Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
Jonkershoek Rd, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 7600
Located in the southwestern Cape near Stellenbosch, Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is home to the Jonkershoek Mountains and parts of the Jonkershoek Valley. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the reserve offers stunning scenery, wildlife, and outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, swimming, and mountain biking.
The basics
You can visit the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve as part of a guided hiking or biking (including e-bikes) tour, including wine tasting at one of the many wineries in Stellenbosch. Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is also easy to explore independently, with hiking and mountain biking trails suited to different levels, four rivers, numerous waterfalls, and natural rock pools for swimming. Spend an hour or the entire day exploring the 2,4216-acre (9,800-hectare) reserve, which is also home to more than 1,000 species of plants and various small mammals, reptiles, and birds.
Things to know before you go
There’s a fee to access Jonkershoek Nature Reserve and a separate fee for mountain biking.
Check the weather before setting off, and note that the weather can be quite different at higher elevations and can change rapidly.
Dogs are not permitted inside the reserve.
Do not feed, harass, or kill any wild animals.
How to get there
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is located approximately 5.6 miles (9 kilometers) southeast of Stellenbosch. From Cape Town, take the N2 highway towards Stellenbisch, take exit 33 to R310, and follow the road until it becomes Helshoogte Road. Turn right on Simonsberg Road, then Martinson Road until Jonkershoek Road, and follow the signs for the reserve.
When to get there
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is open year-round, with the gates closing at 6pm. Note that different hiking trails have different cut-off times—some as early as 10am—to ensure visitors have plenty of time to complete the trail and exit. Summers are hot, while winters are cold and wet, with snow possible on higher mountain peaks. Fall is one of the best times to visit for mild temperatures and fall colors.
Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is also home to the smaller Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spanning 504 acres (204 hectares), the smaller reserve has two hiking trails, barbecue and picnic areas, and the historical Assegaaibosch farmstead. This national monument, built in 1792, is currently used as a guest house.
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