Cradle Moon: Third Time’s a Charm

So here we go again - third time at Cradle Moon - and another Boksburg Hiking Club hike.

At this point, I might as well lead the pack, right?

I’ve practically got the trail memorized!

The first time I was there with my son Salt, we got to see the

famous Zonkey (yes, that’s a zebra-donkey hybrid, and yes, it’s as magical as it sounds).

The second time, I came armed with my friend Oregano, who apparently has some kind of wildlife summoning talent.

Zebras appeared. Giraffes showed up. Buck were doing their thing. Even monkeys made an appearance.

Clearly, She’s like a safari whisperer. Useful to have around if you actually want to see living, breathing wildlife.

Me? I seem to bring the opposite energy.

Something closer to “please evacuate the premises immediately.” 

Animals sense it. Birds reconsider flight paths. Even insects look at me and decide on a different career.

It’s less “Disney princess” and more “restraining order from the ecosystem.”

But I was optimistic. Maybe this time would be different. Maybe I’d get to pretend I’m on a walking safari through the set of The Lion King.

So there I am, cruising into Cradle Moon with a smile on my face because - wait for it - I didn’t get lost!

No wrong turns, no "where the hell am I" moments.

My GPS game was on point, and that alone had me feeling like I’d already won the day.

And then, as if the universe was rewarding me for my positive mood, I am greeted by four giraffes at the entrance.

FOUR. 

It felt like they were there specifically to reward my positive mood - they were practically there to lead me in.

For a brief moment, I thought: this is it. 

This is going to be a Lion King situation.

I am about to be spiritually uplifted by wildlife and scenery and possibly a dramatic soundtrack that follows me around.

Reader, it did not continue.

After the giraffe greeting committee, that was it. Nada. Zilch.

The rest of the wildlife were all in the distance pretending not to notice us. Just empty fields and my imagination running wild with "what could have been."

But the hike itself? As always, absolutely beautiful.

It’s Cradle Moon - hard to go wrong really.

I mean there is the scenic backdrop of a suburban resort (because, well, it kind of is), but it still feels like you’re on a trail far, far away from the city.

We did the 10km loop, which somehow felt both familiar and completely new at the same time.

There was a section closed off, which meant a detour had been installed by someone who clearly enjoys emotional challenges disguised as walking paths.

Inclines appeared.

Unexpectedly.

Uninvited.

Unnecessary (in my humble opinion).

Now, I might have done those inclines before on previous visits. Or I might have conveniently erased them from memory as a coping mechanism. Both are plausible.

Either way, they were back. And they were not subtle.

Still, despite my Lion King dreams being dashed, it was an awesome morning.

There’s always a bit of hustle and bustle around Cradle Moon - hikers, runners, cyclists, you name it - but once you’re on the trail, you don’t really notice the crowd. It’s just you, nature (minus the animals, apparently), and the realization that even 3rd time around, you have no business leading any pack!

But once you hit that waterfall, boom - everything collapses into humanity again.

It’s like walking into a chaotic family reunion - everyone's taking a million photos with their groups.

Oh well, at least we were zenned out enough to deal with it.

RATING

Yes, we’re doing this again...new experience and all

AREA - Muldersdrift

COST - R 80

DIFFICULTY

Inclines that weren’t there last time (unless they were) —just to keep me humble.

LENGTH - 10 km

TIME - Approximately 2 1/2 hours

ELEVATION 

Not Everest. But it will remind you that gravity is still a thing.

If you want flat terrain, either opt for the 5 km route or ask the establishment about that incline.

You’ve been warned!

MARKERS - Great

HIGHLIGHTS - My Giraffes

ABLUTIONS - Excellent

SAFE FREE PARKING

AMENITIES 

A couple of lovely eating spots, cyclists galore, dam swims, and all the bits and bobs you’d expect.

FINAL NOTE:

The "Spookhuis" was a change.

Apparently it has always been there.

Apparently I have walked past it multiple times in a state of self-declared safari delusion.

This time, though, I took a peek. And honestly? It’s kind of a vibe.

Guess it pays to actually look around once in a while!

It’s not a challenging, technical, or particularly strenuous hike... just downright nice.