Sterkfontein Heritage Lodge:Blessed by a Rainbow, Betrayed by Salt

This hike followed the impromptu one my once-trusted hiking partner and traitorous offspring, Salt, and I had the day before.

Quick refresher: Salt and I parted ways as hiking buddies a while back — I got a real hiking life, found my groove, moved on. Naturally, that’s when Salt suddenly decided he missed hiking with his mommy. Cute, right? Except I was far too busy conquering mountains without him...until now.

This particular hike was planned — Salt's people spoke to my people and a date was arranged. Salt picked a spot, dragged along his better half, and we tossed three fluffballs into the mix (his three step dogs: "Daisy", "Douglas", and... "I don't want to discuss it"). Apparently, no outing is complete without a dose of vehicular fur-fueled mayhem and the lingering question of why I agreed to this in the first place.

Whenever I see the word “lodge” in a trail name, I mentally prepare for anything from a whimsical woodland wander to a full-blown vertical death march.

To keep things spicy (and because my memory rivals that of a concussed goldfish), I never look at photos or reviews before a hike. Spoilers ruin the surprise — and let’s be honest, even if I had done the research, I’d have forgotten it all by the time we pulled into the parking lot. So really, it's less a strategy and more a lifestyle at this point. Win-win? Sure. Let’s call it that.

Daisy

Douglas

Now, let’s not dwell too much on the psychological damage of being trapped in a car with three excited, drooling fur grenades. Let’s just say: when we finally arrived, my nerves were a tad frayed.

At least the lodge folks had their act together — payment was a fast, efficient operation. Hikers clearly aren’t a rare species around these parts.

As for the trail itself: yes, it was a hike. No cutesy little meander through fairy gardens. There were mild inclines and open stretches. I would imagine a hot summer 's day would be a lot tougher.

There was one particular patch of pure magic — a series of waterfalls, including one, the largest, which had a rainbow caught in the spray, which honestly felt a little bit like being blessed by a nature. So, 10/10 for that moment.

The trail maintenance was great. No tripping over rogue roots or wondering if you’ve accidentally trespassed onto someone’s property — which was helpful because, frankly, I wasn’t paying attention to the trail markings at all. That's Salt’s job. (He’s my personal GPS, but like, the kind that might sometimes recalculate mid-hike when he’s had enough of herding his step dogs.)

Did we stick to the proper route? Who knows. Salt confidently declared, “It’s left,” while I was equally certain it was right — but by then he was looking for the hike to end, running on the fumes of his first full day of trail-based daddy duty. Three dogs. One man. Zero patience.

Was it a solid hike? Yes indeed. We saw a stunning waterfall and didn't lose a dog, so in my book, that's a win..

Oh, and Douglas — the one we all assumed would be the drama king of the hike? Absolutely crushed it. Honestly, he’d still be out there trotting the trail if we hadn’t reined him in. MVP energy.

AREA - Krugersdorp

COST - R 50

DIFFICULTY - Easy but not flat.

LENGTH - 4.5 km

Daisy, Douglas and "I don't want to discuss it".

MARKINGS

Trail markings? Practically non-existent. But don’t worry — it’s “impossible to get lost.” Unless you’re me. In which case, prepare for a fun bonus adventure.

HIGHLIGHTS 

The waterfalls were a treat. Add a surprise rainbow for dramatic effect, and honestly, it felt like Mother Nature showing off.

ABLUTIONS

SAFE FREE PARKING

AMENITIES 

The lodge itself looks gorgeous — the kind of place you could lounge around, sip a cappuccino (as is tradition), and bask in your post-hike glory.

But... Salt. So naturally, we left like fugitives without so much as a victory drink.

Oh, and in case hiking wasn’t extreme enough for you: there's also bungee jumping. Because apparently "mild incline" just doesn’t get the adrenaline pumping for some people.

On the way in, we spotted what might be the world’s smartest gym — a full setup welded to a shipping container. If you’ve ever thought, “This hike needs more squats,” your moment has arrived.

NOTE TO SELF

When a child (especially a traitorous one) requests a hike, be charitable. Even when they hijack your carefully curated masterplan of post hike rituals..

(TO)SOLO OR (NO)SOLO

NOSOLO, and not because it’s dangerous, but because the trail isn’t flat, my sense of direction is tragic, and I have a rich history of getting impressively lost.

That said, if you want to do solo, there were plenty of other hikers around (but not so many you wanted to start swinging a trekking pole at people).

DOG FRIENDLY

Well obviously...but must be on leashes.