Waaihoeksberg

NB: The information here does NOT relate to Waaihoek Peak, or the Waaihoek Huts, which are on UCT’s property, Zuurberg.

This is a rugged, south-facing valley with access to Waaihoeksberg, offering 1 600ha of mountainside running from above the farmlands to the top of the mountain range. This includes the summits of Boesmansberg (1 735m), the Camel (1 178m) and Mount Superior (1 908m). There’s a shared boundary with UCT’s Zuurberg property (where MCSA has servitude) and gives access from the top of the property to the UCT huts to the west, and to the Hex River Mountains to the east. Adjacent to Waaihoekskloof on the east is Jan du Toit’s Kloof, which is state land managed by CapeNature.

Property
There are four indigenous forests, and a river on the east of Waaihoekskloof offers several crystal clear pools. A beaconed track takes you from the campsite to the top of the property – be sure to look for the buchu pickers’ cave half way up.

Flower lovers can expect dozens of Gladiolus cardinalis in Superior Kloof and the upper section of Waaihoekskloof. A great variety of ericas, proteas, buchu and other flora are also to be found, many of which still need to be identified and catalogued. See if you can spot the rare Ribbon Pincushion, Leucospermum tottum var. glabrum, which is similar to L. tottum var. tottum. You’ll find it on sandstone slopes between 800m and 1 200m, and it flowers October to December. If you manage to identify any flora or fauna positively, please report them to the Convenor, who is collecting information on the property.

History
This property was purchased for R72 000 from Gerrie van Zyl of the adjacent Somerso farm in 1987.