Walks & Hikes
Explore helderberg on foot
Guided hikes and gentle interpretative day and night walks are held frequently throughout the year.
Hikes meet outside the Oak Cafe, no extra cost and no booking is required.
Day and night walks are limited to 25 persons, Cost for Members: Adults R50, scholars R25. Cost for Non-members: Adults R80, scholars R40. Bookings are essential via email.
Calendar
DAY WALKS
| Date | Walk | Time | Meet | |
|
Sunday 25 November |
Bird Walk |
6.30am |
Main Gate |
|
|
Sunday 29 November |
Fynbos Walk |
8.00am |
Visitor Centre |
|
|
Sunday 13 December |
Medicinal Plants Walk |
8.00am |
Visitor Centre |
|
|
Sunday 13 December |
Bird Walk |
6.30am |
Main Gate |
|
|
Wednesday 20 January |
Bird Walk |
6.30am |
Main Gate |
|
|
Sunday 24 January |
Indigenous Tree Walk |
8.00am |
Visitor Centre |
|
|
Sunday 21 February |
Bird Walk |
6.30am |
Main Gate |
|
|
Sunday 28 February |
Disa Gorge |
8.00am |
Visitor Centre |
|
|
Wednesday 10 March |
Bird Walk |
6.30am |
Main Gate |
Night Walks
| Date | Walk | Time | Meet | ||
|
Saturday 14 November |
New Moon/Firefly |
8.00pm |
Main Gate |
||
|
Saturday 28 November |
Full Moon |
8.00pm |
Main Gate |
||
|
Saturday 12 December |
New Moon |
8.00pm |
Main Gate |
||
|
Saturday 16 January |
New Moon |
8.00pm |
Main Gate |
||
|
Saturday 30 January |
Full Moon |
8.00pm |
Main Gate |
||
|
Saturday 13 February |
New Moon |
8.00pm |
Main Gate |
||
|
Saturday 27 February |
Full Moon |
8.00pm |
Main Gate |
||
|
Saturday 13 March |
New Moon |
7.00pm |
Main Gate |
||
|
Saturday 27 March |
Full Moon |
7.00pm |
Main Gate |
Hikes
| Date | Trail | Grade | Start | Time |
See trail & grading info lower down on this page
TRAIL info
- The Pink (West Peak and The Dome) goes to the top of the Helderberg Mountain which is outside the Reserve and for experienced hikers only.
- The Green (Woodies Walk) is also outside the Reserve.
- The Brown (Watsonia) is the only non-circular route.
- The Orange (Baboon Traverse) is a new section of trail linking Watsonia, West Peak and The Dome via Porcupine Buttress.
| Trail | Colour | Grade | Est duration | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baboon Traverse | Orange | 1A | 10 minutes | 400m |
| Sugarbird Walk | Yellow | 1A | 45 minutes | 2.9km |
| Watsonia | Brown | 2A | 3 hours + break | 4km |
| Caracal | Black | 1B | 1 hour + break | 4.4km |
| Protea | Blue | 2A | 2 hours + break | 6.2km |
| Leopard Loop | Red | 2B | 3 hours + break | 8.2km |
| Woodies Walk | Green | 2B | 5 hours + break | 5 hours |
| West Peak | Pink | 3C | 7 hours + break | 7 hours |
| The Dome | Pink | 3C | 8 hours + break | 8 hours |
Grading
| 1 Easy | Easy walking on an established path with a relatively smooth surface. |
| 2 Moderate | Walking on a path, frequently rocky, with occasional use of hands required (easy scrambling). |
| 3 Strenuous | Walking on or off a path. Frequent use of hands (scrambling) to pull oneself upward. Or steep downhill sections with loose stones. Or hikes where good balance or strong ankles are required. |
| A | No exposure to heights |
| B | Some exposure to heights |
| C | Moderate exposure to heights |
Important information
Booking a walk
It is essential to book attendance on walks at a nominal booking fee, payable in advance. The charge for ALL walks are as follows:
Members:
- Adults R50
- Scholars R25
Non members:
- Adults R100
- Scholars R50
For more information and bookings send an email to the Friends: info@helderbergnaturereserve.co.za. Booking for a Walk closes at 12 noon on the Friday before. Please note that bookings are made via email and EFT. Once we have received your proof of payment and sent you our confirmation email, your booking will be guaranteed. Please provide your confirmation email to security on the day to avoid paying entrance fees.
Should a Walk have to be cancelled for any reason (e.g. inclement weather), you may be advised via a text message or phone call. We do not do refunds so please send us an email if you would like to exchange your booking for another walk.
Walks / Leaders
The day and the night walks will usually be led by Andreas Groenewald, while bird walks will usually be led by Jill Mortimer (a member of the Somerset West Bird Club).
Day walks are held on the last Sunday of the month, commencing from the Visitor Centre in The Reserve at 08:00 and last approximately 3 hours accept the bird walk held on Wednesdays/Sundays starting at 07:30 depending on the season.
Walks are not strenuous as they will be in the lower garden of the Reserve. You are nevertheless advised to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water to drink.
Night Walks
These will be held on the Saturday closest to the new or full moon. Meet at the entrance gate to the Reserve. Walks will be in the lower area of The Reserve and are not strenuous. Comfortable walking shoes are advised and most important, participants are asked to bring a hand torch, warm top, water and snack with them.
Sunset Supper Walks
Held on Saturday evenings.
Meet at the Visitor Centre in the Reserve, times vary depending on the season. The walk lasts approximately 4 hours. There will be a gradual climb to the bench on the Caracal Trail, a moderate fitness level is required. Once there, participants will watch the sunset while enjoying a supper (bring your own picnic and hand torch) while taking a closer look at the night sky.
Due to popularity of these Night Walks, it is recommended that you book early.
Guided Hikes
These walks are guided by two experienced hikers. All walks start from the kiosk near the restaurant in the Reserve. No booking, as such, is required.
Appropriate hiking gear is essential, particularly in winter. Guides may refuse to allow persons to join the hike if clothing or footwear are not suitable. It is essential to carry 1-2 litres of water.
Please note: Non-members will need to pay entry fees at the reserve entrance. In the event of bad weather, the walks will be deferred to the following week, starting at the same time as scheduled.
For more information contact: Don Reid 072 270 7972
A legacy of life
The rich natural environment of the Helderberg Nature Reserve is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life.
