South Africa – Hiking in Salmonsdam near Stanford Western Cape
Salmonsdam Nature Reserve, managed by Cape Nature, is a small nature reserve not far from Stanford in the Western Cape in South Africa. There are three hiking trails available.
The longest is a mountain trail from the foot of Perdeberg Mountain and at the top they say there is a view of Walker Bay (that’s for sure, as you can see Walker Bay from pretty much anywhere in the reserve) and the towns of the countryside. of Caledon and Bredasdorp. The second trail is the 4km Ravine Trail through Keeromskloof and through small patches of indigenous forest. The final trail is the approximately 3km waterfall trail through thick fynbos to the falls and vice versa. All three trails have short links so experienced and fit hikers can tackle all three in one day.
As an overweight 62-year-old on a severe diet that includes at least an hour of walking or biokinetics a day, the logical thing to do after 10 weeks of regimen was to do a bit of walking, so we set off on a beautiful Saturday . tomorrow to Salmonsdam.
We did part of the ravine trail but came back where it joins the mountain trail. The piece we did was pretty easy, but the next stage seemed pretty tough, although it’s probably not difficult at all for experienced hikers. The fact that the Salmonsdam hiking trails are not featured strongly in hiking and related sites confirms that assumption. I think if I had had a cane I would have gone further. So we will have to backtrack at some point.
There are very basic facilities in the Salmonsdam Nature Reserve for overnight camping, including some small chalets. There is an ablution block and 10 campsites.
Around the southeast edge of the reserve there is a “mountain path”: it leads towards the Perdeberg and meets the mountain path. I was hoping I could drive to the top in an ordinary motor vehicle (a Mercedes C-class), but it seems only 4X4 vehicles or maybe even LUV 4X2 will be able to make it to the top with ease.
The flora and fauna are varied and the reserve is a good example of a mountain catchment area. We spent an entire morning at the reserve and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It is often used as a training site for school children due to the area of influence being highly visible. Baboons and other small mammals are often seen in the reserve. We saw signs of baboons feasting on freshly opened Protea flowers and also Protea flowers blooming just below the surface.
Salmonsdam is named after Captain Robert Salmond of HMS Birkenhead, who sank a few miles off Salmonsdam on February 26, 1852, when some 450 sailors and soldiers lost their lives. out of that tragic event came the now famous call for “Women and Children First” and the “Birkenhed Exercise”
Get there.
From Cape Town, go to Hermanus on the N2 and R43 and then to Stanford on the R43. As you enter Stanford, turn left onto Caledon Road (R326). From the intersection, continue for 4.4 km until you reach the turnoff “Papiesvlei, Elim” on your right. From here, the roads are gravel. the road is in poor condition and caution should be exercised. Travel approximately 6 km along this gravel road and then turn left at the turnoff for Salmonsdam. Travel for approximately 3.5 kms. You will pass the entrance to a property called Beloftebos and 1.5 km from there you will arrive at the Salmonsdam Nature Reserve.