The reserve runs from the edge of town up the mountain to 850 metres, around 18 square kilometres of fynbos with more than 1,250 recorded plant species, many of which grow nowhere else. Entry is free, donations welcome, open from 06:00 in summer and 07:00 in winter until 19:00 (as of August 2026). The visitor centre at the Fir Avenue entrance holds a display of living, labelled plants that changes weekly, and the trail maps.
- plant species
- 1,250+
- marked trails
- 60 km
- entry, donation welcome
- free
- summer, from 07:00 in winter (as of August 2026)
- 06:00 to 19:00
The trails are colour-marked and run from an hour to a full day. The easiest is the Klipspringer Trail, the blue route, an hour with little climbing and the bay in view. For height, take the path to the waterfall or up to the three reservoirs. The fynbos flowers most heavily from August to October, and that is when the sunbirds arrive. In summer you go early, because the slope has no shade at midday.
- Time needed
- an hour to a day
- Cost
- free
- When
- all year, flowering August to October
- From the Old Harbour
- 2.9 km
Our tipTake the blue route late in the afternoon: the sun is behind you, the bay lights up, and in season you pick out the blows from above as white dots.
Fernkloof Nature Reserve: common questions
What does the Fernkloof Nature Reserve cost?
Nothing, though donations are welcome. Open from 06:00 in summer and 07:00 in winter until 19:00 (as of August 2026). The entrance with the visitor centre is on Fir Avenue.
Which walk in Fernkloof is the easiest?
The Klipspringer Trail, the blue route: an hour, little climbing, the bay in view. For more height, take the path to the waterfall or the three reservoirs, up to a full day along the ridge.
When does the fynbos flower in Fernkloof?
Most heavily from August to October, and that is when the sunbirds come. In summer, go early: the slope has no shade.