Rustenburg Kloof: Day 2 in Magaliesburg

Jul 21, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Feb 5

Sometimes, Life’s Best Moments Are The Ones We Never See Coming

So, you know me - queen of spreadsheets. Empress of itineraries.

Supreme Ruler of “if we leave at 05:12 we will arrive at 06:47.”

Naturally, I had BIG plans to conquer the Magaliesburg Mountain Range for the weekend: trail-hopping and sunrise-chasing.

But, predictably, nothing went according to plan. And somehow… it was brilliant.

Unexpected Glamping

After our hike, we arrive at our accommodation expecting “rustic charm.”

What we get?

Tents.

Not metaphorical tents.

Not “tent-adjacent.”

Actual, zipped-up, outdoorsy tents.

Me. Almost 60. Sleeping outside for the first time.

Surely my ancestors did not suffer so I could voluntarily do this.

Except it wasn’t terrible.

Each tent had a proper bed, lamps, plug points, and a heater.

So technically glamping… just without the "glam".

A year ago, I would’ve sprinted back to civilisation.

But after seeing campers wake up to mountain views on our hikes, I’d become weirdly curious about this whole camping thing.

Like, maybe I too could be one with nature.

Once.

Briefly.

It wasn’t the picturesque camping experience I’d envisioned (hello, still no Magaliesburg mountains), but it turned out to be a surprisingly soft landing, with no other guests around and the kitchen and bathrooms all to ourselves.

The hosts were lovely, the bed was heavenly, and I slept better than I had in years.

The Great WiFi Betrayal

But......the WiFi was down.

I know, right?

Salt had promised to finally help me with my social media setup, which was why we sacrificed our afternoon hike.

Big mistake.

Huge.

At dinner, we debated our next-day hike like we were solving quantum physics.

We came across "Kgaswane Mountain Reserve."

We decided...we'll get in early enough to finally see that sun rise from a mountain!!

When Google Maps Betrays You

We left at 5 a.m., full of hope - until Salt, for reasons unknown, used Google Maps instead of Waze.

After 7 km of sand road and my poor city car crying softly, we finally reached… a locked gate.

In the dark.

Freezing cold.

With zero cell signal.

And my soul exiting my body.

My long-awaited Magaliesburg sunrise?

Officially dead.

Salt, ever the optimist, found a backup trail at Rustenburg Kloof - thirty more minutes of driving.

By the time we got there, it was 7 a.m.

Sunrise? Toast.

Dreams? Crumbs.

Mood? Hostile.

A security guard then informed us tickets only go on sale at 8.

Excellent.

Outstanding.

By then, I was done. Emotionally. Spiritually. Caffeine-deficient.

As I sipped my petrol station cappuccino, I realized - my weekend had turned into a sitcom.

Missed hikes, no WiFi, dead plans.

Anyway, while snapping out of it, I saw the words on my coffee cup and thought,

"This might actually turn out better."

And you know what?

It eventually did.

Rustenburg Kloof: The Trail From Heaven (and a Bit of Hell)

I asked the ticket lady if the trail was well-marked.

Her response?

“No, there’s only one way.

Just walk up till you see the waterfall.”

It was steep in a technical way, challenging, and absolutely my kind of chaos.

On an incline I’m a gasping old witch

But on a technical trail?

Warrior queen.

Mountain witch

Unstoppable.

But, honestly? I’ve never seen a hike so breathtakingly beautiful and depressingly trashed at the same time.

By the time we hit the waterfall - on what could only be described as a trail gone rogue—we were surrounded by litter, graffiti (in the same colour as the “helpful” arrows), melted candle wax and makeshift fire pits.

But there was also the most breathtaking scenery.

We just stood there, gawking at the jaw-dropping beauty before us, while simultaneously mourning the utter travesty of human disregard for this beauty.

What a weekend.

We might have driven in circles, missed the sunrise, and lost WiFi, but honestly?It was one of the best weekends ever.

AREA

Rustenburg

COST

R 100 pp

DIFFICULTY

Technical and challenging. Loved it!!

LENGTH - 5 km

Apparently.....I felt it was much shorter.

HIGHLIGHTS AND "WHY ARE HUMANS LIKE THIS"

The so-called “no markings” turned out to be either the most hilariously over-marked trail or the result of vandals with a spray can trying to hoax hikers.