Moordenaarskaroo | Buffelsrivier Hiking Trail
10 day hike
Day 1: Arrival
Self-drive to Bloukrans Klein-Bewarea farm in the Moordenaarskaroo for start of hike. No Hiking.
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Afternoon tea/coffee; Dinner
Day 2: 20km
Starting the day in the Buffelsrivier riverbed - magnificent, exposed sandstone and mudstone rock faces, rock paintings and old ruins reveal the enigmatic character of this mighty river.
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Morning coffee & rusks; Afternoon tea/coffee; Dinner
Day 3: 20km
The route follows a gravel road/jeep track into a remote yet inhabited kloof of the Meintjiesplaas river. This river, when in full flood, attributed to the Laingsburg flood in 1981. Rough and beautiful.
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Morning coffee & rusks; Afternoon tea/coffee; Dinner
Day 4: 20km
The route turns east on the ‘Moordenaarskaroo’ gravel road to one of the central farms in the Moordenaarskaroo.
Accommodation: Established campsite with donkey for warm showers and flush toilets.
Meals: Morning coffee & rusks; Afternoon tea/coffee; Dinner
Day 5: 20km
Route turns north/northwest through veld on the edge of the Klein Roggeveld. The higher elevation brings a change of vegetation – September always promises some spectacular wild flowers.
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Morning coffee & rusks; Afternoon tea/coffee; Dinner
Day 6: 20km
The route turns northeast on a jeep/farm track to the foot of the Komsberg mountain range. You pass through the Western and Northern Cape and back into the Western Cape in one day!
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Morning coffee & rusks; Afternoon tea/coffee; Dinner
Day 7: 20km
Ascend the Komsberg through a kloof called ‘Besemgoedgat’ to an elevation of 1712m. To the south, you see the road less travelled; to the north, SALT and the eastern part of the Cederberg, and to the east, Merweville and beyond. Descend via the same route, now turning back northeast on a gravel road towards the overnight spot.
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Morning coffee & rusks; Afternoon tea/coffee; Dinner
Day 8: 20km
Route takes you mostly south – towards ‘home’ – on the Moordenaarskaroo gravel road.
Accommodation: Campsite with hot water and flush toilets.
Meals: Morning coffee & rusks; Afternoon tea/coffee; Dinner
Day 9: 20km
Still on the gravel road, turning west after 10km back to Bloukrans for the last night.
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Morning coffee & rusks; Afternoon tea/coffee; Dinner
Day 10: Day of Departure.
No hiking.
Recommended Departure time: After Breakfast
Meals: Morning coffee & rusks; Breakfast
Additional Information:
Drinking water is supplied.
Hikers bring their own: Breakfast (coffee, tea & rusks provided), snacks, lunch, and drinks (coffee & tea provided)
Hikers only carry a daypack with snacks and drinks. All other camping gear and belongings are transported daily to the next overnight spot.