Circles in the Forest, the English translation of Dalene Mathee’s ‘Kringe in die bos’, the trail offers two distances, namely a 3km and a 9km walk. Starting from a giant Outeniqua Yellowwood (Podocarpus falcatus) estimated to be approximately 800 years old, both trails head off on one track before cutting off onto a single track which descends to a tree fern shrouded forest stream.
From the tree ferns the path gradually climbs a gentle slope to the split for the two distances, the 3km walk to the right and the 9km continuing straight.
3KM WALK
The path follows a contour path past some old Ironwood, Stinkwood and Yellowwood trees before exiting into a picnic area adjacent to the parking area at start.
Knysna Elephants
There is some controversy over the number of forest elephants living in the Garden Route National Park. The official stance by South African National Parks is that there is only one, The Matriarch. However independent surveys estimate the population at between eleven and 19 respectively.
Irrespective of the number, this section of the trail has ample evidence of dung which is mostly unnoticed by the vast majority of hikers. It is interesting to note that this Elephant population is the only free roaming population in South Africa.
Forest Rivers
The distinctive dark brown colour of rivers in the Garden Route is caused by tannins from forest humus and fynbos. The rivers in the Garden Route have a distinctive brown colour caused by tannins from the forest humus and mountain Fynbos. it is safe to swim in the water and if necessary, safe to drink. Some pools will have white foam on them —this is as a result of the tannin proteins being frothed as water flows over rocks.
Logistics
GPS location at the start : 33°SS’OO.42”S 22°57’28.63″E
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