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The Brook
Hiking Trails
Near
Oshoek, Mpumalanga
Trail Closed
The Brook Hiking trail was
developed several years ago by Bernard de Sousa of Lowveld Ramblers
hiking club for HL&H mining timber. The land is now owned by Mondi
Forests although the trails are run and maintained under private
control. There are three trails to choose from, the Waterfall trail
14,5km, the Boulder Canyon Trail 5,5km and the Moon Rock Trail also
5km
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The
accommodation is provided in the form of Muzentu Hut, an
old farmhouse, that will sleep up to 26 people. The hut
has bunk beds and mattresses, hot showers and a bath and
flush toilets. Braai facilities and wood is provided and
also gas ranges with kettle, pots and pans. It is
advisable to take your own drinking water with you. |
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The
waterfall trail starts off with a relatively easy
walk but the climbs after the 7km point make the
trail quite strenuous and certainly those walking it
will know that they have had a good days walk. |
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The path can
be quite rugged in places and a good pair of hiking
boots is advisable. |
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The area is
well known for its rich flora and spring brings with
it an incredible display of wild flowers. Despite it
being a forestry area, the exotic vegetation such as
the pine gum and wattle are not as intrusive as can
be found in many other areas. |
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The area is
full of surprises with picturesque little streams
that always provide a good excuse for a well earned
break. |
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The
waterfall at about the 6km mark is an ideal place
for a break and a shower if you are one of those
hikers that enjoys a good water feature and a
natural shower. |
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Water is
always a popular feature on any hike and so also is
rock shapes and erosions. |
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The dams
along the Muzentu River make a beautiful feature
that seems to act as a central pivot for the trails.
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Back at camp
Joseph, the camp attendant, has the donkey ready
stoked for that welcome shower or bath before an
evening around the fire. |
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Conclusions
The Brook makes a great
weekend hiking excursion. The trails are well laid out and the
accommodation well maintained. Joseph is an added bonus and well
worth a tip at the end of ones stay.
'In a
Nutshell'
| Distance from nearest
town |
78km from Carolina,
60km from Badplaas, 300km from Gauteng |
| Access road status |
From the N17 there is
a short forestry road that is passable with care
by cars |
| Trail type |
Day
trails from the basecamp. |
| Difficulty |
Moderate |
| Marking |
When evaluated the
trail was well marked |
| GPS Co-ordinates |
N17Turn off S26
10.028 E30 38.938 Base camp -
S26 09.618 E30
38.315
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| Cell phone reception |
Base camp - Yes |
| Facilities |
Good and well
maintained facilities and ablutions. Gas stove,
firewood sullied. Take own drinking water |
Bookings
Jacana Marketing
and Reservations
Telephone
0861Jacana (0861 522262) or +27 12 734 2978
or
011656 0606
Fax 012 734 0159
e-mail
info@jacanacollection.co.za
Footprint
Hiking Club
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