THE VREDEFORT METEORITE TRAIL

This unique back pack trail is situated in the Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site, about 20 km from Parys, 14 km from Vredefort and 120 km southwest of Johannesburg.

ACCOMMODATION

  • (Accommodation for 16 persons + extra tents are allowed).

  • The camp comprises3 x traditional thatched stone-and-mud huts with bunk beds, a lapa, a boma, ablution facilities and a swimming pool. 

  • The camp comprises3 x traditional thatched stone-and-mud huts with bunk beds, a lapa, a boma, ablution facilities and a swimming pool. 

  • Two of the huts have two rooms each, one with 4 beds and one with 2 beds, the third hut has 4 beds. All rooms are equipped with mattresses and furniture for storage and hanging clothes. Each hut has a bathroom with shower, basin and mirror.

  • The three huts are shielded from each other and the communal lapa by the indigenous vegetation.

  • In the lapa you will find the barbeque facilities, a four burner gas stove with oven, sink, crockery and cutlery, and seating for 16 persons.

  • The boma has an open fireplace with benches around it, as well as a second kitchen with basin.

  • There is safe parking under big shady trees.

  • Campers preferring to use their own tents or bush caravans may do so and use the communal camp facilities.

Rates:

  • R220.00 P/P/P/ NIGHT

For those who prefer more lux. Facilities at Deelfontein, there are2X big fully equipped Farm houses (11 and 14 beds) and a private rondavel for 2. Contact our office for more info.

  • R280.00 P/P/P/ NIGHT.

Thwane Bush Camp/ Hikers Camp:

  • There are 3x permanent, thatched hikers safari tents – sleeping 8 hikers each with single and bunk beds with mattress but NO linen provided.

  • Separate (gents & ladies) shared ablution facilities- running potable water, washing basins, showers, toilets.  Please supply own towels, soap and toilet paper.

  • There is a fully equipped communal lapa for hire for groups: (R500.00 per day/night).

  • Equipped with gas stove, sink, pots and pans, tables and chairs, cutlery, glasses and electric fridge/freezer.

  • There is a fireplace for grilling.

  • The swimming pool is available for use by hikers.

Rates:

  • R220.00 P/P/P/ NIGHT

Alternative accommodation is available for those who prefer more private and lux facilities.
There are 3 x more luxury safari-style tented camps with en-suite bathrooms, linen included and private braai facilities. The Rooikat Camp is ideal for groups up to 36 with own private amenities. The Nguni Camp has 6 x private 2 Bed en suit tents – ideal for couples also with own amenities.(Group 6 Minimum – 12 max)
A Private fully equipped cottage, away from all the other camps – is a perfect “hide- away” for honeymooners. RATES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST. Catering is available on request for groups of 10 or more people stay 2 x nights or more. Rates available on request.

Back Pack Hiking Trail

Total Distance  41 KM

The full Meteorite Hiking Trail in the Vredefort Dome is a 41km hike which starts and ends on Deelfontein Guest Farm. Accommodation options are available at DeelfonteinGuest Farm, Thwane Bush Camp and Baskop Farm along the Vaal River.

The Hiking Trail offers many scenic routes through this newest Natural World Heritage site of South Africa, which is the oldest and largest meteorite impact site in the world

This landscape of this important geological site came into being about 2020 million years ago when an enormously large body of rock, an asteroid of about 10 km in diameter, struck the earth where the town of Vredefort lies today.

Over the years, much of the upper strata has been removed by erosion.The landscape is dominated by the high concentric ridges covered largely with naturally occurring bushveld vegetation.

The area is very rich in plant and animal life, due to the diversity of biotopes concentrated in a relatively small area.

This trail offers beautiful views of the Vredefort Dome from high ridges.The basic layout is in the form of a figure of eight, with Deelfontein in the centre, ThwaneBush Camp at the top, and Baskop at the bottom. The terrain is mountainous and rocky, and the trails are moderately strenuous. The Deelfontein/Thwane loop is approximately 12- 14km in length.

The 2 x sections between Deelfontein and Baskop are +- 15km eachand is not suggested as a day hike. It is this section that is not available and are under construction at the moment.

The Back Pack Trail Options:

From Deelfontein to ThwaneBush Camp there are 2 options for Day one:

  • A good, long trail (recommended only for fit hikers) 14 – 16km following a section on the original trail towards Baskop but turning towards Mooiplaats and Nauwpoortpassing some bushman paintings (marked R1 and R2 on the trail map). Then using the “Southern Leg” of the trail to Thwane the last 4.8km.

  • A shorter 7.2km starting off on one of Deelfontein’s day trails then turning towards (R2) then going on the Southern Leg of the trail towards Thwane.

  • From Twhane back to Deelfontein is +- 7,5km.  Hikers will follow the Northern Leg of the trail which takes hikers to the highest point with stunning panoramic views over the whole Dome area, (V4 on the mapoverlooking the “Mount Sinai”).Then passing view point V3 it is an easier 1,5km back to Deelfontein, giving hikers still enough time for an afternoon braai or swim before departing back home.

Other Hiking Options In Short:

  • There is a network of day trails that can be incorporated with each day’s trail between Thwane and Deelfontein.  Hikers can also spend 2 nights at any one of the two Camps and do the back pack trail the next day, which is a good option on long weekends or hikers who would like to add more kilometres to each day’s hike.

  • More info on the 3 day trail, including Baskop Camp, will be available as soon as the trail between Deelfontein and Baskop has been upgraded.

Extra Day Hikes

Day hikes from Thwane:

  • Deelfontein loop (12km). Hike to Deelfontein and back.

  • Thwane loop (10km), a shortened version of the Deelfontein loop

  • Northern Thwane loop (8km). Hike to Dwarsberg and back.

  • Southern Thwane loop (4km). Hike along the Thwane plain.

Day hikes from Deelfontein:

  • Thwane loop (12km). Hike to Thwane and back.

  • Shorter Thwane loop (6km). Take the shortcut just inside Thwane.

  • Mooihoek loop (15km). Hike to Mooihoek and back.

  • Nauwpoort loop (12km). Hike to Nauwpoort (bushman paintings) and back.

  • Two ridges route (7km). Hike along the two mountain ridges on Deelfontein.

  • Deelfontein valley route (5km). Hike the southern route and return in the valley.

  • Summit trail (3km). Hike along the northern ridge.