Shaded Hikes and Rock Pools - A Totally Unqualified Hiking Guide

Once upon a time, I stumbled across a Facebook list of shaded hikes, courtesy of some anonymous legend who clearly understood the fragile condition of human survival in summer.

If you’re reading this, thank you, mysterious forest saint. Truly.

You did good - preserving skin integrity one shaded trail at a time.

Naturally, I saved it like it was ancient scripture.

Protected it.

Cherished it.

Fast forward to summer - that list became my golden passport to “I might actually enjoy being outdoors without melting into the soil.”

But alas, all good things must come to an end.

That list is now finished - sigh... Dammit.

So, because I’m all about sharing the love (or is it really just sharing my pain?), I decided to put together my own list of hikes I’ve done.

Let’s be extremely clear about what this is not.

It is not a definitive hiking guide.

It is not curated by an outdoors expert.

It is not backed by science, fitness, or good judgment.

It is, however, one person’s mildly dramatic account of walking through nature while negotiating a daily truce with gravity.

I am not a spring chicken. I regard inclines the way most people regard taxes - confusing, unpleasant, and suspiciously uphill for no good reason.

Fitness is not exactly my spiritual gift.

So what follows is not inspiration.

It is not a challenge and it is certainly not a lifestyle upgrade.

It is just my lived experience, documented so you can either relate… or feel quietly, smugly superior.

Shaded Trails

( "I-Can’t-Believe-There’s-So-Much-Sun-But-Oh-Wait-There’s-Shade Trail" )

Die Bosveld – partially

Avianto - partially

Wolwespruit – mostly

Moreleta - partially

King’s Kloof - partially

Big Red Barn – mostly

Van Gaalen Cheese Farm (the shaded route)

Tierpoort Adventure Farm – mostly

Hazeldean Valley Hike (8km) - partially

Forestiva farm (some routes) – mostly

Flat Trails

(either "completely flat", or "Didn’t-Realize-I-Was-Actually-Doing-Cardio-Trail")

Rosemary Hill Farm – completely

Rietvlei Nature Reserve – completely (guided by Bradden Hiking Stevens)

Avianto – completely

Wolwespruit – completely

Moreleta – completely

King’s Kloof – completely

Big Red Barn – completely

Van Gaalen Cheese Farm (the shaded route) – completely

Tierpoort Adventure Farm – completely

Hazeldean Valley Hike (8km) – completely

Modderfontein (5 km) – completely

Trails That Are Not Flat

(“Forget-Your-Name-By-The-End-But-Made-It-Out-Alive-Trail” but also "Increased-My-Heart-Rate-A-Bit-Trail")

Piesangskloof

Muningi Gorge

Groenkloof

Suikerbosrand

Hennops

Rietvlei Zoo Farm

B’sorah

Milorho

Rustenburg Kloof Trails

The Dome Pools (MCSA)

Grootkloof  (MCSA)

Klipriviersberg

Die Bosveld

Hoogland

Cradle Moon

Hedianga Farm

Thaba Trails

Nadia’s Peak

Cave to Cableway

Forestiva farm

Easterkloof

Glenburn

Tuin Van Eden

Mule Trail

Eagle Cove

The Old Mill – Happy Acres

More Than Slightly Technical

(If-You-Have-To-Ask-Don't-Go-Trail")

Piesangskloof

B’sorah

Muningi Gorge

Milorho

Rustenburg Kloof Trails

The Dome Pools (MCSA)

Grootkloof  (MCSA)

Grootkloof  (MCSA)

Hoogland

Nadia’s Peak

Cave to Cableway

Easterkloof

Eagle Cove

Rock pools

("You-Can-Drink From-Them-AND Swim-In-Them Trails")

Piesangskloof

B’sorah

Milorho

Rustenburg Kloof Trails

The Dome Pools (MCSA)

Grootkloof  (MCSA)

Easterkloof

Eagle Cove

A Few Ground Rules:

Google the finer details of these hikes, okay?

This is MY experience - trails may vary in length, difficulty, and tree coverage.

If you have any hikes to add to my modest little collection, please let me know.. SHARE IT - I’ll try it, and then I’ll add it to the list.

The goal here is not perfection. It’s about making a guide that works for people like me - average folks who just want to enjoy nature without feeling like they’ve joined a Navy SEAL training camp.

So go ahead, correct me.

Disagree with me.

Add your two cents.

I might even listen.