22 Waterfalls Trail – (Waterval Private Reserve – Porterville)

This iconic trail a mere 2 hours out of Cape Town has been on the to do list for quite some time. The trail can be completed as part of a weekend stay at the Waterval Campsite just outside of Porterville. The campsite and chalets are popular on weekends and you will need to have an overnight reservation or be one of the lucky 20 people who can secure day permits in order to do the hike. The trail leaves straight from the campsite and heads up into the waterfall kloof. A long step ladder with a small iron gate marks the start of the climb to the Waterfalls. Keep in mind this trail involves quite a lot of scrambling and navigating of uneven terrain. This makes the trail much slower moving and harder than its distance and altitude gain would suggest. You will have to climb ladders, jump boulders, and move under and over logs. Its definitely not to be underestimated in terms of difficulty but with that said one can turn back and return to camp at any time, the scenery will surely make any able hiker want to push further to see what is ahead. Only some of the more distinct waterfalls are marked with painted numbers giving an indication of how much of the trail has been covered. 13 was fairly distinct and so was Waterfall Number 22 indicating that there are no large waterfalls from that point onward. After Waterfall 22 the trail becomes less shady tree cover and more typical Fynbos. After the Waterfalls one has the option of ascending further and then looping back to the Camp Site on an 8km circuit track. Our group opted to take the same route back as it was so scenic, a swim and relax by some of the better waterfalls was an opportunity that none of us could pass up. The pools are clear and some are quite deep but many do not seem deep enough to jump from the waterfalls above. Take caution if this is what you had in mind and note that the water flowing from the mountains is chilly. A major positive of this route is that the vast majority of it is under kloof forest canopy which provides ample shade on warm summer days and the birdlife is prolific. This kind of forest cover isn’t always an option in the Western part of the Cape and it will likely save you some sunscreen and make the heat more manageable. With this said take a hat and sunscreen just in case as the last sections are slow and done around midday, in Winter take caution if there has been a lot of rain as the river may be flowing strongly and some sections may be slippery. The water in the river is clean and clear and potable without any treatment, for the skeptical a simple filter can be used but it is probably not necessary. The path is well equipped with ladders and holds but caution is needed in many of the sections as a fall could be lethal. Keep your concentration and keep an eye out for the yellow arrow or line markers showing the way over the river and at the odd intersection. Some intersections are less obvious, but the general rule is to stick to the river. As soon as you may find yourself heading away from the river and out of the forest canopy, turn back and look for a route that follows up through the indigenous forested kloof (The exception being after waterfall 22 if you are aiming to complete the entire circular trail). The trail can get busy on weekends with fair weather forecast so expect to be sharing the trail with a few others. Keep an eye out for other groups climbing down ladders or aiming to overtake. Fortunately, there are more than enough locations to stop and relax so you will most likely find a little solitude. The camping facilities are shaded with braais provided but you will need your own grid. Ablutions are well equipped and clean but you will need to bring your own toilet paper. Wood and Ice can be bought from the reception with cash. All in all this is a great trail and weekend away. The waterfalls and the forest are in pristine condition. Its close proximity to Cape Town makes it easy enough to reach but it provides enough of a city escape for a weekend. Don’t be fooled by the distance and altitude gain this trail is a little harder than one would expect from a similar distance and gain. Highly recommended, camp over or stay in the accommodation to avoid disappointment if you have your sights set on attempting this hike.