Suikerbosrand Hiking Trail is a network of trails totalling 66 km, from 1 to 6 days. The Cheetah Interpretive Trail is 4,5 km, taking 2 hours. The Bokmakierie Nature Trail is 10 km or 7 km, taking 4 hours or 7 hours. All are circular.
Permits must be obtained well in advance for the overnight trail from Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Private Bag H616, Heideiberg 2400. Permits for any day walks available from visitor's centre at the reserve. The informative map and brochure obtained at the reserve office is extremely useful.
There are 6 overnight huts, each with outdoor cooking area, utensils, gas lamps, water, firewood, bunks and mattresses for 10 hikers, a fully equipped cottage at the main camp, a visitor centre with displays, lectures and films, a picnic site, a meditation hut and the Diepkloof farm museum.
The main attractions include a natural area amidst the developed Vaal Triangle, with reintroduced wildlife, 200 species of birds, archaeological relics and ruins and diverse topography. There is a limit of ten people for the overnight hike. Remember to take a hat as there is not much shade, and a full water bottle as there is no permanent water along the route. The terrain is hilly and hikers need to be reasonably fit.
