The Kogelberg

Kogelberg Hike

The Kogelberg Hike in the Kogelberg reserve lies within the southern stretch of the rugged Hottentots Holland mountain range.

The Kogelberg Hike in the Kogelberg Biosphere encompasses the entire coastal area from Gordon’s Bay to the Bot River vlei, and inland to Grabouw and the Groenland Mountain.

Kogelberg is just an hour’s drive (90 km) from Cape Town the area is famous for its floral wealth. The 18 000 ha Nature Reserve boasts in excess of 1800 plant species. Many spectacular members of the Protea family, Ericas, Disa’s and geophytes, including the Marsh Rose occur here in Kogelberg.

Kogelberg biosphere walking trails

This reserve offers 5 exciting day hikes departing from the Kogelberg office and Oudebosch Cabins or departure points in close proximity.

Oudebosch-Leopards Gorge                    Video

We hiked the Oudebosch-Leopards Gorge 8 kilometer hike today 14-09-2016 and it is very special. The hike starts at the Oudesbosch parking area about 100 meters from the office .The  trail then passes through the Oudebosch Afromontane forest, a little pocket of preserved forest that has survived the Fynbos fires for hundreds of years. The tall dense forest canopy of Yellowood, Boekenhout, Silky Bark and Rooiels restricts the sunlight reaching the ground. This  therefore limits the plant growth on the forest floor to evergreen ferns, and geophytes – thus reducing the fuel load which of course increases the forests survival during fires. Fynbos is the dominant vegetation type within the Kogelberg and is a “fire-driven” biome.

Afromontane forests

Afromontane forests in the area are limited to small ravines, usually with tannin stained streams and moss covered fallen logs and boulders. These ravines are protected from the “Cape of Storms” winds and therefore the possibility of devastating fires. The 3 pockets of relic indigenous Afromontane forest in Platbos, Louwsbos  & Oudebosch . These, together with the magnificent Leopards Gorge provide a “snap-shot” of the coastal forests that were prolific along the South African coast before the devastation form serious logging. Similar to the Knysna forests, they include yellow wood, stink wood and boekenhout trees.

The Palmiet River and its associated vegetation is the most pristine in the south-western Cape. Wild almond, rooi-els, yellow wood and cape beech are among the trees occurring in the riverine scrub.

Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage site  and now boasts stunning eco cottages that can be hired for overnight trails.

For more information on walking trails in the  Kogelberg and surrounds go to AfricanSunRoad’s link below