Article submitted and written by Anne Foy
The rush of scaling a mountain and witnessing the breathtaking landscape beneath your feet as you reach your victory, of gazing at roaring campfires beneath a sky of stars, of plunging into the refreshing waters of a tranquil river after a long day of hiking and cycling – the joys and challenges of the great outdoors are simply unparalleled. Getting out into the open and escaping the pressures of modern life is something which everyone aspires to do, enjoying the rare chance of reconnecting with nature and experiencing the elements firsthand. For some of us, these moments are just a few steps away, while for others, finding that coveted outdoor time can be difficult, especially for starters. But preparing for your first outdoor excursion is easier than you think. Continue reading
This one’s a great introduction to hiking in the mountains behind Cape Town, is easy, but nevertheless makes for a delightful morning or afternoon’s outing, with much more than expected in the way of views, flora and fauna. Your total walking time there and back won’t be much more than 2.5 – 3 hours along excellent tracks, but with all there is to see, it will take at least twice that long to do it justice. Before you go, download a free Kirstenbosch map from 
To get to the start, turn west off SH50 into Wakarara Road, towards the mountains. It is a good, sealed road, which eventually becomes a good, but narrow, gravel road where it enters Parks Peak Station. Keep going (about 20km from SH50) until you get to a farm gate. Go through, and leave the gate as you found it. From here it might be rutted and pot-holed, so take care. About 500m further you’ll get to another gate – do as for the first gate, and follow the road-now-turned-into-farm-track through a third gate until you get to the car park at an information panel on the bank of the Makaroro River. This area used to be the site of Yeoman’s Mill, and there are some remnants and relics remaining, including an old, rusty boiler and a few chimney remains dotted over the paddocks. 
