{"id":5140,"date":"2019-02-19T11:27:19","date_gmt":"2019-02-19T09:27:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/travelbucket.co.za\/?p=5140"},"modified":"2019-04-26T14:22:46","modified_gmt":"2019-04-26T12:22:46","slug":"a-day-hike-in-waboomskraal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/travelbucket.co.za\/a-day-hike-in-waboomskraal\/","title":{"rendered":"A DAY HIKE IN WABOOMSKRAAL"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As you approach from Oudtshoorn you will traverse a beautiful valley  surrounded by the Outeniqua mountains where hops are grown.  The name of this valley is Waboomskraal.  It is home to about 75% of South Africa\u2019s hops farms.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Views into hidden valleys<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

There is a lesser known hiking trail called \u201cDoringrivier\u201d that takes you all the way to the Ronbinson Pass, which connects Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn, but today we only planned to take a shorter day hike up and over the mountains to a nearby trig beacon.  Just as well, because with my unfit state I will never be able to complete a strenuous hike of 50 kilometres.  Even the hike to the trig beacon is uphill all the time.  (Remember that a trig beacon is normally at the highest point on a mountain!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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High altitude fynbos<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Reading a description of the hike they\nmentioned that you can maybe see  klipspringer,\ngrey rhebuck, leopard and also some small rodents.  We did not see anything like that, only endless\nviews of mountains and valleys covered with fynbos.  Once at the trig beacon, and our turn around\npoint for the day, we could see the sun reflecting off the buildings as far\naway as Oudtshoorn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View form the top<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The return trip was per se<\/em> not easier, because you are constantly “breaking” on the downward slopes not to slip on the loose stones, hence I am saying wear sturdy shoes to support your feet and ankles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some tips for the hike:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n