Blombosch 4x4 Nature Trail

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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).

Blombosch 4x4 Nature Trail - A springtime bloomer

Contact:

David and Charles Wightman

Cell phone:

082 722 7809

Telephone:

022 451 2790

E-mail address:

blom-bos@mweb.co.za

Nearest town:

Yzerfontein (8km)

koördinate: -33.301200, 18.173760

Route distance:

13.5km | 2 hours

Surrounds:

The trail submerges you in all the natural beauty that the Western Cape is famous for. Highlights are limestone ridges, natural saltpans, old dune veld, lowland fynbos and sea views.

The trail:

The Blombos trail, on a farm just 8km from Yzerfontein, is intended as a nature experience in typical Sandveld vegetation, rather than a major 4x4 challenge. As such it's ideal for novice 4x4ers and owners of soft-roaders and 4x2s. Where many Cape trails are tougher in the rainy winter months, the reverse is true here: wetter sand is firmer, making the driving easier, while soft conditions in the heat of summer make a diff lock or 4x4 necessary. Although the trail has deep sand in places, 4x2s with deflated tyres and some momentum shouldn't have any problems. Midway along the route there is a pleasant picnic spot and campsite called Aapgat that offers flush toilets, braai facilities, wind protection and shade. The more energetic can go on a short walk to lookout points. It's a kaleidoscope of colour from August to October when flowers completely change the nature of the trail. All routes are well marked and the bush has been cut back to protect vehicles. Maximum vehicles 15.

Accommodation:

Blombosch has eight fully-kitted, self-catering twin rooms on the edge of a vlei with prolific bird life.

Camping:

Basic camping available.

101 Trail Guide | 2010

Blombosch 4x4 Nature Trail

Just outside the seaside fishing town of Yzerfontein is where you will find the Blombosch Hideaway.
The Blombosch trail experience is dependant on the season. Winter rains compact the sand, making it easy, while in summer, after the southeaster has dumped its load onto the trail, it’s a completely different ballgame.
Sarah Boom’s cottage is the unofficial start of the trail and here visitors check in, sign indemnities, pay entrance fees and get their map.
A sign at the start of the trail proclaims in bold print: “Engage 4x4, deflate tyres to 1.5 bar, use low gear and maintain 20 km/h minimum momentum”. This is spot-on advice for summer drives, when the sand is hot, loose and slippery.
The trail is a straightforward 13.5 km circular course around Blombosch farm. Marked by a series of gentle inclines and declines, it is more a laid-back, scenic nature drive than a hardcore trail.
First stop is the Snake Pit, a 4x4 play area in an old limestone quarry. Short and compact, it’s designed for the novice and is ideal for a first, tentative off-road experience.
From there it’s up a fairly steep rocky section, tracing the West Coast National Park fence along a ridge.
Some sections here are less than well maintained, with wild grass making scratching noises along the sides of the vehicle, but leaving no marks.
Next stop is Aapgat, a picnic area alongside the farm’s salt pan (driving on which is strictly verboten).
It’s a good spot for a braai, if you’re lucky enough to arrive on a flowers-in-full-bloom, wind-free kind of day. Otherwise it’s a little too exposed.
Blombosch offers a great opportunity to escape to an untainted natural area that lights up like a Christmas tree in spring.

Accommodation:
Overlooking a small wetland, Blombosch Hideaway Lodge sleeps 16 in 8 spacious twin-roomed apartments. More informal accommodation is available in bungalows, and self-sufficient campers are also welcome.

What else?
Mountain biking, hiking, bird watching and spring flower viewing. Other drawcards in the area include the West Coast Fossil Park and a number of hiking trails.

What you need to know

Contact:
David and Charles Wightman
022 451 2790,
082 722 7809;
blom-bos@mweb.co.za

Nearest town: Yzerfontein (8 km)

Best time to go: All year round, but spring is superb.

Trail distance: 13.5 km

How long will I be driving? 2 hours

GPS: S33.31003 E18.18134

After the rains. With Yzerfontein as the backdrop, the well-packed jeep tracks provides an easy afternoon cruise.

Full Review | Nadine Thomson

Got a bad case of the post-winter blues? Why don't you pack up for a West Coast weekend and head out to Yzerfonteoin's Blombosch 4x4 Nature Trail.

We awake to the sound of rain dancing on the tin roof of the Blombosch Hideaway Lodge, accompanied by a winged flurry from the frenetic choir in the reeds outside the window.

After coffee we make our way to Sarah Hoop’s cottage, the unofficial start of the Blombosch trail where visitors receive a map, sign indemnities and pay entrance fees.

At the start of the trail, a sign with tips for a hassle-free ride proclaims in big bold print, “Engage 4x4, deflate tyres to 1.5 bar, use low gear and maintain 20 km/h minimum momentum”.

This is spot-on advice for summer guests – but not so much for us.

The reason? The Blombosch experience is relative to the season: Winter rain makes the trail easy on damp, compact sand. However, come summer it’s a different ball game after the howling southeaster has dumped tons of sand onto the trail.

Today though, the well-packed sandy track doesn’t look particularly life threatening, so we go ahead in high range, tyres fully inflated.

The trail is a straight-forward 13.5 km circular course around Blombosch farm. Marked by a series of gentle inclines and declines, it is more a laid-back scenic nature drive than hardcore trail.

Our first stop is at the Snake Pit, a 4x4 play area in a former limestone quarry. Short and compact, the Snake Pit is designed for the novice and is ideal for a first, tentative off-road experience.

From there we climb up a steep-ish rocky section, and trace the West Coast National Park fence along a ridge.

Some sections here are less than well maintained, with reed-like wild grass making a terrible scratching noise along both sides of the vehicle, but leave no mark.

Our next stop is at Aapgat, a picnic area alongside a salt pan on the farm. Driving on the pan is strictly verboten.

It’s a good spot for a group braai, if you’re lucky enough to arrive on a wind-free, blue-skied, flowers-in-full-boom kind of day. Otherwise a little too exposed for my liking.

And that’s that. A short distance further and we’re back at Sarah’s cottage.

Although Blombosch is not a 4x4 trail in the puritan sense of the word, it is an opportunity to escape on a pretty track into an untainted natural area, which lights up like a Christmas tree in spring.

Drive Out says: Much like a supermodel without her make-up, I regret not seeing Blombosch in its full splendour. I will make a point of returning to do just that.

Give it gas. After the summer sun has heated the sand at Blombosch 4x4 Nature Trail, every corner becomes a potential obstacle.

What you need to know

Why should I go?
A good nature trail close to Cape Town. And it’s an excellent spot for flower aficionados in spring.

En Route
How long is the trail? 13.5 km
How long will I be driving? 2 hours
Maximum number of vehicles? 15
Do I get a map? Yes
Will my car get scratched? No
Should I remove the running boards? No
Should I take a compressor?
You should, although you could drive slowly to Yzerfontein.
Can I turn around half-way?
No, it’s a one-way trail.
Can we have a braai en route?
Yes, at Aapgat, a designated picnic/braai spot at the salt pan.

The Surrounds
Best time to go?
All year, but spring is superb.
Can I take my family along?
You can, but it’s more a couples retreat.
Just for the day or the weekend?
It’s more an overnight or wet-weekend escape
Are there ablution facilities for day visitors? Yes
Can I see game?
Not much, but there are caracals, ostriches, tortoises and small buck. And it’s a bird lover’s delight.
The nearest town?
Yzerfontein (8 km)
How do I get there?
Take the R27 out of Cape Town towards Langebaan. Take the R357 turnoff left to Yzerfontein and turn right at the Blombos 4x4 sign.
The nearest fuel? Yzerfontein (8 km)

Where can I stay?
Overlooking a small wetland, Blombosch Hideaway Lodge sleeps 16 in eight spacious twin-roomed apartments.
More informal accommodation is available in bungalows dispersed across the farm.
Self-sufficient campers are also welcome.

What else?
What else can I do there?
Mountain biking, hiking, bird watching and flower viewing in spring. Other draw cards in the area include the West Coast National Park, West Coast Fossil Park, Langebaan and more.
Must I take anything special?
Binoculars and a bird book

Cost?
Trail: R150 per vehicle