Matroosberg

Matroosberg - sailor mountain, for a rock below the summit said to look like a sailor beside his ship - reaches 2,247 metres in the Hex River mountains and is the highest mountain in the Cape Winelands district. Snow falls on it several times most winters - not deep and not lasting, but enough that the reserve becomes the destination for families from Cape Town who have never seen any, and the access road fills with cars on the weekend after a cold front. The reserve is private, and getting to the top means either a long uphill walk, your own 4x4 on a rough track, or a booked shuttle. A small ski area on the north slope is the seat of the South African Ski Association, and the longest of the Hex River railway tunnels runs beneath the mountain. Outside snow season it is a hiking and abseiling area with proteas on the slopes and the Hex River valley vineyards spread out below. Weather changes fast at that height and the mountain has caught out day visitors dressed for a city winter rather than an alpine one.

What's there

• The snow - several falls most winters, and the crowds that follow a cold front.
• The 2,247 metre summit - the highest point in the Cape Winelands district.
• The Hex River valley - vineyards spread out far below the ridge.
• The 4x4 track - the rough route to the top, or a booked shuttle instead.

When to go

June to August if you want snow, and go the day after a cold front. Spring for flowers. A day.

Good to know

Snow is not guaranteed and melts within a day or two; the reserve posts conditions. Access to the summit costs extra and the track needs real clearance. Weekends after snowfall are chaotic with queues on the road. Weather turns fast and people arrive badly dressed.

Nearby

Ceres is the nearest town; the Hex River valley runs east.

Key facts