Overview

Kaapschehoop Hoop is surrounded by forests and open grass-veldt, interspersed with beautiful rock formations - sandstone carved by millennia of wind, rain and ice. With a little imagination one can see shapes in the rocks, identifying the character “snoopy “ and seeing a lions head and a laden camel, set in the lovely hill country with superb walking and hiking trails through extra ordinary rock formations. In this rejuvenating atmosphere you can go for short walks or long hikes and enjoy an area where wild horses roam free, the air is pure, the water is clear and sweet, the people friendly and the memories plenty.

The valley is often covered in mist and the plateau then resembles a cape in a sea of clouds. It became known as De Kaap ('the cape'), and the centre of the gold rush was named Kaapschehoop ('hope of the cape').

The cycad here is protected in the nearby starvation creek nature reserve. The bird life is a pleasure to behold. The Kaapschehoop area offers protection to between nine and twelve pairs of the globally threatened Blue Swallow and is designated as an Important Bird Area. This is one of Kaapschehoop’s biggest attractions and it draws 1000’s of bird lovers each year to come and explore. Kaapschehoop used to be a thriving gold mining town that still has people looking for gold. The world's biggest nugget was found close by on the surface.

A 470ha portion of Kaapschehoop grassland falls under protection of the Natural Heritage Site while the state owned forestry company owns another substantial expanse of grassland wedged between the reserve and town. Wild horses graze the latter area, a practice that appears to have a beneficial effect on the Blue Swallow.

If you read a little on the history of Kaapschehoop, you’re bound to find a mystical story or two about the wild horses that roam around the area. Approximately 160 to 200 feral horses roam the 17 000 hectares of Kaapschehoop and surrounds. Herds range in size from bachelor herds of around 3 to larger more structured herds of 15 to 20 horses. They are enjoyed by visitors and locals alike and share a protective interest by the residents of Kaapschehoop.

History

The land with legends of gold and horses has an exciting history which dates back to 1721, in the records of Dutch East India Company establishments at Delgoa Bay (now Maputo) where show gold was being traded. In 1882 Bernard Chomse claimed to have found gold in the bed of a stream on a high, narrow plateau which projects like a finger between the valleys of the Elands and the Little Crocodile rivers. The diggers called the strange place Duiwelskantoor ('devils office').

Duiwelskantoor came about because of the tall sandstone boulders that formed in the shape of a room, with a table and chairs, with wild trees growing around the setting, thus making it look somber and sinister.

Must visit destinations

Visitors can be seen staring at the horses for hours in amazement just watching them wild and free, roaming around. One of the most popular activities as you can imagine is horse riding and many horse riding trails are available including some lengthy 7 day trails.

Kaapschehoop is most popular during the summer months when morning and evening temperatures range from 18 to 20 degrees and midday temperatures around 28 to 30 degrees. Summer rainfalls are typical either late afternoon or during the evenings and are ideal for the family to get together and spend quality time together. Winter seasons are chilly yet comfortable during the day with temperatures around 20 degrees midday.

More than 200 bird species have been recorded here. Endemic species that can be seen in the area are: Knysna Turaco, Bush Blackcap, Cape Rock-Thrush, Buff-streaked Chat, Chorister Robin-Chat, Brown Scrub-Robin, Cape Grassbird, Drakensberg Prinia, Cape Longclaw, Southern Tchagra, Bokmakierie, Olive Bush-Shrike, Gurney's Sugarbird, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Swee Waxbill and Forest Canary.

Kaapschehoop can offer peace and relaxation to the weary or for the energetic, there is hiking, quad biking, horse riding (from the easy to difficult) and climbing the rocks.

There are several small restaurants and craft shops - pottery, glass making and jewellery making. Nelspruit is close by for visiting the Botanical Gardens, The Crocodile Park (has a large collection of snakes as well as tortoises), Sabie, Graskop, Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon, God's Window, Pilgrims Rest, Sudwala Caves, Barberton, Badplaas (has Hot Springs) are all within a day's trip. Mozambique and Swaziland are close by if you use Kaapschehoop as a stopover.