Botmaskop

Route Description:

The full traverse is best planned with a group so as to place transport strategically. A group of six or more is also advised, as there have been several robberies on the lower approach slopes. Drop most of the party at the trail start which is at the small nature reserve in Provinsie Road (near Rozendal) Stellenbosch on the start of the Jonkershoek road. Drive all cars to Jonkershoek entrance car park. One car comes back to the start point and parks. Then we are ready to go. If you are intending just climb Bosmaskop, then start and finish is of course the same.

Cross the road and the grassy bank to reach the Bosmaskop reserve entrance Ignore the various side tracks – this one leads down to a gated dam - and follow the track up the hillside into a huge area of open burnt ground. The February 2017 fire raged across the hillsides, destroying large areas of pine and eucalyptus trees. Yes, non-indigenous trees, but the land seems poorer without them. Let’s hope that in time indigenous plants will again flourish and take over in this lunar landscape. The track now draws us inexorably upwards toward the battlements of Botmaskop as it towers out of the hillside above us.

The jeep track gives way to a bush trail that, pre-fire, was obvious and easy to follow, but now is tenuous at best, and is beset with gaunt burnt fallen stands of trees. The feint path traverses diagonally up until it is below the plug of rock rising above. Now the trail ascends to take on the challenge of Botmaskop itself. The fortification weak point is a gully that clefts the face from right to left, and our path leads up to this weakness. It seems improbable, but it goes without much fuss and a ‘few hands on’ rock moves. Continue up the gully and let it lead you on to the crux of the route.

Two views of the gully rock step. You may take this direct, or make a few moves left and move up on big holds to gain the gully continuation above.

Easier scrambling now leads up, past a ‘shoulder’ on the left, where you can regroup before taking on the final scramble to the top.

Rough scrambling to the left behind huge boulders takes you up towards the summit of Botmaskop.

Where you can walk above the clouds and take in the view to Simonsberg.

Decision time! Go back down, or carry on with the traverse of the ridge. Along the ridge not far from the summit is a short pavement of rock that leads to a narrow section of scramble that culminates in a downward scramble.

From here the ridge stretches on in a continuous line of minor summits. Some linked by a path showing through the resurgent undergrowth, but often showing no sign of a path what so ever! The general rule here is that though a traversing line round the hill seems inviting, the way along the summit ridges is the easiest, and does give glimpses of the pre-burn path. The exception to this is towards the later part of the ridge, where you should be able to pick out the original path leading left and across the escarpment, that leads on down and finally up to the edge of the ridge and the picnic table.

An obvious place to chill, take in the wonderful views and eat and drink the last of your vitals. The way down lies to your left as you descend the jeep track, down to the forest plantations. It is now that you enter the domain of the downhill mountain racers, and again, please look out for them. They are largely on ‘black’ bike trails, and have little room or time to manoeuvre round hikers.

There are many track variations here, but basically you are targeting a finish as close to the Jonkershoek reserve gate as possible. You are after minimising any walk along the tarmac road, at the end of a long tiring day.

Write-up courteously provided by Steve Chadwick .