Things to do near
Poccolan Nature Reserve
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Dams Vleis
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Clarens (10.4 km from Poccolan Nature Reserve) The Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve is situated 23 km from Harrismith. It has several excellent trails for visitors to meander upon. The reserve is a favorite with bird lovers, holding over 200 bird species, such as mountain reedbuck, oribi, woodpecker, yellowwood and redwood.
The terrain varies from veld to forest to kloof. Wildlife is not prominent but there are several antelopes to be spotted. Every year in February the reserve hosts the annual Catamaran Championships on the 7,000 ha dam. Visitors can also enjoy water sports activities such as fishing and canoeing.
Dams Vleis
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Harrismith (14.5 km from Poccolan Nature Reserve) The vast expanse of water which is the Sterkfontein Dam lies a few kilometres from the edge of the Drakensberg Escarpment in the topmost reaches of the Vaal Dam catchment on the Nuwejaarspruit. The cool, fresh, deep waters are ideal for trout and other fish and it is a popular angling spot. It is the third largest dam in South Africa providing a perfect playground for sailing and other watersports. The surrounding landscape is scenically stunning - characterised by rugged mountains, lush ravines and rolling grasslands.In this beautiful setting is the Sterkfontein Dam Reserve covering 18 000 hectares. Perfect for long walks, hiking (there is a two-day hiking trail) and biking, it also offers excellent game viewing and bird watching. You can tick off oribi, reedbuck, mountain reedbuck, grey rhebuck, the bald ibis, the blue and whitebellied korhaan, the buffstreaked chat, the ground woodpecker and the sentinel. Gaze up to the sky and you could spot bearded and Cape vultures as well as Verreaux's (black) and martial eagles soaring. Secretary birds can also be spotted in treetops or stalking in the grasslands.The precipitous ravines are populated with yellowwood, wild peach, koko, silky bark, and black bark trees as well as bush guarri. Wild grape has twined into the tree tops where they form a dense leafy canopy. Fungi and lichen nestle against living and rotten tree trunks. Mountain slopes are adorned with wild myrtle, redwood, ouhout, hush guarri, highveld protea, silver sugarbush and the scarce tree fern.
Nature Reserves
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Royal Natal National Park (20.9 km from Poccolan Nature Reserve) Royal Natal National Park easily features some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Africa. The star of the show is the famous Amphitheatre, a massive 500-metre high rock wall that stretches for five kilometres.
Standing like a sentinel above the Amphitheatre is Mont-aux-Sources peak. From here, Tugela Falls, the second highest waterfall in the world cascades down the face of the Amphitheatre on its journey to the Indian Ocean.
The park is a hiker’s paradise offering a network of hiking paths ranging from a gentle stroll to Fairy Glen and the challenging Crack and Mudslide. A detailed hiking guide is available at the visitor centre, Thendele Camp office and the main entrance gate.
Trout fishing is also a popular activity with options of the Mahai River, Thukela River or in a dam. There are some lovely spots for picnicking and swimming in sparkling mountain streams. Rugged Glen stables offer horse rides into the mountains with stunning views and sightings of mountain reedbuck and grey rhebuck.
Hiking Trail
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Royal Natal National Park (World Heritage Site) and surrounds (23.6 km from Poccolan Nature Reserve) Located in the Royal Natal National Park, the Devils Hoek Valley hiking trail takes you from the Tugela River car park, all along the Tugela Valley and then up the Devil's Hoek tributary. A fantastic hike that gradually elevates with amazing views.
Duration: 4 Hours;
Distance: 15 km;
Grade: E.
Popular Attractions
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Royal Natal National Park (30 km from Poccolan Nature Reserve) Tick off the highest waterfall in Africa and the planet's second highest waterfall in the Drakensberg (Dragon's Mountains).
The Tugela Falls drops 947 meters down the rock-face of the Amphitheatre in three free-leaping falls. The source of the Tugela River is at Mont-Aux-Sources, several kilometres from where the falls cascade down.
Situated in the Royal Natal National Park, the falls are easily seen after heavy rains from the main road into the park. The best time for viewing is during the summer rainfall season.
Two superb hiking trails lead to the Tugela Falls. The most spectacular trail is a full day walk to the summit of Mount-Aux-Sources and to the top of the falls.
The other trail leads to the foot of the falls up the Tugela Gorge though indigenous forest. A climb up a small chain ladder takes you to a stunning view of the falls rushing down the Amphitheatre in a series of spectacular cascades.
KZN Wildlife +27 (0) 33 845 1999
Sports Stadiums Clubs
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Harrismith (32.5 km from Poccolan Nature Reserve) The Platberg Stadium lies at the foot of a great Eastern Free State landmark - the 9 kilometre long, 2 377 metre high Platberg Mountain. This majestic mountain range forms a stunning backdrop to the stadium.
Golf Courses
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Harrismith (33.5 km from Poccolan Nature Reserve) Type: Parkland golf course
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Length: 6529m
Popular Attractions
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Bergville (34.3 km from Poccolan Nature Reserve) The Northern Horse offers the experience of a lifetime in the Northern Drakensberg. Trusty mountain horses and ponies will take you up mountains, across rivers and cantering over plains in the breath taking foothills of this World Heritage Site. Trails vary from easy outrides on the Montusi Estate to steeper trails, all tailored to suit various levels of experience.
Popular Attractions
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Bergville (34.3 km from Poccolan Nature Reserve) All Out Adventures offer over 100 km of well-marked mountain bike trails for all fitness and skill levels in the Northern Drakensberg. Extreme mountain bikers use this terrain to train for the Cape Epic, Sani and Joberg 2 C riders. Riders can choose between tough training rides and easy rides for families on a mountain biking holiday in the Berg. Maps are available.
Popular Attractions
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Bergville (34.3 km from Poccolan Nature Reserve) Westline Aviation offer scenic helicopter flights in the Northern Drakensberg region. Flight solutions can be tailored to suit particular needs, corporate services, tourism and special events. They operate from Dragon Peaks Mountain Resort, Cathedral Peak Hotel and the Tower of Pizza .
Popular Attractions
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Bergville (34.3 km from Poccolan Nature Reserve) All Out Adventures offers a thrilling cable ride through scenic forest. Speeds of up to 60 km per hour are reached between the 7 platforms, making it one of the fastest cable tours in South Africa. It also has one of the longest spans in the country – up to 240 m between the platforms. Great fun for the whole family.
Popular Attractions
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Bergville (34.3 km from Poccolan Nature Reserve) Fly like Tarzan on an authentic circus trapeze. Instructors take you step by step through taking off to landing in the net. Die hard thrill seekers have the option of doing a knee hang and a back flip dismount.
Golf Courses
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Bergville (34.3 km from Poccolan Nature Reserve) Beautifully maintained and picturescue 9-hole course situated at Hlalanathi Resort
Galleries and Museums
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Golden Gate Highlands National Park (38.9 km from Poccolan Nature Reserve) Visit a living museum with reconstructions of traditional homesteads from the 1700s to today. Resident guides show and tell how the Basotho ran their daily activities. Visitors can meet the local chief, sample traditional beer, join story-telling evenings, traditional games competitions and play a game of morabaraba. The village also offers an art gallery, photographic exhibition, arts and crafts shop and a restaurant.
Hiking Trail
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Van Reenens Pass (40 km from Poccolan Nature Reserve) The Black Wildebeest Hiking Trail is a 2/3-day backpack trail, which starts off at the bottom of the Van Reenan Pass in KwaZulu-Natal.
The precise start of the trail is located at Siggy's base camp. The first day kicks off with a climb next to a fast-flowing stream. Accent onto the plateau is done via a ladder. The rest of the trail cuts through undulating grassland hills, which provides a lovely scenic view on the path. Game sighting is plentiful and adds a lovely element to the trail. The trail ends at the river camp.
The 2nd day trail returns back to base camp, starting off with a steep incline to the top of the plateau. The route then follows a decent into a valley, followed by an easy last stretch.
Difficulty: easy to moderate;
Distance: 14 km, and 26 km if you decide to extend the hike to the 3 day variation.