Taylored Trips – Simonskloof – DOWN TO EARTH MOUNTAIN RETREAT

We took a scenic drive to Simonskloof in the Koo valley for the weekend recently. Like all good weeken

ds should, this one started out going up Bain’s Kloof Pass.

Bain's Kloof Pass with Doolhof Wine Estate down below

We could have taken the conventional

route via the N1 and Worcester but instead we travelled there and back via Ceres and the Warmbokkeveld. We always look for an alternate off-the-beaten-track route to travel because there are often quirky, interesting, scenic things out there. That way you also see so much more of this beautiful country

we call homeEntering Ceres from Michell’s Pass, you get a nice view of the Ceres valley, the golf course and the newly rejuvenated Ceres Rail Company which is based at the Demeter Station.

Ceres

Straight through Ceres, up the Theronsberg Pass and right on the R46 to the N1, past the Aquila Game Reserve. We actually saw two elephants as we drove

past Aquila and the one was giving himself a dust shower. It was quite spectacular as the sunlight caught the dust, encasing the elephant in a big halo.

Aquila Game Reserve

We had to do a

short stint on the N1 as we headed south to the R318 Montagu turn-off. Then it was over the Rooihoogte Pass and right onto a gravel road at the foot of the pass on the western end of the Koo valley.Simonskloof is well signposted all the way on a lovely little dirt road with spectacular views. The road

eventually stops on the farm. You have reached your destination and you can go no further, by car, that is.

Views along the gravel road to Simonskloof

Simonskloof is directly across the mountain from the Nuy valley and the Saggy Stone Brewery, if you are coming from Worcester on the R60 towards Robertson. Look at the map and you can see exactly what I mean.

Simonskloof – DOWN TO EARTH MOUNTAIN RETREAT

Jurgen has a lovely setup here with 8 grassed campsites along a bubbling brook, as well as self-catering cottages.

Simonskloof campsite

There are no ablutions other than donkey heated showers and composting toilets, so there are no basins or sinks for washing up etc. but there is

a tap at the campsites with delicious mountain water.

Composting toilet on the left and donkey heated shower further back

We were in camp 5 and for two people, I think we had the best spot.

Camp 5

As I said, the road doesn’t actually go any further than Simonskloof but walking and hiking options are plentiful.Just after you

enter their gate there are some old cars on the right so we took a walk up there to go watch “rust in progress”.

Rust in progress

The view from the rust buckets show one of the hiking trails going up the mountain. If you look closely

you can just make it out.

Twin Peaks and Gecko Trail both start up this hill. Worcester and the Nuy Valley is on the other side of those mountains

And if you are on the trail above, at the top of the ridge and look back down, the view looks like this in the pic below. You can

see the incoming road and the campsite is where the trees are in the middle of the picture.

Simonskloof incoming road seen from the top of the ridge in the pic above

If you’re interested in rust or old things, there’s more if you

walk around a bit.

And still more on the neighbouring farm before you get to Simonskloof.

The photo below is another view of the area as we were leaving Simonskloof.

Part of the Koo valley

In 1975, when I was in the Air Force, we could “volunteer” to be sent to a DECCA station to guard it for a month. A DECCA station is a maritime radar station

which track ships around our coast. Each station has a Master and a Control station and I was lucky enough to be sent to Matatiele near Kokstad and to Touws River in the Western Cape for a month each. Just before we descended the Rooihoogte Pass when we were on our way to Simonskloof, we went past the Touws

River Control station, so when we were on our way home, we stopped to take a pic for old-time’s sake.

DECCA Control station

Speaking of the Air Force, on the R46 between Aquila Game Reserve and the T-junction

which intersects with the R355 from the Tankwa, there’s a vlei called Verkeerde Vlei because it runs east-west instead of north-south as is the norm in the Cape (apparently). If you pay special attention to a clump of trees on your left, just before the vlei, if you are traveling from the N1 towards the R355, you will

see an old Air Force Dakota without wings and tail standing there. Some years ago there were two of them and then one mysteriously disappeared. On another of our trips I noticed that the second one had been moved to way past the other end of the vlei and it was standing proudly at the western end at

the foot of the hill. When the two were standing together in the clump of trees, they both were without wings and tails, probably removed to transport them there. Well, the one on the western end is now complete with wings and tail and looking in ship-shape condition, just waiting to take to the skies,

(except for a few engines of course). BTW, the restricted area on the left and right of the R46 is Air Force property. I flew from Ysterplaat to Swartkops on a VIP flight (a conventional aircraft with seats as opposed to a troop carrier or cargo carrier) in January 1975 and this East-ender could quite possibly be that

very same aircraft.

East ender (VIP configuration)

West ender (Cargo carrier)

There’s a lovely gravel detour that cuts across the Swaarmoed and Matroos

berg mountains but this time I was unable to convince Verine that it would be a better road home. We stopped in Michell’s Pass to enjoy the views and the two new farm stalls along the way before coming through Bain’s Kloof Pass once again.

Michell's Pass

HILLBILLY Farm stall

HILLBILLY Farm stall

Creative Hub farm stall

Creative Hub farm stall

What a way to spend a weekend!Until next time, “Keep on Tripping!”