101 Trail Guide | 2010

Hessequas Guest Farm

In days gone by, one of the main routes from Cape Town to Swellendam crossed the Zonderend River, on the farm Vaandrighsdrift near Bonnievale.
Here wagons had to camp for days, waiting for the river to run down … only to be confronted by a full Breede River 8 km further on. At the time, this area was inhabited by the Hessequa, a Khoi tribe. Today, near the confluence of the Zonderend and Breede rivers, 23 km from Bonnievale via the R62, you will find a clearing in the woodlands with something resembling a Hessequa Khoi tribal village – Hessequas Guest Farm.
The moment you step out of your vehicle, you will feel as if you have stepped back in time. The kids will be gone … running and playing around, and you will probably not see them much during your stay. When you do, you will not recognise them because they’ll be ruffled and dirty.
The off-road trail may only be 12 km long but it will probably take you the best part of a day to complete.
It is comprehensive and challenging, and you will come across all types of conditions. The trail features water, sand, mud and rock. It is the ideal place to test your capabilities and that of your vehicle. There are descents, inclines and even a nerve-wracking drive across an embankment at 30°.
You’ll encounter dongas, waterholes, mud pits, rocks, sand, river beds and articulation testers, with bypasses at most obstacles. The key to surviving Hessequas is knowing when to quit.

What you need to know

Accommodation:
Hessequas has two bush camps and camping. Cuckoo’s Nest bush camp, on the banks of the Zonderend River, comprises nine wattle-and-daub huts in a semicircle, which are fully equipped with bush kitchens and a lapa. Each hut has 2 bedrooms, 1 with double bed and the other with 2 bunk beds (sleeps 6). The shower is donkey driven, with a flush toilet close by. Hartebeeshuisie bush camp is set in riverside woodland, and comprises 7 huts (sleeping 24 in total) and a fully equipped lapa kitchen. Bring your own bedding for both bush camps. There are also two shady campsites - a small one and the Groot Watergat camp. Both are 3 km downriver, with running water, a donkey for hot water showers and flush toilets.

What else?
Canoeing, bass fishing, mountain biking, swimming, hiking, and bird watching (water birds). Quads are welcome by prior arrangement.

Contact:
Oliver and Helene 
023 616 2886,
Oliver: 082 789 3801,
Helene: 084 515 3873; 
www.hessequas.co.za

Nearest town: Bonnievale (23 km)

Best time to go: All year round

Trail distance: 12 km

How long will I be driving? 4-8 hours

GPS: S34.06605 E20.21735

FULL REVIEW | JANUARY 2007 (DO17) | Francois Smit

Nearest town Bonniedale
Contact Oliver
Tel 023 616 2886
Cell 082 789 3801 (Oliver)
084 515 3873 (Helene)
Website www.hessequas.co.za
Best time of year All year round
Maximum vehicles 15
Route distance 13km

The grazing fields of the Hessequas, a San tribe in years gone by, stretched from the Hessequas Kloof at Riviersonderend to the Attaquas Kloof at the Gouritz River. Approximately 23 kilometers from Bonniedale (via the R62), near the confluence of the Zonderend and Breede rivers, there is a clearing in the woodlands on the river bank where traditional clay and straw huts resemble a tribal village of the Hessequas. This is  Hessaquas Holiday Farm.

The moment that you step out of your vehicle, it is as if you have stepped back in
to time. The kids will be gone ... running and playing around and you will probably not see them much during your stay. When you do, you will not recognise them – ruffled and dirty, like in the good old days. After you have unpacked, filled the freezers, got the log fire going and your tribe sorted for the weekend, it is time to explore your options.
Fishing? One of the best fresh water fishing spots around with big and small mouth bass carp, barbel and huge eels. Floating? There are canoes for hire. [Depending on the time of the year, the river can flow quite strongly ... so keep an eye open on the kids. – Ed]

But hey, remember you came here for 4x4ing as well and it would be a good idea to pace yourself. The trail is not a 4x4 trail in the true sense of the word, but this is the place where all possible off-road conditions are present.
The fact that the trail is only 13 kilometers long, but takes the best part of a day to complete, says it all. It is the ideal place test your own and your vehicle’s capabilities.
There are dongas, water holes, mud pits, rocky inclines, sand, mounds, river beds and articulation testers with by-passes at most of the obstacles.
The most difficult challenge will be to know when not to do a particular obstacle – when either you or your vehicle are not up to it. Not surprising that Oliver, the owner, reckons that 4x4s with female passengers generally last longer.

Hessaquas is a favorite bosberaad destination for companies, popular for boys’ weekends (ask Oliver about the  die-engelsman-is-weg story), but it will also appeal to general campers and nature lovers.

ACCOMMODATION

• Cuckoos Nest:
  Lovely well shaded on the Zonderend river bank.
  This is a traditional clay and straw hut with reed ceiling and clay roof for coolness.
  The hut has 2 bedrooms, one with double bed and the other with 2 bunk beds (sleeps 6). 

• Hartebeeshuisie Bush Camp:
  Set in riverside woodland, the bush camp comprises 7 huts (sleeping 24) and a lapa kitchen.

CAMPING

• Groot Watergat
  3km away. The camp is at waters edge and has running water, a donkey for hot water showers and flush toilets

WHAT ELSE

• Canoeing – 4km of river to explore
• Fishing – some of the best bass fishing can be found here.
• Cycling on 4x4 route.
• Quads – on 4x4 route only by prior arrangement.
• Swimming, hiking, bird watching (water birds).