View down the Jonkershoek Valley when climbing up to the Panorama trail
Link to detailed route page and map click on route title to access the map [route-snippet id=”726″ featured=”image”]We had not been back to Jonkershoek for about 18 months because the last time we went the devastation from the forest fires was very evident and distressing. So we were very pleasantly surprised, in spite of the ongoing drought in the area, by the amount of regrowth and in particular the abundance of flowering proteas. Also noteworthy were the waterfalls
The trail has been improved since we last hiked it several years ago especially where the steep ascent up to the Panorama trail commences. Some switchbacks have been put in which makes it a lot easier and reduces erosion.
The first crossing over the river is marked by a cairn but easily missed. However 50 yards up or so the trail ends at the riverbed which goes upwards to the waterfall. Good spot for a cup of tea but if you get there you know you have gone too far and need to retrace your footsteps to cross the river downstream.
The second cut off from the trail is well marked with a sign and very distinct path. At this point the trail goes steeply upwards for about 400m but the views from the gully are worth savouring and there is a fair amount of shade (in the winter) from the sides of the gully walls. This is where we took the post banner photo looking back down to the valley.
We put our trouser bottoms back on half way up as the trail is a little overgrown and the fynbos scratchy without having some protection.
It was very blowy at the top but we found a good sheltered spot in the rocks just before the trail cut off for Victoria Peak. Shortly afterwards saw a small crew filming a trail runner for a Red Bull promotional film – sadly they did not offer us a cameo role!
At the Col separating Jonkershoek from the Berg River valley we admired the views, thought about hiking the through trail from the Berg River valley accessed from the Franschhoek Conservation Area and found a sheltered spot for a snack. Hike back down to the car took us past some beautiful flowering proteas and it is nice to be able to look across the valley to what we had hiked earlier in the day. Enjoyed the views and took our time down.
