South Africa Guide
North West Province
Kgaswane Mountain Reserve
Opening time: Daily April– Aug 6am–6pm; Sept– March 5.30am–7pm
Telephone: 014 533 2050
Website: www.tourismnorthwest.co.za/parks/kgaswane.html
Price: R10, plus R10 per vehicle or R5 per bicycle
Soaring up behind Rustenburg's southern suburbs, the KGASWANE MOUNTAIN RESERVE spans a spectacular forty-square-kilometre portion of the Magaliesberg, and offers sweeping views and great hikes. The terrain is dotted with rock formations created by millennia of erosion. You'll find dry veld too, and streams coursing through the valleys that have generated a lush flora all of their own. Scattered around the reserve are aloes indigenous to the Magaliesberg, and the discreet frithiapulchra, a succulent with only its leaf tips exposed, flowering between November and March. The many crags are perfect for predatory birds; keep a lookout for the rare black eagle, Martial eagle and Cape vulture, as well as parrots and paradise flycatchers. Kgaswane is also home to eight hundred antelopes, representing most of South Africa's species, and also zebras. Predators are few in number and limited to caracal, aardwolf, black-backed jackals and elusive leopard.
The reserve can be explored on a day or two-night hike, or by bicycle (bring your own). There are two short trails for day hikes. The three-hour, five-kilometre Peglarae Trail goes over fairly steep and rocky terrain but takes in most of the reserve's best features, and the visitors' centre provides a good booklet to go with it. Shorter and easier is the two-kilometre Vleiramble to a viewing hut on the vlei, popular with birders. Overnight hikes follow the Rustenburg Hiking Trail (19.5km or 23.5km) and last two days and two nights. Accommodation is in huts which provide firewood and cooking utensils, but you must bring food, and enough clothing in winter – nights get bitterly cold. It's best to book ahead for the overnight trails, though you may strike lucky midweek.
The reserve entrance is 7km from Rustenburg and there's no public transport: head south along Beyers Naudè Drive for 2km until it becomes Helen Joseph Street, then continue for another 5km until you reach the gate. From here, the road winds dramatically up to the mountaintop, where you'll find the visitors' centre, with useful maps and information on hikes and trails, as well as camping (R20) and braai facilities.