Introducing Dirty Boots – Girls Only

The 9^th of August is a public holiday dedicated to women in South Africa and Sarah and I walked the beautiful Tweede Waterval Trail in the Jonkershoek Valley.

For those who like a bit of history, Women’s Day represents a memorable day in the history of women fighting for their rights and freedom. On this day in 1956, the Federation of South African Women organised a mass demonstration in protest against pass laws, the legislation that required an African person to carry a “pass” during the apartheid era.

More than 20 000 women from all races united and marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to deliver a petition to Prime Minister JG Strijdom.

On the way to the Union Buildings the women sang, Wathint’abafazi Wathint’imbokodo (When you strike the women, you strike a rock). This phrase has come to represent women’s courage and strength in South Africa.

Therefore how else can one celebrate this day but with your fellow comrades and although we did not march to the Union Buildings, we did march to the freedom of nature. Or as Sarah said, "I walked to get a tan and gossip with Camilla". Well, it was Women's Day after all so we were entitled.

Consequently, Sarah and I decided to go for a hike in the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. As we did not want to partake in a strenuous hike, we decided to walk to the waterfalls.  However, we decided to walk from the gates which in the end added another 10km on to our hike.

The walk to the start of the trail from the reserve’s gate is relatively flat with a slight elevation, absolutely nothing strenuous and a nice walk to loosen the muscles. This part of the walk is optional and one can drive to the start of the hike if you would like to.



En route to the start of the hike.

We came to the start of the hike, which can be found at the turn of the circular route and headed up into the mountains.

Jonkershoek Mountains waiting to be conquered.

We first made a stop at the first waterfall to enjoy a quick snack and the beautiful cascading waters.



The first waterfall.



View from the first waterfall.



The first waterfall is a small cascade of water sheltered among the rocks. It has a nice overhanging ledge from which you can sit and gaze out at the lusciously green valley.

Quick snapshot at the first waterfall.

We then continued through the fynbos and beautiful flowers, along the Eerste River towards the gorge, crossing a small stream along the way.

Shortly before crossing the stream, we saw four burly looking boys headed our way sporting board shorts and vests. Yes ladies, they were very well built. They had apparently jumped under the waterfall but had no towels or warm clothes so were in a hurry back but nevertheless, who wouldn't stop to chat up a pretty blond and brunette girl.

Although the idea was not very clever in August with a nippy breeze blowing through the valley, they valiantly (and sweetly) reassured us that they only jumped under the waterfall so we wouldn't have to do it. Our sweet, brave knights.

River crossing en route to the second waterfall.

The walk up the mountain, into the gorge, is a little steep and this is as strenuous as the hike will get. Luckily, you only have to climb for a short distance and there are many opportunities to stop and admire the valley behind you, the mountains in front of you and the lush river below you (and as Sarah proudly announced, "my first tan line").

Heading into the valley along the Eerste River.

When we approached the bottom of the gorge, we were confronted by three choices to try and reach the second waterfall with. There was a path that split off to the left or we could take the path to the right and walk straight up the river.

Been the adventurous girls that we are we took both paths. If you decide to do this hike, the path to your left leads you up the hill and it connects with the Panorama Trail, so you won’t reach the waterfall.

We therefore back tracked and tried the path that split off to the right. Thereafter we were confronted with yet another two options.  We could negotiate ourselves over the slippery rocks in the river or try the path that once again split off to the right. And once again this path did not seem quite right as it felt like we were hiking up a path made by a mountain buck. It was very steep and we soon decided against that route.

Therefore there was only one option that remained that seems like the only option. Straight up the river. It was actually not as bad we thought and soon we were skipping over the rocks (or as Sarah mentioned, "that sounds far too graceful than what I looked like").

The adventure girls heading up the river.

Sadly though, the actual waterfall is inaccessible and it involves a fair amount of expertise in rock climbing to safely climb the rock, wiggle yourself over the ledge and carefully walk along the outcrop to the waterfall.

However, while enjoying a nice break by the pools, three students came along and persuaded us to join them up the rock to view the magnificent second waterfall. They made it sound so tempting we decided, "why not, let's go for it".

We scrambled up the rock and waited on the ledge while the boyfriend tried to coax his girlfriend over the ledge. In the meantime a family were on their way back from the waterfall which was reassuring as it proved other, responsible people do this too but although we really wanted to see the waterfall, the wine bottle sticking out the students backpack was not so reassuring.

In the end we were helped down the rock by the father and son and once we reached the pools again, with our shacking legs and heavy breathing, we were quite relieved we didn't go along on the adventure with the young students and responsibly decided we would return with Sarah's experienced climber husband and friend.

Sarah at the pools of the second waterfall.

On our return from the hike, we enjoyed a well earned, refreshing cider at the coffee shop. Actually, I couldn't think of anything else for the last 5km's of the hike. 

A well earned Savannah.

At the Jonkershoek Tea Garden, Sarah and I made a toast to our first successful Dirty Boots Hike.

Now girls, Sarah and I would like to introduce to you our girls’ only hiking club, Dirty Boots and invite you to join us on our next adventure.

Before you get scared away, we are not super fit and we will not make you walk 18km for your first hike. We will start off slow and easy but most importantly it is for us girls to have fun, gossip, get that bikini ready body for the summer (tan included) and enjoy the wonderful world of nature.

We have a great idea for our next hike which involves combining hiking with wine tastings so as they say, “watch this space”...