HIKING
The farm is ideal for hiking with several trails that wind their way through the vineyards and olives groves, past waterfalls, and along mountain ridges. You can enjoy hiking these trails on self-guided hikes or with an expert local guide between the spring and summer months of October and May.
SELF-GUIDED HIKES
The Tierhoek Dam Trail: 5km
An easy meander through the farm’s vineyards and olive groves giving you the opportunity to take in the daily activities on the working farm or simply soak up the natural beauty. Chat with farm workers along the way, who will regale you with stories about the farm, it’s rich history, and hidden secrets. This trail has numerous escape routes, should you wish to take a shorter walk and is generally suitable for everyone that enjoys walking.
The Babbedas View Trail: 5km
This easy walk takes you through our vineyards and past the majestic Manor House. En route you will have magnificent views of the Langeberg Mountains as you head to Peerboom Dam where you can rest a while and soak up the beauty surrounding you. This trail has no escape route other than return the way you came. This hike is generally suitable for everyone that enjoys walking.
For our more energetic Guests it is possible to combine both trails.
The Peerboom Dam Trail:
This is a relatively easy hike that meanders through tracts of natural fynbos, proteas and wildflowers, in season. After a short initial climb you walk along a mountain ridge with breathtaking views of the farm and the surrounding mountains. This circular route is well-marked and should take between 40 and 60 minutes. It is easy-going, and suitable for all ages – even the little ones!
The Ridge Trail:
If you are looking for a slightly longer and more challenging hike with a bit if a climb, this is a great one. It is an extension of the Peerboom Dam Trail and follows a similar route through the fynbos and wildflowers and along the lower ridges of the Langeberg Mountains. This hike is only for fit hikers and should take between 3 and 4 hours, depending on how many times to you stop to smell the flowers.
The Droë Kloof Trail:
Serious hikers will enjoy this trail, which is a challenging 2-3 hour hike that takes you over series of mountain ridges blanketed in the spectacular flora of the Robertson Karoo. The trail crosses a wild and unspoiled part of Orange Grove Farm and has numerous fantastic vantage points from which to soak up the views.
The Forest Trail:
This is a shorter version of the Droë Kloof Trail and will take between 1 and 2.5 hours and can be enjoyed by anyone with moderate fitness.
GUIDED HIKES (ONLY AVAILABLE OCTOBER – MAY)
You can enjoy guided hikes with a local guide between the months of October to May and hike to some of the waterfalls on the farm, swim in the mountain pools, and see local birds and wildlife under the expert eye of the guide.
The Smits Kloof Trail:
The Smits Kloof Trail leads to two stunning rock pools where guests can swim in clear mountain waters amidst towering rock formations.
On your way back you pass the magnificent Knypkloof Falls. On this hike, you have the chance of spotting the farm’s resident breeding pair of Verreaux’s Eagles (Black Eagles) who have made the towering cliffs of Babbedasberg their home. Your guide will also point out the Breede River Redfin, a highly endangered fish species which now only exists in the upper reaches of the Vink River.
The entire hike takes between 3.5 and 5 hours, depending on how much time you wish to spend at the rock pools.
The Rooikrans Trail:
This amazing hike traverses through a gorge in the foothills of the Langeberg Mountains and takes you through “Naald-se-Oog,” a narrow opening in the gorge with a crystal clear mountain stream that you traverse several times. The vistas are nothing less than breathtaking and you will be surrounded by towering red mountain cliffs as you make your way through forests of Rooi Els, Cape Holly and Yellow Wood trees.
The hike takes you to Rooikrans Falls where you will have the chance to swim in the crystal-clear waters at the base of the waterfall surrounded by the natural splendour of the forest. The valley is also home to the elusive Cape Mountain Leopard and your guide will point out the numerous scratch marks on trees which leopards use to mark their territory.
The entire hike takes between 3.5 and 5 hours.
All hikes start at 07h30 due to extreme heat that may be experienced. Please note that our guided hikes are only suitable for relatively fit individuals due to some moderately challenging sections which involves some minor rock climbing and scrambling. Alternatively, we can drive you to a point in the Kloof, saving you about two hours of walking. No children under 8 years allowed on the guided hikes.
