Palmiet River Trail Hike | Kogelberg Nature Reserve | Cape Nature Reserves

The Palmiet Trail is a moderate 10,5km(6,5mi) long trail that follows along the Palmiet River in the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. Kogelberg Nature Reserve is well known for it's spectacular views and tranquility, and this trail is a testament to these qualities. The views are breathtaking, with the mountains over you, giving you a true sence of being surrounded by giants in a majestic corner of nature. Looking into the distance it seems like the mountains have been painted infront of you, with one layer of mountains being endlessly followed by another. It is easy to loose track of time as you walk through this valley. The hike is a reasonably easy circular trail and takes roughly 3hours to complete. With a few spots where you have to work your way over some rocky terain. There are no steep climbs, however you have a couple of wooden ''bridges'' that will require a bit of balance. Even so, these are short and just a little bit of a fun change to the trail. As you follow the Palmiet River, you will encounter a few small rapids and you are constantly followed by the sound of flowing water, this is complimented by the constant chirping of birds as they fly from Protea to Protea to feed on the sweet nectar. The trail will lead you to a sandy spot along the river called 'The Beach'. This is a good spot to sit back and cool down by taking a dip into the river. The tannin rich water is very refreshing on a hot day, and it is not unusual to have it all to yourself during the quite season. Overall you will easily understand why this is such a popular trail, and if you are ever in the vicinity it is definitely a hike worth taking.