THE TRAIL
ABOUT BREEDEKLOOF CAMINO
THE TRAIL &
WHAT TO EXPECT
THE TRAIL
WHAT TO EXPECT
ABOUT BREEDEKLOOF CAMINO
Your adventure begins in the Haweqwa Nature Reserve at the foot of the Sneeukop mountains approximately 14km from Rawsonville town centre. Your destination: Dwarsberg Trout Hideaway – a stunning fruit farm nestled away in Stettynskloof.
Dwarsberg is undoubtedly one of Breedekloof’s hidden gems, known for its impressive close-up mountain views and serene atmosphere.
Check-in and registration is from 16:30 – 17:30. We will start the Breedekloof Camino with an information session and a welcome braai. Dwarsberg can be found on google maps, but please confirm the directions if you are uncertain.
The Breedekloof Camino starts off in Stettynskloof not too far from where you lodged the previous night at Dwarsberg. We begin with a relaxed and steady walk on the contours of the Kweekkraalberg that assures stunning panoramic views of the valley.
After a few km’s we will walk on the south-eastern border of Dwarsberg and then work ourselves towards the farm's fruit orchards. Dwarsberg has been designed to have fruit ready for harvesting almost every month of the year which includes apples, pears, avocados, mandarin naartjies, lemons or hanepoot grapes. If we encounter ripe fruit on our way, you will be allowed to pick fruit from the orchard and enjoy it as a snack.
From here we will exit the valley and pass along the historic horse carriage pathways on our way into Louwshoek. This used to be the only way into the valley before 1950. We will then walk alongside the Holsloot river that provides Rawsonville with fresh water, until we reach the foot of Wolweberg mountain where we will end for the day.
From here you will be transferred to the overnight venue at Monte Rosa Guesthouse where you can kick your feet in the air and enjoy the hospitality of Rawsonville’s very own luxury guesthouse built in 1904. The key here is to relax and take in the day’s walk as you prepare for a delicious locally prepared meal, drinks and desert. Luxurious beds with white linen will be waiting.
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We begin our walking day 2 at the exact same place we stopped the previous day; at the foot of Wolweberg mountain. Here we will start our most challenging accent of the Breedekloof Camino and zigzag our way up the mountain to complete an elevation gain of 430 metres. Again, this will not be a sprint to the top, but rather a steady climb with enough time to rest along the way.
We'll make sure to make it worth your while by throwing in a surprise drink at an elevation you’ve never had something like this before and to reward your efforts, you experience a full 360-degree view of the Breedekloof - a view that has the potential to pull a deep emotional string or two.
From here we will make our way down on the western side of the mountain and follow a rich fynbos pathway leading to the Rooikrans Mountains, passing vineyards and ending at Du Toitskloof Wines where you will enjoy your first wine tasting.
After the wine tasting you will be transferred to the overnight venue at ATKV Goudini Spa hot springs. Now you can take the time to relax your muscles, unwind and melt away any tension in Goudini Spa’s hot pools (or if you're an early bird, you can take a dip the next morning). At Goudini Spa you will enjoy 5-star chalets with another beautiful view overlooking the valley to Brandvlei dam.
Walking day 3 will begin in Goudini Spa and work its way around the Badsberg mountain into the Slanghoek Valley. The magnificent Slanghoek Peak will soon be in view as this stunning wine valley unfolds in the morning sunlight. The natural beauty combined with farming artistry unite to create a truly enchanting vista. When we reach Remhoogte’s farm dam we will cross over to the opposite side of the valley and enjoy our second formal wine tasting at Jason’s Hill Private Cellar.
From here we will follow a mountain trail for several km’s giving a different and breathtaking angle on Badsberg with the Breëriver region as a backdrop. The trail leads into a lush fynbos area as we meander towards Opstal Wine Estate for a coffee and scrumptious local piece of cake/pastry of your choice.
Accommodation for the night is just around the corner from there at the well-known Slanghoek Mountain Resort. Here you are in for another treat! Overnight in their luxury eco units known as the Pearview Cottages. These modern units are situated high up on a hill behind the resort with a forest of tall blue gum trees in the background. The cottages offer exquisite views of the surrounding mountains and the gorgeous Slanghoek Valley.
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The first 7km of walking day 4 will be on a high contour pathway on the back side of the Badsberg mountain going in the direction of Hugoskraal. Expect scenic vistas of the Cossacks mountains and Lategansberg as we exit the Slanghoek Valley. From here we will cross over Kleinberg overlooking Botha Wine Cellar and Bosjes with Camel, Rooiberg and Rondekop mountains in the background to the north-eastern side.
After defeating Kleinberg we will head directly to the Breede River and walk along its edge between vineyards and in the direction of Bainskloof until we make our much-deserved stop at Monks Gin Distillery. Here you can enjoy a local gin tasting, gin cocktail, or both. Our next stop will be at our overnight venue called River Edge Accommodation which forms part of a beautiful grape and blueberry farm. Expect a long table with mouth-watering dishes as we celebrate our last night together.
Walking day 5 will be our shortest distance of the week but be prepared for another captivating experience. The day will start off with a transfer from River Edge Accommodation to the famous Bosjes where we will start our hike from the “Herehuis”. From here we will work our way towards Rondekop mountain passing through Bosjes' "bergkamp fynbos game" area. Giraffe, springbok, bontebok, kwagga and eland are among the habituated game that can be seen. Once we’ve passed the Oryx Hide we will climb for a few km’s as we approach our final lookout point close to the Sugarbird Hide.
This viewpoint gives a totally different perspective of the Breedekloof as it is from a completely different angle compared to previous days. From here we will walk on a contour path along Rondekop mountain and then descend in the direction of Bosjes’ gardens. When we reach Bosjes’ premises, we will enjoy an organised tour of the gardens and world renowned chapel. The chapel was designed by Steyn Studio of London and features glass walls providing an uninterrupted view of the surrounding mountains.
To conclude the Breedekloof Camino, we will then enjoy a farewell lunch together at Bosjes’ restaurant called “Spens”. Hereafter, you will be transferred back to Dwardberg Trout Hideaway to collect your vehicle.
The Breedekloof Camino is an “all-inclusive slackpacking” hiking experience across the Breede Valley region of the Western Cape in South Africa. A distance of 74km is covered over 5 walking days.
Every group will be accompanied by a qualified guide. The route difficulty is medium, although it involves a few zigzag inclines that will get your heart pumping (but rest assured, it will be worth it!). No ropes or special hiking equipment is needed for this route.
The Breedekloof Camino is not a sprint, it is a walk that will suit most fitness levels and will require of you to be at least walking fit. There is more than enough time to break, soak up the views, take deep breaths and appreciate the nature around you.
Please refer to our drop-down menu below to see an overview of the day-to-day program.
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