Groot Winterhoek Wilderness

Groot Winterhoek is about 30,000 hectares of rugged sandstone north-east of Porterville, reached by a gravel road that climbs a pass with a serious drop on one side. On top the landscape opens into a plateau of rock, fynbos and clear streams, and the main draw is water: De Tronk and the Groot Kliphuis river run through slabs into deep pools, and the Disa pool sits below a waterfall that people swim under in warm weather. It is a declared wilderness area, which means no development beyond a couple of basic huts, no shops, no signposted comfort - navigation is on map and cairns. Leopards live here and are occasionally seen; more often you find spoor. The area is popular with paragliders launching off the Dasklip pass edge, and the plateau holds snow in some winters. Fires close the area regularly through summer.

What you actually see

• The river pools - deep clear pools in rock slabs, with a swimmable waterfall.
• The wilderness rules - no development, no signage, navigation by map and cairn.
• Dasklip pass - the gravel climb with a paragliding launch on the edge.
• The high plateau - sandstone and fynbos with streams running through it.

When to go

March to May and September to November. Two days minimum. Fire season closes it without warning.

Honest expectations

The access pass is steep gravel and unpleasant in a low car. Permits are required and numbers limited. There is no marked trail network and no phone signal on much of the plateau. Summer heat and fire risk lead to frequent closures. Facilities are two basic huts and nothing else.

Nearby

Porterville is below the pass; the Cederberg lies further north.