Rating the Trails with my Jimny and my boys: Uitkyk Hiking trails Magaliesberg

Uitkyk Hiking Trails Magaliesberg
Rating the Trails Blog - in my Suzuki Jimny

Uitkyk- the Jewel of the Magaliesberg.

Author: Kim Williams.

In our opinion this has to be one of the Magaliesberg ’s best kept secrets. The Uitkyk Trail is easily accessible from both Pretoria and Johannesburg. The trail is in the tranquil and beautiful vicinity of the Hartbeespoort Dam (locals fondly refer to the dam as “Harties”). You will find Uitkyk a short 30km drive West of Pretoria and a 40km drive North of Johannesburg. The information emailed to us was good, print friendly and very useful. Get there early as it gets really hot towards midday and once you are done you can enjoy a scrumptious lunch at the many little places along the dam and within the “Harties” Village. There is also a fairly large shopping centre with a filling station, a Spar Super Market and several other little shops. Long gone are the days that “Harties” was miles away and lacked the luxuries that only the city life offered.

Was it easy to find: Yes directions were good and our Garmin GPS took us to the spot, however we did experience a little bit of confusion as to which fork in the sand road to take. [no one there to ask for directions]. When you drive along “the road” (according to the GPS) which is a dirt road which now forks, take the right fork and travel in a downward gradient and you will find the parking on your right. The padlock took a little effort to open – Jordan worked it out thank fully. The code for the gate will be sent to you prior to your arrival. Just remember to lock before and after your hike.

Facilities: Parking is in a secure fenced area with a basic braai and a few thorn trees for shade. The flushing toilets and shower are functional but are not used regularly and are a bit dusty and has the usual bush look inside. We took our own toilet paper and soap along; I suggest you do the same. Water is available and please do remember to bring your own fire wood.

Bookings: This is done through a central booking agency Jacana Travel. See below for details. Hiking is strictly by pre-booking to ensure safe access and assure hikers that they can experience the solitude and serenity of the mountains

For Reservations phone Jacana Travel Marketing and Reservations

PO Box address PO Box 40268, Walmer, 6065

E-mail address info@jacanacollection.co.za

Bookings E-mail bookings@jacanacollection.co.za

 Local 0861 522262

 International Pretoria – +27 12 803 4774

Port Elizabeth - +27 41 378 2548

Office hours Monday – Friday from 08:00 – 17:00

Difficulty rating: Mountain Girl Rating: 8/10

(we found several different opinions ranging from 6 to 8/10). If you are unfit you will die!! If you are hiking fit then you will still find this route challenging on several parts with some good breathing space along the route. We rate it as a good training hike for your first day on Kilimanjaro. “Moderate to challenging with a few optional extreme sections” is what is advertised. It’s true people!

Length: ± 9 km (felt like forever at times especially on the steep up hills!

Time: 5-8hrs depending on the hiking parties’ fitness levels (we did find different “finishing” hours on different websites – these ranged from 4½ - 5½ hours and others 7 hours. We pushed really hard and finished in 5 ½ hours, but were dog tired afterwards and hit the town for protein, especially with two growing young men in our group. It was very hot and we finished several litres of water between the four of us. We did stop often to eat our trail munchies and drink to keep hydrated.

Relevant information:

• Always pre-book.

• There is no open running water on these mountain slopes so all drinking water must be carried.

• A dry hike so carry at least 2 liters of water.

• Do not walk over the R513 – use the tunnel.

• Always walk in a party of at least 6 people.

• Pack lots of sunscreen.

• Take a walking stick or trekking poles with – watch out for snakes.

• Wear a hat.

• Wear decent hiking boots.

• At higher altitudes there is little shade and on a hot day the risk of heat exhaustion is severe

• Be prepared for changes in the weather and bring protective clothing.

Cost:

• R60.00 per person day visitors, minimum of 6 hikers per group (need to check yourself as subject to change)

• R55.00 admin fee once off per reservation

Hikers must please take note of the following important notice:

[“The Apostolic church has some members who come and pray and fast on the mountain on Friday evenings and you may pass them on Saturday morning. As they stay the night they bring plastic sheeting for warmth – they do not live on the mountain. There may also be members of the ZCC church collecting holy water when the river is flowing, they may also sleep over and groups related to the ZCC may perform a purifying ritual here as well and you may pass them on the way up.”] As per their brochure, however we did not encounter anyone on our hike this time, but we did find evidence of activity around the “gorge” and river beds.

Overall feel: We thought it was a fantastic trail, well-marked with yellow foot prints and great for Kilimanjaro training. The gradient is similar to a first day via the Umbwe route in difficulty. We will be back!

Background: A very fit Elderly farmer who owns the property mapped out the trails himself. He farms apples and was a mind field of interesting information. He enjoys taking groups on guided tours himself and has extensive knowledge of the history, fauna, flora and the geology of the region. Originally the trail was much easier and he sought out to find a more challenging one.

Well he succeeded it certainly is very challenging and very beautiful. He walked with us until under the road and explained the route and the way in which it was mapped out. The trails are divided by the road with the more gentle and short trails from the car park once you walk under the road and thorough the dark tunnel a more challenging scene emerges. You are spoilt with breathtaking views from very high up overlooking the Hartbeespoort dam.

[“The Magaliesberg range is a quartzite escarpment ridge dipping in a northerly direction to form the southern rim of the Bush veldt Igneous Complex. On a clear day the northern rim – The Waterberg - can be seen. The Crocodile River is visible from most points on the trail as it follows a geological fault line through the Hartbeespoort Dam northwards beyond the town of Brits.

Spectacular views in all directions are to be enjoyed from the mountain peak. Immediately to the south is the vast spread of the Hartbeespoort Dam. Further south is the Pelindaba complex and further south still the Johannesburg skyline can be seen on a clear day.

To the east the Magaliesberg cable car station is clearly visible. Pilots launch fixed-wing hang-gliders and soft-wing paragliders from here almost every weekend. To the west the extent of the Magaliesberg range stretches away towards Rustenburg and The Pilansberg.

Northward, vistas of the Brits valley are to be enjoyed with their mix of agricultural and mining activity. On the northern horizon are the granitic outcrops of the Wonderkoppies and the “Crocodile Mountain”.]

The Trail Experience:

The trail starts and ends at a securely fenced car park. A map is provided by Jacana as a guide to both the well-marked route and to the fascinating history, geology, fauna and flora of the area. The Uitkyk Trail follows one of the better marked hikes we have encountered, with the path meandering for some time before you climb up the steep northern slope of the Magaliesberg.

You begin your walk along a grassy trail then walk were the path contours a wooded koppie and then starts to descend to the R513. We then crossed through a tunnel at an elevation of 1180m. This tunnel created some excitement amongst the boys. This is when the adventure starts as you come out the darkness into the bright sunlight on the other side. This important tunnel allowed us access to the easterly mountain peak at 1517m through woodlands, rocky kloofs and over grassy hillsides. There are spectacular rock formations and Jordan could not contain himself and we had to wait and watch him scale the rock face nearby. We looked down a gorge onto the riverbed below. We stopped here to take many photos, the

views were stunning. We then continued through the woodlands and up towards the top. We were warmed about the trails very own K2 slope but it was well worth the tough walk to the top with the hot sun pounding down on us. Once at the top and you have placed your rock on the rock tower, you start to make your way back down on the other side of the summit only to discover the best was yet to come and mother nature will impress you with one of the most breathtaking and spectacular views the

Magaliesberg mountains have to offer. As we all stood in our own thoughts overlooking the entire Hartbeespoort Dam, with all the little sail boats and water sports on the go, we felt very small in the awe of the spectacular views. We spent a long time here as we were reluctant to leave, this Jewel of the Magaliesberg, wanting to savor every moment this special prize. We will definitely be making this a regular hike for Team Zodwa both for the superb training it offers for the bigger mountains and it will most certainly be included in our Mentoring Mountains programme.

Please bear in mind, that this trail does fall within the boundary of the Magaliesberg Protected Natural Environment (MPNE), so care has been taken to ensure that the trail paths are sited in the most environmentally friendly way. So do make an effort to stick to the marked trails. Remember to leave only footprints and take away memories and photographs.

Take Care

Mountain Girl 777

Attached below is one of the information guides we received.

POINTS OF INTEREST ALONG THE TRAIL.

A. Car park / start / finish / toilets and showers.

B. From this point the Crocodile River Platinum mine can be seen. Platinum Group Metals (PGM) along with other valuable metals were laid town in a series of tabular reefs during the period of the Bushveldt Igneous intrusion some two billion years ago.

C. The dam wall spill way can be seen from this point. Construction of the Hartebeespoort dam started in 1916 and was only completed in 1923. In 1918 work was hampered by a flood that swept through the site and by the worldwide influenza epidemic ravaging the country at that time. However the benefits of the down stream irrigation scheme created by this dam have been a significant boost to the economy of this region ever since.

D. Always use the tunnel to cross the busy R513. Close to the road there are dense infestations of Lantana weed. Efforts are in hand to eradicate this pest along with Syringa, Jacaranda and the Queen of the Night cactus. Hikers will see cleared areas and dead cactus storks. Work in eradicating invader weeds is laborious and slow. It is anticipated that it will take ten years to clear this area to the south side of the main road.

E. This wetland vlei is a precious resource. Its eye feeds the spruit that trickles through the tunnel under the R513. The vlei comprises deep, sandy, quartzitic soil overlying hard rock. This sandy soil acts as a sponge absorbing water during periods of heavy rain and seeps its stored product during the rest of the year.

F. Note this important junction on the path, turn right to take the scenic route to the summit or straight on to take the easier route.

G. The great gash in the hillside at this point was formed as softer rocks of an igneous intruded dyke wore away from between the harder quartzite bands leaving a steep sided kloof. Look out for Dassies

H. Along the valley floor on this stretch of the trail enjoy the beautiful woodland walk. Many fine specimens of indigenous trees includingMimusops zeyheri are under threat from Muthi gatherers and need protection.

I.&J. There is a steep climb at point J on the trail that is laid out as an up route only. Please keep to the path to avoid soil erosion. This leads to a spectacular Uitkyk punt at point J. Do take time to stop, rest and enjoy the views both up and down the valley.

K.&L. Another split in the path takes hikers up the scenic route on K2, a Himalayan mountain path, not for the faint hearted or those suffering from vertigo or route L marks the gentler slopes to the summit.

PLEASE FIND THE ATTACHED POLICY

M. Summit. Stop, rest and enjoy the view.

N. On the eastern side of the summit ridge there is a narrow nek with a view of the dam and a shady lunch spot under the Wild Seringas.

O. The path winds down the hillside toward stands of indigenous trees. A trickle of water from a fontein may be found among the Transvaal Beech / Boekenhout trees (Faurea salinga). However do not rely on this water source.

P. Follow the trail down the gentler slopes taking care to stay on the marked path and not cut off the corners.

Q. Swing left at this point to return to the tunnel under the R513 and follow the path back to the car park.

POLICY

1. All hikers hike at their own risk.

2. No hiker is to hike alone. Hike in a group of at least 4 people.

3. Cars are parked in the car park at the owner’s risk.

4. Keep to the marked trail routes. Do not wander off the path.

5. Do not walk over the R513 road. Use the tunnel.

6. No fires are to be lit anywhere on the trail.

The danger of veldt fires cannot be over emphasized; it causes loss of life!

7. Do not litter. Take all litter home.

8. No fire-arms are to be carried.

9. No pets are allowed on The Uitkyk Trail.

10. Cutting down or digging up indigenous plants or trees is prohibited.

11. The removal of archeological artifacts is prohibited and it is a criminal

offence.

12. Hikers must not interfere with farm staff.

INDEMNITY

Hikers should understand that anyone who enters the property to hike does so at his or her own risk and neither the owners or managers of the farm, nor the booking agency or the facilitator will be held responsible for any death, injury or illness sustained or suffered by any person, or loss or damage of any property occurring directly or indirectly from any cause whatsoever. Furthermore, neither the owners or managers of the property, nor the booking agency accept any responsibility for any consequential loss sustained or suffered by the hike not being available through Vis Major or any other reason whatsoever.

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS:-

Brits Police - (012) 252 3011

Brits Ambulance - (012) 250 2222

Brits Mediclinic - (012) 252 1100

Should you wish to contact the owners of the farm, please do so through Jacana (012) 346 3550.

Attached below is one of the information guides we received.

POINTS OF INTEREST ALONG THE TRAIL.