Above the caravan park beyond Steenbras River is a route with long zig-zags (apparently 36 in all!) to the nek of Kogelberg, beyond which runs a now extremely eroded jeep track for kilometres, descending towards Steenbras Dam. On our hike day the wind was supposed to howl while we ascended, then die down somewhat, temperature reaching a maximum of 31C!! Well it might have howled, but we were protected by this 700m of Kogelberg slope as we ascended the zig-zags, and it was already warm at 8:00 when our party of 13 started out.
The fynbos was in pristine condition – one hakea and one pine tree over that whole area which was densely covered in leucadendrons and other interesting flowering plants in between that are not found in the Peninsula. There were some keen ‘botanists’ in the group so a few photos have been included. We also saw one example of gall wasp infestation as biological deterrent on acasia, and Wendy promptly whipped out a knife to slice open the seed box to expose the larva for us all to see!
The views there are also different, seeing Cape Point and Peninsula mountains across the bay from a completely different aspect.
Once over the nek (with the peak of Kogelberg still rearing above us for nearly 600m) we took on that gradually descending jeep track for about an hour to the only available water on the route, where we stopped for lunch and for some a very shallow dip (lying prone just covered the body!) which at least provided relief from the intense, windless heat. Brendon, who was sitting in the culvert pipe below the road bridge, was co-opted to dip our shirts and hats in the water to help against the heat as we started our way back.
A fun moment was when it was discovered that we had a stow-away, hitching a ride to a new location: a stick insect had alighted on Suzanne’s hat, and was happily being conveyed comfortably as she walked!
There is only ONE area of shade on that whole route, below a huge set of rocks, and it was here that we rested on the way back to cool down a bit before completing the jeep track and descending those 36 zig-zags back to our cars, pausing for several quick water stops along the way!!
Spending 7.5 hours over 16 km, ascending a total of about 800m in that heat was certainly a challenge, and the group took it on with good grace, for which the leader was extremely grateful.
Photos: Don Jepson and Robin Sherry
