{"id":921,"date":"2019-07-26T06:06:01","date_gmt":"2019-07-26T06:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stanfordinfo.co.za\/blog\/?p=921"},"modified":"2019-07-26T06:08:19","modified_gmt":"2019-07-26T06:08:19","slug":"hidden-treasure-and-a-fynbos-adventure-in-stanford","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stanfordinfo.co.za\/blog\/hidden-treasure-and-a-fynbos-adventure-in-stanford\/","title":{"rendered":"Hidden treasure and a fynbos adventure in Stanford"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stanford, the place where fynbos, family and freedom are abundant.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

By this we mean the freedom to explore the vast landscapes we have filled with the most incredible display of indigenous fynbos.<\/p>\n

Did you know that we are even fortunate enough to have two unique species of Fynbos, found nowhere else in the world: The Erica irregularis, growing on the foothills between Stanford and Gansbaai, a gorgeous pink species, and Erica aristata, growing on the Klein River Mountains between Hermanus and Stanford.<\/p>\n

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Erica aristata. Image: Phillipskop Mountain Reserve<\/p><\/div>\n

So, what better excuse to gather family and friends and set out on a Fynbos adventure?<\/p>\n

We start this series of exploration with a highlight on an activity that may entice even your tech-addicted teenager to join you in the fresh mountain air.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve never tried geocaching, or you’re looking to stay and explore Stanford\u2019s newest hiking trail, crossing over the Klein River Mountains, pack your hiking boots and head to Phillipskop Mountain Reserve<\/strong><\/a>, a sho\u2019t left from the historic village centre.<\/p>\n

Adding to an already jam-packed list of activities and near-by attractions, Phillipskop Mountain Reserve\u2019s new Haarkapper (Hair Cutter\u2019s) Hiking Trail<\/strong><\/a> route connects the private reserve with Tesselaarsdal, nestled behind the Klein River Mountains, via Elzaksa Farm.<\/p>\n

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The Haarkapper Trail will take you over the Klein River Mountains. Image: Phillipskop Mountain Reserve<\/p><\/div>\n

The unusual route name honours the weekly journey of the famous Tesselaarsdal barber, Jannie Willemse. Jannie was a farmer from the valley and walked 20 km over the mountains to Stanford every Saturday to cut the villagers’ hair.<\/p>\n

The 15-km trail follows a figure-of-eight route, offering visitors the option of a longer fynbos-filled mountain hike, says Phillipskop Mountain Reserve owner and manager, Chris Whitehouse. \u201cYou can also hike just one way over the mountain if you arrange transport on the other side. Or enjoy a delicious lunch in the historic village of Tesselaarsdal at De Poskantoor (The Post Office),\u201d<\/em> he says.<\/p>\n

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Haarkapper Map courtesy of Phillipskop Mountain Reserve<\/p><\/div>\n

The Haarkapper Hiking Trail is billed as \u201cstraightforward but still challenging for anyone with reasonable fitness\u201d.<\/em> There is an initial steep climb up from the reception at Phillipskop but, after that, the path takes a more gradual ascent towards the ridge before descending via Elzaksa Farm. The return climb follows the same route up the mountain as the 2017 Cape Epic bike ride. On a clear day, views stretch from Sir Lowry\u2019s Pass across to the Langeberg above Swellendam.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeginning in 1926, Jannie did this walk every Saturday for over 20 years without fail, faithfully serving his Stanford customers, and clocking up 42,000 km on foot – more than the distance around the Earth,\u201d<\/em> <\/strong>Chris explains.<\/p>\n

Caring for flora and fauna at Phillipskop Mountain Reserve, a 246-hectare (608 acres) privately-owned property, is a labour of love for owner couple, Chris and Anna. English-born, the married pair both completed their doctoral degrees in South Africa – Anna, a Zoologist, specialising in the study of the Addo elephants, and Chris, a botanist who qualified at the University of Cape Town.<\/p>\n

Anna and Chris, who have three young sons and bought the farm four years ago, converting the chalets to self-catering accommodation and creating activities to get guests out and exploring. On a hot day, cool off in the reserve\u2019s lily pond or upstream in the Nerine mountain stream pool, visit the picnic tree and play on the rope swing.<\/p>\n

More than 700 fynbos species have been identified on the reserve so far. Walking paths range from a four-kilometre picnic option to a six-kilometre route around Phillipskop peak. There\u2019s also an eight-kilometre hike to the highest point on the property, Haarkapper Peak, or scramble up the shortest path to the summit of Phillipskop if you don\u2019t mind a steep climb.<\/p>\n

In 2016, ancient rock art was discovered in Phillipskop Cave, the only recorded rock art on the Cape Whale Coast. The site is open to the public.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the rainy season, a small waterfall flows on the reserve, and there are a pair of fascinating rock stacks, which the family have called \u2018David\u2019 and \u2018Goliath\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe produced a series of bi-monthly guides, which shows 20 common flowers of plants that guests will find on their route at that time of year. Even children can do it and love ticking them off!\u201d<\/em> adds Chris.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s just one way Phillipskop engages young explorers. There\u2019s also geocaching<\/a> – a GPS-enabled treasure hunt and international craze drawing millions of followers (called \u2018geocachers\u2019) around the world.<\/p>\n

Using GPS technology, participants find their way to certain points around the reserve. At the location, a watertight plastic container is hidden, containing a logbook to record the finder\/finders\u2019 name and the date. A small trinket or souvenir is also hidden inside. If you decide to take anything away, participants must leave something of equal or greater value for the next person to discover.<\/p>\n

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Geocache box. Image: Phillipskop Mountain Reserve<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIt has been interesting seeing the engagement,\u201d<\/em> says Chris, of the concept. \u201cWe aren\u2019t avid geocachers ourselves. However, we set up a little loop with six geocaches on the trail via the waterfall and back via the rock stacks. The first day we made it live, two geocachers turned up within two hours in torrential rain.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we have found, is families come here, and they\u2019ve never done geocaching before, but they love the experience,\u201d he continues. \u201cIt used to be a bit \u2018specialist\u2019, and you needed a dedicated GPS unit, but, now, most smartphones have GPS.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Chris says plenty of geocaches are hidden near Stanford, which opens up even more possibilities for hobbyists to explore more of the village and the Overberg region.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you say to the kids, \u2018we\u2019re going on a walk\u2019, they might plod along. But, as soon as they\u2019ve got an objective, they run on ahead\u2026 they want to get on and find the next one. They\u2019ll want to visit David and Goliath because there is a geocache there. Families really enjoy that aspect.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Day visitors are welcome at Phillipskop Mountain Reserve (conservation fee R40 per adult, R20 per child) and there are guided walks of approximately two-hours, from R125 per person (minimum four people). Gates open from 08h00 until 17h00.Due to the resident wildlife, dogs aren\u2019t allowed on the reserve. You might see Klipspringer, Black Eagle, or baboons, and keep an eye out for leopard spoor on those trails!<\/p>\n

To hike or trail run the new Haarkapper trail, permits need to be purchased in advance at https:\/\/www.phillipskop.co.za\/permits.<\/a> These cost R60 per adult and R40 per child under the age of 18.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For overnight stays, Phillipskop offers five self-catering chalets that sleep six adults comfortably in three separate bedrooms. Each unit has a large dining room and kitchen with a living area. Rates are from R1,400 for up to four people and R200 per person extra.<\/p>\n

There are regular updates via the Phillipskop Facebook page<\/a> (@Phillipskop). \u201cWe try and educate visitors about fynbos each month via our blog,\u201d<\/em> Chris adds.<\/p>\n

Chris talks excitedly about the future of the business but, conservationists at heart, the family\u2019s priority is clearly to maintain and care for the land. They aim to educate others about responsible fynbos management.<\/p>\n

\u201cApathy is one of the biggest dangers to fynbos,\u201d<\/strong><\/em> Chris maintains.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the past, fynbos was a self-sustaining ecosystem, but, because of invading alien plants, without correct <\/em>management we will lose this amazing flora. A lot of what we do here is clearing alien vegetation from our property. We will never be totally clear, but we have made great progress since we arrived.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

For more information about Phillipskop\u2019s range of activities, over-night accommodation and permits to explore the trails and new Haarkapper route, visit www.phillipskop.co.za<\/a>. Share stories from your stay on Instagram<\/a> (@PhillipskopSa), Twitter<\/a> (@PhillipskopSA), and Pinterest<\/a> (Phillipskop).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stanford, the place where fynbos, family and freedom are abundant. By this we mean the freedom to explore the vast landscapes we have filled with the most incredible display of indigenous fynbos. Did you know that we are even fortunate enough to have two unique species of Fynbos, found nowhere else in the world: The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":925,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/stanfordinfo.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Ridge-of-Klein-River-Mountains-1024x576.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stanfordinfo.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/921"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stanfordinfo.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stanfordinfo.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stanfordinfo.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stanfordinfo.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=921"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/stanfordinfo.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/921\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":931,"href":"https:\/\/stanfordinfo.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/921\/revisions\/931"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stanfordinfo.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stanfordinfo.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stanfordinfo.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stanfordinfo.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}