The Rainbow Gorge Trail. Start at Cathedral Peak Hotel , or Didima Camp, which is half a km shorter.
A lovely hike into a lush kloof, circling the foot of Cathedral Peak with pools, waterfalls and good birdlife.
Distance: 11 to 12 kms return. Takes 2 to 2.5 hours to complete.
Start: Cathedral Peak Hotel. An easy ramble for the family.
You need to sign in and back out on your return at the reception, which has maps.
This picturesque trail follows a river upstream giving spectacular views, winds through lush indigenous forest with magnificent yellowwood trees and a many rare species of birdlife including endemics: Southern Boubou, Bush Blackcap, Chorister Robin-Chat and Forest Canary.
Directions: Walk to the upper side of the car park where you will see a clear path heading uphill. Pass a few camp cottages and then climb a grassy slope. Ignore the path on the left about halfway up and keep climbing until you reach a T-junction. Turn left. The path levels out briefly, contours above the Ndumeni River, then goes down into indigenous forest with magnificent yellowwoods and wonderful bird life.
Follow the river upstream into a gorge, past rock pools, rapids and waterfalls. The gorge eventually narrows and you will see a huge rock wedged between the gorge’s sandstone walls. This is the “chock-stone”. If you catch the sun in the right position, water pouring down the sides of the gorge throws up sparkling rainbows that dance in the spray. Then retrace your steps.
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