Krantzkloof Nature Reserve – Kloof Falls Road picnic site

Directions to Krantzkloof

From Pinetown, continue along King Cetshwayo Highway (M13).  Drive up Fields Hill and take turnoff number 23, Village Road, Kloof.  Turn right across the bridge and continue for 750 metres, passing through one traffic circle until you reach the second traffic circle.  At the circle, take the second exit and drive along Old Main Road (M33).  Drive through the next circle and turn left into Church Road, you are now driving over a small bridge, keep left.  At the stop street, turn left into Abelia Road and then right into Kloof Falls Road at the next stop street.  Continue along Kloof Falls Road for less than 3 kilometres until you see the entrance to the reserve on your right.

Routes

The trails range between 1 hour and 6 hours; both the Molweni Trail (5 hours) and Beacon Trail (6 hours) start from this picnic site.

Rating

Fair to Very Strenuous

Permit

Sign register and pay entrance fee at the gate.  No booking required.

Features

Braai facilities in the picnic site, toilets in the parking area, spectacular forested gorges,  waterfalls, diverse flora including several rare species, bushbuck, blue and red duiker, tree dassie, vervet monkey, mongoose, thick-tailed bushbaby, African crowned eagle, Wahlberg’s eagle, African broadbill.

Take With

You will need the following:

• Good walking shoes;
• Camera;
• Binoculars;
• Refreshments and water.

Please Note

Important points to remember about this hike:

• For your own safety, it is advised to stay on the path and follow the coloured markers.
• There is a map at the picnic site; the trails range from fairly short to all day hikes, be sure to know which colour marker you need to follow.
• It is very humid inside the forest, especially during summer – take plenty of drinking water with you.
• The lookout points are open with no barriers, watch carefully over children.

Description

Krantzkloof is only 14 kilometres from the Durban city centre, in the suburb Kloof.  Along the trails you are spoilt with breathtaking views of the forested gorges cut by the Molweni and Nkutu Rivers and its tributaries, some up to 350 metres deep.  You will see countless trees, shrubs and aloes.  The Reserve is home to many rare species of plants, including the Natal quince – a rare tree.    There are two view sites along Bridle Road, with spectacular views of the gorges.