Where It All Began

A secret valley, just 4 hours from Johannesburg

Whenever one mentions the word ‘secret’ in travel writing, one is immediately aware that it’s rather self defeating to write about secrets!  But in this case, the Magoebaskloof is the secret that Joburgers don’t want too many international visitors to know about.

That’s because it’s got a magical aura where you can drink from fresh water streams and cool off under icy waterfalls, half expecting some Lord of the Rings character to poke its head out from behind a tree. 

The valley is almost completely filled with virgin, indigenous forest through which one can walk, hike, ride (bike and horses) or simply sit and absorb the forest and the birding. You can choose from hiking routes like the challenging 43-kilometre Dokolewa Waterfall Trail route which goes through scenic plantations and indigenous forest over two days and on which you have to be completely self-sufficient or take it easy on the porch at your accommodation.

What is particularly nice about Magoebaskloof is that as the majority of visitors are locals, prices are super affordable, with entire self-catering houses going for under R1 200 ($84 / £67  / €80) per person per night or small guesthouses set in utterly idyllic locations like Kurisa Moya – it’s been flying the flag for environmentally sensitive accommodation since before there was even a term for it.

https://www.krm.co.za

http://www.magoebasklooftourism.co.za/