Shoes off, standing at the edge of a rock pool deep in the Kranskloof Gorge—some trails reward you with a view. This one had other ideas.
The Kranskloof Hiking Trail sits an hour and a half from Centurion, Pretoria. We parked on a farm at the trailhead—twenty of us milling about, spirits high, ready for what lay ahead. The weather gods were smiling.
The trail started by going through a big black gate. We pushed it open just enough to comfortably walk through. One by one we moved from the farm to the open field of dry grass. The trail climbed early on, mostly through big open fields. We stopped at an oddly shaped rock formation for a water break and took a group photo. The rock had these grooves in it, and I could not help but wonder why it was the only one shaped this way.
As we moved on, the trail became more rocky with boulders and a stream running between them. We had to pick our footing carefully as we made our way over the boulders. The route through was clear enough, so we could easily find our way while listening to the water gurgling over the rocks.
As we made our way towards the midway point, there was more tree cover. We found ourselves in a gorge walking along the stream of water we encountered earlier. It immediately cooled down as we walked among the trees in the gorge. We could smell the damp rock and moss. Here and there we needed to zig and zag over the stream, running the risk of getting wet shoes.
The gorge had a way of loosening conversation. Somewhere between the stream crossings, we found ourselves debating marriage—why fewer people are doing it and what it even means today. Heavy topics, light footsteps.
We reached the midway point still in the gorge covered by trees, and there were rock pools. This was where we took a break and decided to cool down. Shoes off, and in I went. The chilly water was refreshing. The spot I was sitting in felt as if it were made by Mother Nature just for me. My head floated effortlessly while my body was fully submerged. There I sat for a while cooling down. A handful of us had taken the plunge.
There was another hiking group occupying the water pool next to ours. As they cleared out, we decided to go and check it out. It had a natural shower, and we took the opportunity of running the water overhead. I held my breath, slid in underneath it, and just took it. The sound was overwhelming as the water crashed down on my head.
After cooling down, we had some trail snacks. Our hike leader came around, notifying us that we had 10 minutes left and that it was time to gear up. Slowly we fitted socks, then boots, and tucked away what was left from the trail snacks into the backpack, getting ready to move on.
If you’re moderately fit and comfortable navigating some technical sections on the trail and in the gorge, you can do this. This was worth every step. My favourite hiking trails are the ones with rock pools and high points of view. I would go back. We tend to return to the trails every two years.
We got back to the cars early afternoon. Dusty and slightly sweaty. I suggested a cold drink. We swapped out the hiking shoes for more comfortable shoes. We moved the cars into the shade and took a seat under a big tree where we chatted a bit more and enjoyed our cold drinks. This was a good way to spend a Sunday morning.
Practical Guide — Kranskloof Hiking Trail
Activity: Hiking Trail
Difficulty: Moderate, with some technical sections through the boulder field and gorge.
Duration: 3 hours
Distance: 10km, Kranskloof Route
Getting There
The trailhead is roughly 33km from Rustenburg. Head along Buffelspoort Road past Buffelspoort Dam, which becomes Rhenosterfontein Road. Turn left towards Magalies Canopy Tours and continue on the dirt road past the entrances to Sprakling Resort and Magalies Canopy Tours until you see the Kranskloof Hiking Trails sign on your right. Drive through the gate and all the way down to the open field—that’s your parking area and where the trail begins. Someone should be there to greet you on arrival. Location
What to Expect
The trail opens through big open fields with an early climb—there’s a 390-metre elevation gain in total. As the trail progresses, it becomes rockier, with boulders and a stream to navigate. From there you descend into a shaded gorge where the temperature drops noticeably and the trail follows the stream, requiring a few crossings. The highlight is the rock pools at the midway point—bring something to swim in. A second pool with a small waterfall sits nearby and is worth the detour.
What to Bring
- Water (minimum 2L) and electrolyte drinks
- Trail snacks
- Sunscreen and a hat
- Comfortable hiking shoes
- Water crossing shoes
- Swimming costume or shorts
- Towel
- Hiking poles if you use them
- First aid kit and personal medication
Good to Know
- Cost: R125 per person at time of writing
- Booking Required
- Mobile: 078 976 6723 for Bookings
- Centurion Hiking Club
Pricing and operational details correct at time of writing. Verify before booking.
