Bôjaankop 4x4

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NOTE: The balloons are on the exact location of the trail, or the nearest town (if we don’t have its coordinates).

Bôjaankop 4x4

Contact:

Bennie & Selma Nel

Cell phone:

073 174 1028

Telephone:

044 213 3756

E-mail address:

matjiesvlei@telkomsa.net

Web page:

http://www.matjiesvlei.co.za

Nearest town:

Calitzdorp (13km)

koördinate: -33.454500, 21.639280

Route distance:

15km | 3-4 hours

Surrounds:

Set in the Matjiesvlei Valley, Bôjaankop is a relatively easy 15km self-drive circular trail that traverses the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains. The whole area is really an undiscovered gem and one could easily base oneself at Bôjaankop and spend several days exploring the back routes in the area and enjoying the local flavour. They are unquestionably some of the most scenic drives on offer in South Africa. On top of that, the history of the area is very fascinating. Give Bennie and Selma the chance and they will happily fill you in on some of the details of the area. In fact, Bennie grew up with the original Gamkaskloovers crossing his farm to access their hidden valley

The trail:

Bôjaankop trail crosses the rocky Gamka River and climbs steeply up the rugged, fynbos-covered Bôjaankop to some 540m above sea-level. From this vantage point you have a 360° view of the surrounding mountains, including an unusual peek into Gamkaskoof/Die Hel. The trail follows the course of the river on the old drag tracks of the Gamkaskloof sharecroppers where they dragged their bundles of wood out of the valley for witblits distillation. To complete the main trail, low range and a 4x4 with good ground clearance is required, but provision has been made for softroaders.

Accommodation:

Bennie and Selma offer fantastic Karoo hospitality and have a range of accommodation options open to guests. A worthy consideration, are the four fully-equipped, self-catering, historical cottages, all well-equipped and separate from each other, ensuring your privacy.

Camping:

The camping-site down on the Gamka River is particularly lovely with good ablution blocks and plenty of space so that you don't have to camp on top of your neighbour.

What else:

On the farm there is hiking, fishing, canoeing, swimming and bird- watching. Try and spend at least three days!

101 Trail Guide | 2010

Bôjaankop 4x4

Set in the historic Matjiesvlei Valley, Bôjaankop is named after the highest peak in the Matjiesvlei range, part of the Swartberg foothills.
The trail started in the 1800s when owner Bennie Nel’s ancestors and their sharecroppers dragged bundles of longburning wild plum wood down the foothills of the Swartberg to distil witblits.
Most of the trail runs along these drag paths or on wagon tracks along the lower-lying areas where they loaded the wood onto ox-wagons and donkey carts.
The self-drive, circular, 15 km trail traverses the foothills of the Swartberg and is relatively easy and fun to do.
It runs along the Gamka River, crossing it and winding steeply up the rugged fynbos-covered slopes to the top of Bôjaankop, some 540 m above sea level. From here you have a 360° view of the surrounding mountains and an unusual peek into Gamkaskloof and Die Hel.
For most of the trail you need low-range and a 4x4 with good ground clearance, although provision has been made for softroaders. A map is provided, and the route is well signposted. The farm warrants a couple of days’ visit as there is plenty to see and do.

Accommodation:
There are 4 fully equipped, self-catering cottages, and a 4x4 bush campsite on the banks of the Gamka River. Thiart Huis and Douglas Huis have 3 bedrooms and can accommodate 9 persons each in different configurations. Cloete Huis, the ideal honeymoon breakaway, is fully furnished with 1 bedroom and beautiful views. A separate bedroom with 2 single beds and bathroom is available in the outbuilding.
Huis Oppie Rant is a 3-bedroom cottage with room enough for 6.
The campsite is shady and grassed, offering privacy at each site as well as an ablution block with showers (donkey boiler) and toilets. Off-road caravans are welcome.

What else?
Fishing, canoeing (bring your own), hiking, swimming and day trips to Gamkaskloof. Nearby Calitzdorp is an intriguing town to visit.