Magaliesberg day hikes

Ja one of my suggestions would definitely be the area and type of hike that Frosty Ice has suggested. There are many combinations you can do with Tonquani, Ceberberg and Boulder Kloofs. Nice area too. If you are not a MCSA member arrange for a permit before the time. If you are looking for a loop involving less kloofing and more hiking through veld then start from Mountain Sanctuary Park, walk to Cederberg Kloof, cross it at the top end and walk across to Upper Tonquani area. Between these two kloofs there are some really magnificient rock formations that you will enjoy. Cross Tonquani Kloof (down High Gully and back out via Short Gully, also known as Kitchen Gully, on the other side) - this section corresponds to what Frosty was saying. Then on to Tweedle Dum Tweedle Dee, across Boulder Kloof and back down to the big pools at the bottom end of Tonquani where the kloof opens up (be aware of the historic security problems there), and back up to MSP.

There is also the camping and caravan resort called Bergheim, from where you can access Fernkloof. You don't need a permit to hike there. Fernkloof can be a fun kloofing experience, or quite treacherous, depending on how wet and slippery the rocks are and on your tolerance levels. It has a deep pool at the bottom end which you have to swim across (and jump into if descending). There are several obstacles along the kloof. If things are dry you can up and down climb these if you are OK with climbing a bit. On a downclimb there are sections where you will probably want some sort of rope. Some sections have old nylon ropes for assistance. There is one section where a commercial company does an abseil through a hole in the rocks and then through a waterfall. This is quite fun. It can be bypassed with careful clambering which is best avoided when wet. You can hike up along the outside of the kloof on either side which is a good loop if you are looking for one. There are pools right at the top end too. And you can explore the summit area on top. Be wary of heat/sun and lightning though. If you know where the side access gullies are you can do the upper section of the kloof and avoid the harder obstacles in the lower section.

Another area with easy hiking is Dome Pools. The pools are massive with excellent swimming.

Let us know if you need more info and ideas.

@Frosty: the MCSA is planning on doing something about the problems at Grootkloof. There is also an upcoming meet there for which some sort of guard will be arranged. Other than that I would still avoid going there for now.

Maps like the Berg hiking maps do not exist. The survey maps will give you an idea but they won't show the trails and land access. Also, trails are not always systematic and well defined.

To give you a broad overview of the Cederberg/Tonquani area, have a look at the Google map on this thread on ClimbZA:
www.climb.co.za/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=3887
One of the best ways to get to know the area is to go with people that do. There is a Mountain Club hiking meet going to Upper Tonquani on January 29th for example. www.facebook.com/groups/141752442885/

Other than that do some googling and you will find some write-ups of hikes done in the areas mentioned.

Another area which will probably be easy to navigate is the upper half of Hamerkop Kloof which belongs to Kumbagana Game Park: www.kumbagana.co.za/index.php?pg=hiking. One of the routes descends into the kloof by a system of ladders which can be fun. The lower half of the kloof belongs to the MCSA and you will need a permit again.

Thats a good route suggestion by Frosty Ice. Manageable day and navigation not too difficult.

To make it clear, you start the hike on Mountain Sanctuary Park property. You park at the office, tell them what you are doing and pay them accordingly (this is in addition to the MCSA permit if you are not a member). Ask them for their pamphlet which has a very rough map of the area and get them to show you where to get started to the Slide Pools. On reaching them, head upstream past a jaccuzzi type rock pool, at which point you divert from the stream and continue along a path. Eventually you will see an MCSA sign - this is roughly the property boundary. If you are observant you might see a similar sign before reaching that pool, but don't turn there (that is a rough track which eventually takes you to the abseil point Frosty mentioned earlier). After the sign the path is partly on a large rock slab. Be very observant for some rocks indicating that its time to stop following the rock slab. If you miss this, or loose the trail, angle towards the right and you should soon hit Cederberg campsite and then the easy access to the top end of the kloof. Once in the kloof you cant really get lost. Turn a hard left when you eventually hit Tonqunai. Cederberg and Lower Tonqunai are both straightforward as far as kloofing grades go. Obviously they do require some scrambling and boulder hopping, and you'll eventually get wet. Be careful on the rocks and don't slip, accidents do happen. Other than that its totally fine exploring those kloofs, nothing stupid about it.

There is one point in Cederberg kloof where you wriggle down a wormhole. It is not immediately obvious though. If you suddenly get to a drop-off that doesn't seem to have a reasonable way down then thats probably it, look around for the hole.

Tonquani opens up into some big, sandy pools. There will be an old fence on your right. On the left there is a clear path back to MSP which takes you along the boundary with Utopia resort. You will see a mountain bike trail joining from the left, but stick to the main trail. Be alert at those big pools. A while back there were some muggings there.

I do visit those kloofs fairly regularly for climbing, you are welcome to meet up at some point and I can help get you started. Once you've had an intro the area I'm sure you'll take to it easily.