Krom River Trail – (Limietberg NR – Du Toitskloof/Paarl)

Undoubtedly one of the Cape’s favorite trails, Krom river is always a good and relatively easy option for a day of hiking and swimming just an hour or so out of Cape Town. To reach the trail head or starting point from Cape Town one will have to drive through the Du Toitskloof Tunnel or over the pass. Be on the lookout for a small sign which shows a parking area with the symbol of a hiker and Flyfishing. As soon as one leaves the tunnel on the Du Toitskloof side one will need to take a rather unobvious right feeder with yellow lines painted in front of it. This will take you down a narrow tar road and soon the parking area will appear. If you miss this feeder you will have to proceed on the N1 until you can turn around at the Du Toitskloof Lodge. Entering from the Worcester side is a simple turn off the N1 and its well signposted. After parking and proceeding through the gate where permits are checked the trail heads down towards the river where a concrete bridge is crossed. Here the trail heads West and under the N1 flyover bridge above. From here the trail makes one of its steepest ascents and then it steeply drops back down to the river again, this section can be challenging for some on returning. It was aptly named “The Bastard” by some members of our group as it’s a slightly insulting climb when the trail seems all but done. Thereafter the trail bends toward the North and meets the Krom River again, following the riverbanks or just a few meters from the flowing water becomes the status quo for the vast majority of the day’s walking. Although short in distance the terrain of the trail never seems to allow one to build much walking momentum. The ups and downs along the banks, rock hopping, branch ducking and other obstacles like mud make these relatively slow and potentially tough kilometers, especially if one is not in peak physical condition. With that said the scenery can make up for the path’s obstacles, most of the trail is near the picturesque river with high peaks, ridges and forested valleys all around you, keep an eye out for a tall waterfall high in the kloof ahead, it appears and falls out of view as you proceed into the kloof. The river has sections of good shade for a break and drinking water is clean and never far away. The trail does make a few river crossings and some sections are marked with yellow painted markers or rock cairns but not all of these are spotted and followed so as long as the trail or path you take follows either side of the river, eventually it will link up and you will reach the waterfalls at the end. I last attempted the trail in April 2021 and since then there have been a number of rockfalls and other damage to the path making it slightly more challenging to navigate, this is probably a result of heavy flooding in the rainy Winter season of 2023 as the rock falls looked very recent. Most of the trail remains intact and is much the same as it was. When reaching the high cliffs towards the back end of the kloof/river the forest canopy rises and the walk continues under tall indigenous forest trees. Here the path is well defined but can be slippery and some chains and holds are provided to assist. Use them with caution and be aware of oncoming hikers before proceeding. After a short way through beautiful forest the first large waterfall and pool are reached. It’s an impressive location and its is deep enough for a swim or even a dive from the lower surrounding rocks. Take care as the moss on the rocks and tree roots can be extremely slippery and make sure you have tested the depth, attempt at your own risk and only if you are confident enough in your own abilities. Right at the first waterfall there are chains visible leading up to the top of the first waterfall. These can be climbed with relative ease by anyone with some scrambling abilities but unfortunately this is the turnaround point for many who are intimidated by the chains, a pity as the highlight of this trail is a short way above them, probably only 200 meters at most. Be careful if the chains and the surrounding rocks are wet. At the top there are two small pools with small waterfalls and a few easily climbed chains showing the way. A few meters from these small pools after turning a bend one of the most amazing sights of the Western Cape appears high above right in front of you. A massive waterfall dropping through a gorge between two forested buttresses. There is a large pool below the falls and the whole kloof is forested around the pool’s perimeter providing ample shade and comfortable rocks to relax on while you admire the scenery. Its truly one of the most spectacular places to visit and getting there requires comparatively little hiking effort. With that said the trail’s downfalls become apparent. The Western Cape has such a vast number of trails to choose from, yet it never seems to amaze me how popular a handful of them are whilst the vast majority remain quiet and sparsely trodden, with some even overgrown and lost due to low usage. Choose the path less travelled people! Its as if hiking has become more popular over the years but only on this small handful of routes, the Krom River Trail is unfortunately one of them. Add one-part spectacular scenery, another part of easy enough to hike, a bit of unchecked entry permits, then throw in a heap of Instagram posts and voila, all the things avid hikers and nature lovers hate, to name a few; litter, shouting, Bluetooth speakers, drunkenness, over the top posing, hogging the prime location/s, and even a fire still lit and smoldering with Carling Black Label quarts bottles flung all around it. It’s a sad reality that this trail might have to be shared with such individuals. With all that said is the trail worth it? Absolutely! Even better if you have broken the shackles of a 9 to 5 and can go on a warm weekday out of any school/public holidays! Then Krom River could prove to be one of the best around. When I attempt this trail again, I will bring a large enough rubbish bag or packet to clear some of the litter, it’s not by any means out of hand but in a beautiful place like this there should be none at all, perhaps consider doing the same, a little can go a long way. The trail follows the same route out as taken in, be aware of the temperature change from morning to afternoon, it can get hot in the Summer months. Winter after heavy rains the river could potentially flood so understand the conditions and check the forecast. Although likely safer than crime hot spots in Cape Town, care should be taken when venturing into this kloof, stay in a group and leave valuables at home if at all possible. The N1 and R101 provide easy access to the start and endpoint so be extra vigilant when heading out or finishing the trail especially early mornings and later in the afternoon. Be sure to not leave any valuables in your car. Nothing should be visible on the backseats etc. Jot down the emergency contact information and call if you see or hear of anything suspicious. Enjoy the trail, always a great route. Please play your part to keep the area pristine.