Walks, Hikes, The Train and the Mine...

A particularly interesting walk of approximately 45 minutes - each way – takes you to the Pachner goldmine. Here there are approximately 200m of tunnels (though we have not yet explored them all) dug horizontally into the side of the mountain, adjacent to a small stream, which flows into the Heys brook. We have named both the stream and the mine after the mine foreman. The mine was closed in 1924. Do take along a torch, and be prepared to squelch through areas of mud inside the tunnels. A walk through these old tunnels is both safe and interesting, provided one does not have a bat phobia!

A particularly impressive walk is to Square face, the rock surrounded rectangular pool at the base of the Heysbrook waterfall, which marks the southern extreme boundary of the property. This walk will take in the order of 5 hours from the lodge, remembering that it takes a further 5 hours to get back again! (check with management if the train is running at the time of your stay)

Click to enlarge

A walk up the eastern slope from the lodge takes you to several fortifications of rock and barbed wire. Our research indicates that these were British observation points that were probably manned by heliograph operators communicating with the town of Waterval Boven. There are also large kraal enclosures, which pre-date the Anglo Boer war by some 200 years. The round trip takes about four hours.

A well established trail leads one from the lodge up the western escarpment where one looks down on a spectacular waterfall on the Pachner stream and down onto the lodge. The crowned eagles are often seen on this walk. This walk too is approximately four hours for the round trip.

A twenty-minute walk to the dam on the eastern slope of the estate is relatively easy with a view down the length of the valley of Heysbrook.

There are many more walks and hikes available. It is advised to discuss these with lodge management before setting off. The estate is large and many walks are isolated and secluded.

Each second Sunday morning the Oosterlijn Steam Company runs a vintage train from Waterval Boven to Onder, and back again. This ten-kilometre journey is along the edge of the escarpment and offers superb views of the valley, the Elands Waterfall and views of Heysbrook.

Willie, the lodge manager, or one of the guides, is available to guide walks, tour the graveyards, organise clay pigeon shooting etc.