Kaapsehoop, waterfalls, and wild horses

About 30 kilometres outside of Nelspruit, you will stumble across a town only one street long. Famed for ghost sightings and witch gatherings, Kaapsehoop is one of the most mysterious places in South Africa. Peculiar rock formations and eerie pine forests mark this old gold mining town as iconic.

At first glance you might mistake the town for an abandoned film set. The peculiar houses are mostly constructed out of tin and scavenged materials, and the lonely street is decorated with signs saying things like "watch out for dogs, frogs and fairies". But, upon closer inspection, you will notice that the town is home to a bustling little community.

A population of one hundred or so people share the town with the wild horses, which roam the rocky plateau and surrounding forests. On a weekend the town will fill with visitors, who come to picnic and hike the "paths" along the escarpment. After about 30 minutes of walking at a good pace, you will arrive at a sheer drop-off displaying a view which goes on for miles.

On the opposite end of the escarpment lies a pine forest, a one hundred year old graveyard, and the Battery Creek waterfall. If you are lucky enough to be in Kaapsehoop between December and February you will see the waterfall at its best, and even be able to swim in its rather icy pool. To get to the waterfall you will need to ask a local for directions. It is an easy walk to get there, but the entrance to the walk is often concealed by overgrown shrubbery.

Personally my favourite time to visit Kaapsehoop is during winter, around May and June. Often the colder weather invites a mist into the town, creating a moody atmosphere in the early morning. The mist usually will burn away by midday, and reveal the beautiful flower display put on by the aloes.

However, don't let the sunshine fool you, warm clothes are still a must. An insider tip is to phone one of the hotels ahead of your visit to check that the landscape has not already been burnt with the annual winter fires. The fires usually burn during July so you should still be treated to the beautiful flower display mid June.

Kaapsehoop is one of my favourite winter weekend getaways in the lowveld. After a pretty walk, you can curl up in front of a wood fire and order a thin based pizza from Salvadore. Just make sure you bring some cash because credit cards are not always accepted.