Pakhuisberg Day Walk

About Pakhuisberg Day Walk

Start: Kliphuis campsite
Finish: Kliphuis campsite
Duration: 13 km
Fitness: moderate to difficult
Our tip: This is one of the routes mapped on the new version of the Peter Slingsby Hike The Cederberg map (northern section)

Pakhuisberg Day Walk is a circular walk in the northern Cederberg to the north of the R364. You will need a permit from the Kliphuis Campsite run by Cape Nature (if you have a Wild Card then the permits are free of charge).

The Pakhuisberge, or 'warehouse mountains' in Afrikaans, are the mountains to the north of the Pakhuis Pass. Further north they join the Nardouwsberge. Visually they are rugged, slate grey and gnarled like the bark of a tree.

The hike begins north of the Kliphuis campsite with views ahead of the Pakhuis Pass and Faith - one of the three Pakuis Peaks (the other two are Hope and Charity). To the east are views of Kliphuis Peak and Rocklands.

Head east. It is not long before you crest the nek and then the trail veers west. Look out for particularly unusual rock formations. Peter Slingsby has added leopard spoor on this part of the map, which he calls the vlakte. Just beyond the vlakte the views back should bring Charity into view.

Follow the path on for some distance looking out for the rock shelter. It is particularly obvious as two rocks meet creating a triangular shelter or cave. After some time Pilaarsberg and Noordkrans should come into view to the north west.

A descent will take you past a plunge pool quite close to the path, depending on rainfall in the area. The path heads east shortly after the scree forest with Kliphuis Ridge coming into view and Faith in the distance; look out for Secret Falls on the Kliphuis River to your right. This is a good place to stop for a while as you have only about a quarter of the hike left to do.