Riverside Paradise: When the Drive Is Long but the Reward Is Longer

Riverside Paradise had been sitting on my hiking list for ages.

You know the type - the kind where the trail distance barely justifies the petrol.

But what I’ve learned lately, is that any hike more than an hour away is almost always worth it, no matter the length.

Science.

Probably.

Riverside Paradise understood the assignment… and then showed up.

Rosemary following the brief

Meet the Hiking Crew: Savage Daughters Only

My hiking partner for the day was Rosemary - my

aggressively chill spiritual animal, human compass, and part-time walking Wikipedia.

Our happiness requirements are simple:

We hike

We feel mildly invincible

End of list.

Low maintenance.

No drama.

Then there was a last minute applicant: “The Lady.”

I met her briefly the previous week on a solo hike at Modderfontein.

Numbers were exchanged, hiking suggestions were promised, and - like most hiking encounters - I assumed we’d never cross paths again.

I was wrong.

Friday afternoon, she messaged. I told her the plan. She was in.

I did briefly wonder if she’d survive the combined savage energy of Rosemary and me… but she didn’t just survive - she thrived.

Sky - Hag - Rosemary

Turns out, there’s a little savage in all of us daughters.

From the moment we arrived, she was gushing about everything - all the right things. I was sold immediately.

First Impressions

We were greeted by Sky - a four-legged angel - and Quarter, one of the helpful staff members.

Then came a parade of furry nuggets.

Immediate serotonin boost: 10/10.

We were informed by the host that recent rains had left the river high, and we had three options:

Walk a few kilometers along the road to the other entrance

Get a lift in a bakkie

Take a canoe

Obviously, we chose chaos. I mean - adventure.

We chose the canoe.

The River Crossing

As we approached the river, the sound of rushing water had me mentally white-water rafting through certain doom while my phone (and camera) waved a slow, cinematic farewell.

“The crossing” was maybe five meters of calm water.

We could’ve walked.

Comfortably.

With dignity.

Barely an inconvenience.

Maybe got a little wet.

Thigh-deep.

If we were feeling dramatic..

Instead, we were gently placed into the canoe and hand-delivered across like fragile parcels.

Naturally - despite being spoon-fed across placid water - I was the only one who somehow tipped the canoe slightly.

Artistically.

But I survived.

More importantly, my camera survived.

Some sacrifices were never on the table.

The Zebra Trail Hike

Once on the trail, Riverside Paradise delivered variety in all the best ways:

Scrambling

Lush forest sections

Scenic river views

Basically, all the boxes were ticked.

We were also joined by a precious four-legged guide, Sky who we were warned not to follow because "she prefers easier paths."

She ignored this reputation entirely and stayed with us the whole way.

There were moments when she looked at us like,

"You are astonishingly confident for people who have no idea what they’re doing."

Still, she humoured us - patiently, generously - until we rediscovered the correct path again.

The Trail is neat, and beautifully maintained - with varied and peaceful scenery throughout.

Thank you to "The Lady" for joining the adventure, fully embracing the chaos, and proving that a lady can absolutely also be a savage.

Here’s hoping our paths cross again soon on another trail, with more detours and no regrets.

RATINGS

Trail Information

AREA

De Wagendrift (near Cullinan)

Beautiful "Sky"

COST

R 80

Trail Details

TRAIL DIFFICULTY

It's a gentle adventure, but not flat.

TRAIL LENGTH

5 km (feels more)

TRAIL MARKERS

Well marked

WEATHER CONDITIONS TO CONSIDER

Open most of the way, which means when the sun is shining, you should pack water and salt - unless you’re a delinquent who prefers shop-bought electrolytes.

ABLUTIONS

SAFE FREE PARKING

AMENITIES

Braai spots, canoes, chalets for overnight stays and camping

WILDLIFE & BIRD LIFE

Yes, birds exist.

No, they do not count.

"The Lady"

NOTE TO SELF

A lady can also be a savage - elegance does not cancel grit.

Try being a lady.

(Results pending.)

FAMILY FRIENDLY

This is definitely a family-friendly outing and honestly screams weekend getaway.

PET FRIENDLY

Yes, and double check if off lead is allowed, but I strongly suspect it is.

ON A FINAL NOTE

If you’re looking for a scenic, manageable hike, peaceful nature and friendly people (and dogs), Riverside Paradise delivers.

Would I recommend it? Loudly.

Because some places are worth the drive… and this is one of them.

(TO)SOLO OR (NO)SOLO

(NO)SOLO