Breadcrumbs
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Drive Time: 3 hrs from Cape Town Coordinates: 32°33'29.60"S 19°16'34.87"E Maps: 1:50 000 3219CA Citrusdal 3219CB Grootrivier Note on maps: Maps of the Northern and Southern Cederberg are available at the clubhouse. The maps provided here are for orientation only. Members should use good topographical maps for exploring the property. Access is for MCSA members only. The general rules for huts and club properties can be found here. For more details contact the Convenor (see the Contact us page). Breekkrants report Feb-Aug 2010 HISTORY See 1984 Journal, pages 16 –22, 'The Breekkrants Story', by Peter Blignaut The Breekkrants property, of some 4000 hectares, was purchased by the Cape Town Section in 1983. This section, together with 20 other landowners in the Southern Cederberg, in October 1997, formed the Cederberg Conservancy. All are owners of prime wilderness areas to the south of the declared Cederberg Wilderness area. The perennial Breekkrants River runs between the Kromrivier ridge to the north and the Breekkrants ridge to the south. The property gives scope to enjoyable hiking and peak-bagging. Some of the peaks on or near Breekkrants are Apex, Breekkrants Twins, Moorreespiek, Bosmanpiek, Apollo, Lunar Peak, Murraysberg and Winterbach. Interesting features include the “Breek”, Goldfinger and many arches. The historical Ou Kaapse Pad between Kromrivier and Suurvlakte is a satisfying 18km hike entirely on Club property. The abandoned farming settlement, Bakmakersfontein, with its shelter has unfortunately burned down (1998). Camping is still possible. Water is available from a perennial spring.
PERMITS AND PAYMENT See notes below
ACCESS Breekkrants can be approached via Kromrivier farm either from the N7 or from Ceres. See maps. Using the N7 route the distance form Cape Town is 280km and takes approximately 3½ hours The Ceres route takes about an hour longer. The most direct approach to Apex Peak is via the Ceres-Citrusdal road and the Suurvlakte. See access maps. Please note: (1) Access to Breekkrants shall be on foot. (2) In terms of standard rules for Club Properties, guests are limited to two per member for overnight visits and four per member for day visits. (3) There is a charge for non-members per night spent on the property. The member introducing the guests will be responsible for payment. Contact MCSA Cape Town office for details. (4) Valid membership cards must be carried at all times. (5) As a general guideline, parties should be limited to not more than 12 persons. In terms of standard rules for Club properties the convenors permission must be obtained for parties greater than eight in number. (6) For Club Meets and any other access not covered by these rules prior arrangements must be made with the convenor.
ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS Members are requested to observe the instructions below. The continued goodwill of the neighbouring farmers is vital to us. Current arrangements for access are: (1) Access via Kromrivier Farm (Owner: Mr R. Nieuwoudt) A servitude has been registered covering access to Breekkrants via Kromrivier Farm. In terms of the servitude MCSA members and their invited guests have the use of a parking area and a footpath. The beaconed servitude path is indicated on the figure above and the walk to Bakmakersfontein takes about an hour. Members are required to observe strictly the following conditions: Arrive between sunrise and sunset. Sign the Breekkrants Register in the Kromrivier office; show your membership card, and offer to pay for parking. Park in the area indicated by the Nieuwoudts (this may change from time to time). Make sure your MCSA car sticker is visible and turn off any car alarms. Do not disturb the Nieuwoudts on Sundays between lunch and 16h00 (when the office is closed). Do not use any facilities on the farm without permission. It is not necessary to contact the Nieuwoudts in advance provided the above conditions are met. Permission must be obtained from the Nieuwoudts should members wish to follow any other route or procedure. (Pip & Rinda Nieuwoudt 027 482 2807). (2) Access via Suurvlakte: We have permission from Mr J. Berg, owner of Suurvlakte, to drive up his road and park on his farm for the purpose of accessing our property. Access procedure: Obtain a permit from the Cape Town Section office and pay the required fee per car for the use of the road. Your permit must be clearly displayed at the front of the car. Park at the farmhouse / office on Suurvlakte. Telephone the foreman of the property, Jacob Barone (022 921 3449), before you go, preferably a week in advance. Ask him if he can arrange to have the gate at the bottom unlocked for you. You also need to arrange with him to get out of the locked gate. If you cannot contact the foreman, who is often not there, contact Jannie Hanekom the owner of the the farm Ysterplaat (022 921 3616) on which the locked gate is situated. As a courtesy please speak Afrikaans if possible. Please do not contact Mr. Berg. State that you are from the MCSA. Give your name and your climbing plans. Ask if he could kindly let you have the key to open the gate. He may agree to lend you a key for your visit. If not then, when leaving, walk the short distance to his farm to get the key. The farm Ysterplaat is on the left side of the road coming from Ceres, shortly before the turnoff to Suurvlakte. (3) Access via other routes: Members entering Breekkrants via any route which traverses other properties (e.g. Cederberg Wilderness, Cape Nature) are requested to ensure that they have the necessary permission to do so. Breekkrants Annex adjoins our property on the West. Members may traverse the property but not camp on it.
MOUNTAINEERING GUIDELINES 1. Breekkrants is managed according to the wilderness concept. There is no development on the property. Flora, fauna, water sources, caves, rock paintings and other natural features are to remain undisturbed. 2. No fires are allowed on the property. 3. All rubbish is to be taken out. 4. There is no longer a toilet at Bakmakersfontein. Normal mountaineering hygiene principles are to be applied. In particular water pollution must be avoided and no soap used in rivers or streams. 5. Routes on the property should be chosen so as to prevent soil erosion and should avoid ecologically sensitive areas that may be identified. |
