Our family decided to venture in the opposite direction this year to explore the Easter Galaxy. This time we decided to head East from Cape Town in the direction of the Overberg.
Marloth has two cottages to chose from, the one is the Bushbuck cottage and the other is Suikerbekkie.
It was indeed a refreshing change from the Cederberg, albeit we always miss those very special rocks and sand. This time we had another beauty the Swellendam mountains and lots of luscious green forests… We had no idea how lovely it is this side of the world. Well we kind of knew, but exploring the hikes and reserves is a first.
Mountain biking is not very high on the agenda for the reserve, per their brochure, but the mountain biking here is unbelievable good, from easy rides to more advanced.
You are also able to book a horse ride at a local operator, or you may bring your own horse to enjoy the many routes amongst the plantations and on the mountain.
The vegetation in the reserve is mainly mountain fynbos with patches of Afromontane forest. Many of the species of proteas found here do not occur any where else in the world.
There are many animal species around, but not easy to be seen. A great venue for the birders, which is rich in birdlife, with a listing of 114 birds recorded.
Multi-day over night trails are highly rated and worth considering. The Glenstroom Trail Hut can be seen (the green roof) in the image below.
After a 3 hour drive out of Cape Town, add an extra 30 min for the Easter-mad-rush-escape-traffic, we finally arrived at Marloth Nature Reserve.
It was very special to see the Spotted Eagle Owl and the Fiery Necked Night-Jar amongst the more regular seen birds such as this beautiful male Cape Sugar Bird in the image below.
This reserve is no further than 1 km from Swellendam town, and a hidden little gem. The reserve has two self catering family chalets, fully equipped with electricity, fire place, and 2 bedrooms.
HIKING
We tried out two easy walks, which head up towards a waterfall. They venture up the mountain next to the most beautiful stream, and under the forest brush, making it a perfect route to try on a hot summers day too. Juanita does not enjoy hiking in the heat of summer, but this one seems to be a good choice all year around then.
The teens and the toddler loved the hikes and surrounding. We explored the area looking for all the creepy crawlies and tried very hard to find a Strawberry Rain Frog, but with no luck. This specific species will definitely be on the list to find for when we return again some time soon.
Bring your mountain bike, your SUP, binoculars, camera and your walking shoes, because this venue has enough for the whole family to explore and have fun.
As Marloth is 1 km outside Swellendam on the mountain side, so is Bontebok National Park also 1 km outside Swellendam on the ocean side of the N2 highway.
We were pleasantly surprised at the popularity of the venue and could see why. This tranquil reserve also offers hiking and mountain biking for the whole family.
Visitors can enjoy rowing and swimming in the Breederiver, which borders the main camp and many self catering chalets. We hope to visit this venue one day too for a longer stay.
Cape Grass Bird
These erica and protea species occur nowhere else in the world. The display was at its most beautiful we have ever seen.
MAP OF MARLOTH NATURE RESERVE AND BONTEBOK NATIONAL PARK
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What stunning photos of Marloth. It is making us very excited to visit there in a few weeks time. Thanks for sharing!