Weekend Away: Boesmanskloof near McGregor

Berg Rosie cottage at Onverwacht near McGregor.

This weekend past we managed to get away from the daily grind to a beautiful spot at the top of Boesmanskloof, courtesy of Robertson Wine Valley tourism. (I won a competition by answering an email question, which just goes to show it's worth answering these things.)

The kloof is a popular 14km hiking trail (described as 'reasonably strenuous') between the little towns of Greyton and McGregor on either side of the Riviersonderend Mountains. We weren't there to hike, but to chill with good friends, good food, good wine and good books.  

We stayed at Onverwacht Cottages which are 16km outside of McGregor up the mountain at the start of the trail. It's about a three-hour drive from Cape Town if you can miss the rush-hour traffic. 

There are seven cottages here, three self-standing and the other four attached. None has electricity (just paraffin lamps and gas for cooking and hot water) but otherwise they have everything you need. The best views are from Berg Rosie (above) and Bergtrein (which consists of the four interlinked cottages, ideal for a group).

We stayed in Waboom cottage (with the green roof) which has two bedrooms. Blushing Bride (left) is a cosy spot for a couple with a view of the McGregor Valley, while Berg Rosie (to the right) also has two bedrooms and a dramatic view of the kloof from its stoep. Next time...

A fynbos special, the orange-breasted sunbird came to chill on the stoep for a bit.

Looked like a pelargonium but I wasn't sure. There were lovely flowers all along our drive to McGregor with spring in full swing.

The cottages are up a steep hill with views on either side - this down towards Robertson

As the song says: “Suikerbossie, ek wil jou hê.” (Sugerbush, I want you.)

On the Saturday morning, the men went for a stiff walk up the mountain, while the women ventured into the deep kloof to swim in a mountain pool called Bobbejaansgat ('baboon's hole'). The water was so cold it knocked the breath out of me. It was wonderful to be back in the mountains, even if we had to climb back out of the kloof again up a precipitous path (and hardly enough exercise to offset all that good food and wine). 

Nevertheless, at the end of the weekend we felt as if we'd won the jackpot!

The swimming hole is at the bottom of the kloof in the bottom right of this picture.