The 20km Guided Summit Hike Cradle Moon Hike: A Tribe of Absolute Legends

The De Wildt Honey Badger Trail Team.

Assembling the Tribe

When I spotted this relatively new hike on social media a few months back, I called immediately.

The requirements were a minimum of four hikers and a guide.

I knew exactly who to call. No hesitation.

My rock stars - three people who really should ask more questions before saying yes, but I am deeply grateful they never do.

Also known as: "The De Wildt Honey Badger Team."

Sage.

Her other half (a.k.a "our trusty leader").

And Rosemary.

Rosemary - Hag - Sage

It was originally booked for a month ago, but we rescheduled due to a few flu casualties.

Luckily, the lodge was incredibly accommodating, which immediately put Cradle Moon firmly in my good books.

100% Rain Forecast, 100% Commitment

The rescheduled date arrived with a weather forecast of 100% rain.

Tim

I woke up to exactly that.

When Sage messaged to say they were already on their way, I felt immediate relief.

No last-minute cancellations from that side.

I hadn’t heard from Rosemary yet, but reminding her she still had a choice felt… unnecessary.

She’d committed. Spiritually, emotionally, and probably against her better judgement.

Driving Through a Monsoon

The drive to Muldersdrift was nothing short of biblical.

Sheets of rain reduced visibility to almost nothing, and for the first time I genuinely questioned whether my enthusiasm for hiking might require professional intervention.

Then another worry crept in: What if the lodge cancels the hike?

Shortly thereafter, Sanele from Cradle Moon called.

I answered and, fearing the worst, immediately screamed “NOOOOO” into the phone.

After a long pause - during which he was likely recovering from temporary hearing loss - he explained that he was just calling to confirm we were still coming.

Possibly the greatest moment of my hiking life.

The Rain That Obeyed Me

Literally as I drove through the entrance, the rain stopped.

I’ve said this before: with consistent positive thinking, I’d be unstoppable.

Unfortunately, I lack both the consistency and the positivity.

When it comes to hiking, though, the universe has been has been suspiciously supportive..

Also, Universe - don’t push it. I see you. Keep your beer to yourself.

“It’s Flat, Flat, Flat”

I never spend much time researching hikes beforehand, so when I saw 20 km, I assumed gently rolling terrain - flat-ish, manageable, friendly.

Which is exactly how I described it to my group.

I even said, “Flat, flat, flat.” 

Because repetition equals reassurance, right?

On meeting our guide, Tim, he casually informed us it was absolutely not flat.

By then, my tribe was trapped.

No turning back.

Mud, Inclines, Wildlife, and Pure Magic

This hike had everything.

Mud (obviously)

Inclines.

Technical sections to keep you on your toes.

Views that made you forget your suffering.

Wildlife - casually reminding us whose land we were borrowing.

Tim explained that the route incorporates sections from a few different lodges - including Glenburn, a hike Rosemary and I had done the previous week…..

But different.

Or at least we think so.

To be fair, we were never entirely convinced we’d actually done the correct Glenburn trail the first time.

Either way, had Rosemary not pointed it out, I would have had absolutely no recollection of walking the same trail before - possibly because we were now doing it backwards…

Whatever, for me, it was as good as new.

The intermittent rain didn’t detract from the experience - it enhanced it. The landscape felt alive, dramatic, and magical.

An overflowing river forced us to backtrack near the end, shaving a couple of kilometres off the full 20 km.

But, given the intensity of the terrain and conditions, it felt like a fair trade.

This hike is tough - the good kind. The kind that makes you proud afterwards and mildly insufferable when telling people about it.

Walking With the Wildlife

This was my third visit to Cradle Moon, and I always see wildlife - but this trail was different.

Not animals hanging around reception.

Actual, quiet moments of coexisting.

Sharing space.

Moving through their world.

RATINGS

Trail Information

AREA

Muldersdrift

COST

R 250

Trail Details

TRAIL DIFFICULTY

Tough but fair

Scrambling-heavy inclines that give your lungs a break while your legs do all the work.

TRAIL LENGTH

20 km - ish

TRAIL MARKERS

Tim

WEATHER CONDITIONS TO CONSIDER

Mostly open terrain—hot days require preparation; rain increases difficulty

ABLUTIONS

SAFE FREE PARKING

AMENITIES

It’s Cradle Moon - enough said

WILDLIFE & BIRD LIFE

Yes.

We made eye contact. It was meaningful.

NOTE TO SELF

Mud is not a spa treatment.

FAMILY FRIENDLY

Yes

PET FRIENDLY

No

ON A FINAL NOTE

This isn’t a hike you rush. It’s one you experience, step by step, occasionally slipping, and questioning who lied about it being flat.

If you’re considering it - do it.

Just don’t tell your hiking group it’s "flat, flat, flat".

(TO)SOLO OR (NO)SOLO

Group only (guided)