Fernkloof Nature Reserve, the bulk of which is further into Hermanus from here, has a long arm which includes a really good contour path which runs along the face of the mountain from Rotary Way (where you should start off to find this cache) all the way to the main part of Fernkloof.
The path you are walking along looks out over the industrial area of Hermanus and the formal and informal settlement of Zwelihle also taking in the view to the west of Hermanus and the suburbs of Sandbaai, Onrust and Vermont as well as the whole of Hermanus itself. With a great view of Walker Bay and on a clear day, like the day we placed this cache, a good view to the right including in the distance Cape Point across False Bay a distance of 67km as the crow flies.
I have included some pictures of the flowers found along the path in spring.
Below you is the township of Mount Pleasant which used to house the fishermen who made their living out of the harbours in Hermanus beyond that is Zwelihle, which means Beautiful Place, it is divided into area with names such as Kwasa-kwasa, Tsheppe-tsheppe, Mandela Square, Tambo Square and White City.
The point between Zwelihle and Sandbaai is called Schulphoek (shell Corner) where the locals used to burn the vast amount of shells found here to make lime which was used to white wash the houses and also used as fertiliser – it was done commercially and continued until the quantity of shells depleted and lime burning stopped there in the early 1950’s.
There was also an airstrip on the land in front of you which used by the locals complete with control tower and hangers, but the spread of Zwelihle put pay to this.
The access to the cache site is via Rotary Way Drive a scenic drive along the top of the mountain overlooking Hermanus, the turnoff from the R43 is at S 34° 25.029 E 019° 12.955 this will indicate that the distance to the cache is about 300m, but don’t be tempted to do it from here. Drive up the road and park at S 34° 24.504 E 019° 12.802 there is a track off to the left here. Then cross over the road and you are entering the western end of Fernkloof, the cache is about a fifteen minute walk along the contour path. Of course you can continue and walk the whole of the contour path, but then you have to have arranged a car in Fernkloof at the other end.
**NOTE** Please note that September/October is tick season and this path seems particularly badly infected and we spent some time getting the little red parasites off shoes, trousers etc. - so be warned!