Home Mountain

The Zwartkops Mountain has served as the scenic backdrop for most of my life.
It’s been like having a favorite oil painting hanging on the entrance hall wall. And the one icon I could always pinpoint on any return trip, which imbues that warm sense of “I’m going home”.

This unsung landmark is situated in the Cradle of Humankind, stuck, smack-bang in between three popular lodges.
About 20 years ago, it used to be fairly easy to park ones car on the side of a back road, and climb up the mountain. Now it’s a little more challenging, and to do so without the fear of being shot for trespassing, is not really possible.

The easiest way to gain access now is to go via Glenburn Lodge. You need to purchase a hiking voucher from Reception on arrival. The voucher costs R75.oo p/p – but is redeemable for a very welcome (and earned) breakfast / brunch / lunch in the cool confines of Lairds Bar or its patio overlooking the grounds.

There are a few trails to choose from, which start off along the river and steadily make their way up hill. The trails are relatively well marked and majorly underused – a fact I enjoyed. And if you’re happy with your sense of direction, you can pretty much make your own route.This is probably frowned upon by some people – We used to hike up Zwartkops when I was young, and unfortunately came across some members of  the Mountain Club of South Africa, who told us, that we had no right to be up the mountain. The only thing they achieved that day was to instill a great dislike for ‘hiking authorities’ and fuddy duddy organisations. So if you’re an obedient person – probably best to stick to the marked trails.

The Crocodile river

Hedwig’s Restaurant – what used to be acclaimed as one of Gauteng’s top fine dining experiences. Closed and dilapidated.

Awesome geology

As with most mountain hikes, the view from the top makes the slogging worthwhile. But it’s always the small things that make the journey up interesting for me..

Fruit chafer beetle

Sphedamnocarpus pruriens

Sugar bush (Protea caffra)

Sugar bush (Protea caffra)

Natal red top, Melinis repens ( formerly Rhynchelytrum repens

Short Snouted Grass Snake (Psammophis brevirostris)

Cute little Short Snouted Grass Snake.

This is great morning hike – very unlike the hustle and bustle of the other popular hiking trails. We were the only people on the trail (and off the trail too) on a sunny summer Saturday morning. A great little getaway to blow the cobwebs clear.