From Monkens Coffee Shop, head down Voortrek Street away from the mountains and out of town. Stick on this road for about 30 minutes until you come to a major crossroads intersecting the R60 (the crossroads is just after the Old Mill Guest House). Take a left here onto the R60. This is a main road without much of a path, so do be cautious here and walk on the verge.
Shortly after crossing the Kornlands river you’ll come to a right turning down an industrial street. You can either take this turning or take the main road ahead running parallel, but we prefer the former as it has less traffic and more of a path. Walk down this street for about 20 minutes until you come to the second left turning (Stroom Street). Take this turning and walk to the end where you will intersect the main highway. Cross this highway diagonally onto Production Street and you should see the Bontebok National Park Entrance Gate a little way up on the right. It should have taken you about an hour to get this far.
Head into the park for about 10 minutes up to the Bontebok National Park Reception where you’ll have to buy your tickets and sign in. Then continue along this main road for about 30 minutes until you get to the Die Stroom Picnic Area. From here you’ll want to follow the river left onto the Bushbuck Trail, which is set back a little above the river. It should take you about an hour to complete the pleasant Bushbuck Trail which then connects with the Acacia Trail and on to the Aloe Hill Trail – all are well signposted. Shortly after connecting to these trails you’ll want to take a left turn at a small T-junction. The Acacia Trail is a loop so you’ll return to this spot later from the other direction.
Within 15 minutes on the Acacia Trail, connect on to the Aloe Hill Trail. You’ll have to walk through Lang Elsie’s Kraal Rest Camp to find the start of this trail. Very quickly you’ll reach an intersection with Lang Elsie’s Kraal ruins in front of you. Head left here onto the loop – this will afford you the best views of the mountains and the river below. It’s about 45 minutes around the loop to return you back to this point.
Once finished with the Aloe Hill Trail, return the way you came back on to the Acacia Trail, this time taking the left turning to complete the loop. You’ll then want to head back to the Start of the Trails – where the Bushbuck Trail begins/ends. From here, you can either return the way you came to the Die Stroom Picnic Area, or you can follow the main road alongside the Bushbuck Trail. After about 45 minutes or so, this road will take you back to the Bontebok National Park Reception, from where you can return to Monkens Coffee Shop the way you came.
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The Directions
If you know how to get to Swellendam-Bontebok National Park Hike and would like to share that information with the community, contact [email protected] and we’ll post it right here in the directory.
The Directions
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Top Tips
If you’re lucky, you’ll see some wildlife on this route – particularly bontebok. Watch out for angulate tortoises, and definitely keep your eye out for snakes. We saw a Cape Cobra on the Acacia Trail so you might want to consider wearing boots and trousers.
The Die Stroom Picnic Area is a lovely place to swim and take a break. Perhaps set off in the morning and time it right to have your lunch here ;).
There’s a little shade on the Bushbuck Trail, but other than that this is a hot walk on a clear summer’s day. Be prepared for it.
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