Jonkershoek Waterfalls is a 6.1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round.
Well demarcated trail with sufficient parking. Sunny hike with rare patches of shade, one long climb but otherwise relatively flat and fairly easy. We managed it with our 3 year old and 1 year old on our backs, but took longer than 3.5h . You need to buy your permit online to enter the reserve in your car at least the day before you want to hike.
Fairly short hike, lined with fynbos along the Eerste River. Only slightly challenging with one climb and some rock hopping in the last section leading to the picturesque second waterfall. Can become crowded, but plenty of picnic and swimming spots along the route. Purchasing a Cape Nature permit beforehand will allow you to drive to and park at the 10km loop turnaround point, eliminating the otherwise uninspiring 5km jeep track road before the start of the hike (and 5km walk back to entrance after hike).
We did this trail with our two pre-school children, they loved it. A wonderful short hike. The younger child was mostly on his dad's shoulders. You have to be very careful doing this with small kids, you have to watch their step for them at times, holding a hand or stay close enough to grab them. We stopped at the first waterfall for a picnic and walked back. My daughter believes the forest must be home to real fairies ;-)
This place is massive, could fit Jurassic Park inside here. Not well marked however, spent a lot of needless time looking for where to go. AllTrails gps overly also does not correspond and is inaccurate here. As a result I couldn’t do the full loop as described above but did twede waterfall which was cool. Probably 3 miles round trip after you drive into the second parking area, 3/4 in the sun going up hill, then the last 1/4 of the path you’re in the shade going through a gorge/stream till you come to the dead end cave where the water fall is. Permit to hike here is 50 ZAR for the day, it’s a world heritage site.