Indulge your romantic side with a full moon hike up Klapmustskop near Stellenbosch, and enjoy a picnic with breathtaking views clear across to Table Mountain.

Starting at the Dirtopia Trail Centre on the Delvera farm as the sun descends, the trail forms a 9.75 km circuit through the Greater Simonsberg Conservancy. En route are two rare finds uncovered in the process of alien vegetation clearing: the critically threatened Swartland Shale Renosterveld and an extremely rare tract of Breede River Yellowwood forest aged 300 years.

Hikers can pack their own snacks or pre-order a picnic to enjoy on the peak in full view of Table Mountain on clear days. Transfers are available to the halfway mark at the Pepper Tree, shortening the route to a little less than 5 km. The hikes are an annual series that enable the Sperling family, the owners of Delvera and the neighbouring Delheim farm, to “share the rare privilege” of the ecology that they love.

Pioneering members of the Greater Simonsberg Conservancy, Delheim is a Champion of the BWI, or Biodiversity & Wine Initiative, and is open to hikers and mountain bikers seven days a week, with entry via Dirtopia on the Delvera farm. Permits for the full moon hike, which must be pre-booked, are priced at R50 per adult and R20 per child; these including the shuttle service and a trail map.

Bookings can be made at the Dirtopia Trail Centre, telephone 021 884 4752 or email theteam@dirtopia.co.za. Picnics must be booked a minimum two days in advance; menus and further information can be found at www.dirtopia.co.za.

Accommodation for out-of-town hikers is available at the Oakleaf Lodge at Delvera; for bookings or enquiries telephone 082 809 987 or email info@oakleaflodge.co.za.

Categories: DELHEIM

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 9th, 2011 at 11:10 am and is filed under DELHEIM. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.