rock pools and the chance to swim. The trail joins the Baviaanskrans trail thereafter with a steep climb to the beacon at Bakenkop, before heading back to basecamp.

Some hikers recommend doing the hike using Naga camp as the start.