Things to Do in Katberg

The challenging six-day Amatola Hiking Trail traverses the Amatola Mountains through the most breath-taking landscape imaginable. The route rambles between indigenous forests and glades, grasslands and pine plantations. The trail starts at Maden Dam near King Williams Town and finishes at Tyume Forest station three km from Hogsback. The lovely little village of Hogsback is an ideal base and all that’s needed is an arranged transfer to the start of the trail. Most of the route passes through ancient indigenous rainforest with towering Outeniqua yellowwood, sneezewood, wild olive and lemonwood. Colourful fungi, orchids, watsonias, falling stars, and red hot pokers contribute to the enchanting forest scenes. Hikers have no shortage of cascading waterfalls and swimming pools to cool off in. Parts of the trail are steep and strenuous but the effort is rewarded by the magnificent views alone! The Amatola Mountain range is home to leopard, bushbuck, duiker, porcupines, bush pig, otters, baboons, and Samango and vervet monkeys. Birds you might see include Knysna turaco, Cape parrot, Cape sugarbird, crowned eagle, barbet, woodpecker, flycatcher, robin and black eagle. Look out for the giant earthworms! Overnight huts with bunks and mattresses, braai facilities, firewood, water and toilets are provided. The weather is extremely variable at all times of year and hikers need to be well-equipped for rain, snow and very hot weather. Not recommended for unfit hikers.

Lying on the edge of the commanding Winterberg range, Tsolwana Nature Reserve’s landscape is one of austere beauty. The climate can be extreme with greatly varying temperatures and unpredictable heavy summer rain storms with hail. In winter snow falls frequently and cold, wet southerly wind spells can cause wildlife losses, particularly in plains antelope species. Animals and birds to spot include ant bear, bat-eared fox, black backed jackal, black wildebeest, blue crane, Cape mountain zebra, mountain reedbuck, oryx, blesbok, Cape vulture, baboon, springbuck, dassie, eland, gemsbuck, kudu, lynx, mongoose and suricate. Tsolwana's friendly rangers take visitors on unique game drives, combining a 4X4 adventure with excellent plains wildlife viewing. There is also the option of guided or unguided hiking, horse riding, bird watching and rock art trips.

The spectacular Great Fish River Reserve lies in the Great Fish River valley between Grahamstown and Fort Beaufort and extends all the way to the Kieskama River. This malaria-free destination is still pretty much off the major tourist radar, offering visitors an awesome wilderness experience. The typical Eastern Cape succulent bushveld and rocky terrain provides the prefect habitat for black rhino, Cape buffalo, kudu and hippo. Not only is it a haven for all shapes and sizes of wildlife, the reserve has several historical sites and offers outstanding safari and wildlife adventures. Visitors can choose numberous ways to experience this rugged wilderness including exciting walking and hiking trails, day and night game drives, picnics on the riverbanks, bird watching trips, birding from a waterside bird hide and visits to the fabulous Adam Krantz viewpoint.

Visit a rare Victorian amusement once considered 'The Magic Mirror of Life'. This unusual multi-storeyed 19th century Victorian shop and home is now a museum housing interesting displays, a Meridian room, an observatory and the only camera obscura in the southern hemisphere. Known for its identification of the Eureka in 1867, this house had a place in the identification of the first diamond that was found in South Africa, and a display on the ground floor tells this story. This connection with the Eureka prompted De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. to purchase and restore the Observatory in the 80s to commemorate the start of the diamond industry in South Africa. The Observatory Museum is part of the Albany Museum complex – www.ru.ac.za/albanymuseum. Weekdays 09:00 – 16:30 Saturdays 09:30 – 13:00.