The beautiful 1500ha Private Five Assegais Estate between Badplaas and Machadodorp offers a number of 1 – 2 day hiking trails collectively called the Five Assegais Trail . The trails go through a 50km area of beautiful, pristine and in places breath-taking escarpment terrain that includes valleys and gulleys, grasslands, yellow-wood forest, streams and waterfalls, sand stone mazes and spectacular views.
Various routes of varying length and difficulty (from moderate to difficult) are offered between three hiking camps on the Estate: The Pongola Express Camp, God’ Window Camp and Candlewood Camp. These include:
The 13.5km 1 day Escarpment Trail
The 8.4km 1 day Hell’s Bell’s Trail through Hell’s Kloof – waterfalls, lush forested kloof, purple crested loeries
The 15km 1 day Pongola Express to God’s Window Camp Loop – the famous Mac Mac Falls
The 16km 1 day Pongola Express to Candlewood Loop – Uitkomste and Mac Mac Falls
The 20km 2 day Oom Paul’s Backpackers Route – Uitkomste Falls
All trails are self-guided but each route is clearly set out.
The Pongola Express Camp is also the start of the 5 day Num Num Trail – a hiking or slackpacking trail that is the result of a collaboration between the Five Assegais Estate and two adjoining private Estates, Wathaba and Bermanzi. The Num Num route moves through some of Mpumalanga’s most beautiful scenery.
Other activities and facilities offered on the Estate include trout fishing, a 4 star Fishing Lodge and game viewing.
It is essential to book and pre-pay, and different routes begin at different camps.
Getting there: From Johannesburg take the N12 then the N4 for Machadodorp. At Machadadorp take the R541 toward Badplaas. Call 082 889 6757 when you are in Machadorp for detailed directions to whichever camp your hike begins at.
| More info on the area of Machadodorp | More info on the Highlands Meander area |
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