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Follow in the pawprints of a famous canine
Jock of the Bushveld Trail, Mpumalanga
Graskop Gorge on the Jock of the Bushveld Trail.
© South African Tourism
Did you know?
Jock was shot and killed by a farmer who mistook him for another dog.
Mpumalanga's Jock of the Bushveld Trail is a circular day-walk through montane grassveld that takes you up to the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment, treating you to stunning views overlooking Pinnacle Gorge.
These were the same routes that Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, then a lowly ox-wagon transport-rider and not yet knighted, rode and hiked along in the 1880s as he and his beloved Staffordshire terrier Jock delivered supplies to the Pilgrim's Rest goldfields all the way from Delagoa Bay (now Maputo) in Mozambique.
Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, known as 'Fitz' in his book, used to tell the true tales of his and Jock's adventures as bedtime stories for his four children. His friend, Rudyard Kipling, encouraged him to write a book and so the much-loved South African classic Jock of the Bushveld was born.
The Jock of the Bushveld Trail offers several paths for you to follow. The office at the Municipal Holiday Resort in Graskop where you start and end your hiking trail will provide you with a useful route map that shows the way plus points of interest along the route.
Whether you choose the three- or five-hour trail, you'll pass into Fairyland, just 1km southeast of Graskop, where you'll see giant sandstone rock formations, described by Fitzpatrick as 'grey sentinels of fantastic shapes'. You'll have no trouble spotting the Sea horse, the Vulture, the Wolf and the Sitting Hen.
Then it's a steep climb up the escarpment – if you're walking-fit you'll easily manage it – along a stream called 'Tumbling Waters' by Fitzpatrick. He and Jock made their summer camp here on top of the escarpment.
There are superb views from the escarpment's edge, so sit a while and soak up the scenery before ambling back to the Municipal Holiday Resort.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Jock of the Bushveld Trail
Tel: +27 (0) 13 767 1126
Email: info@graskop.co.za
Web: www.graskop.co.za
Thabe Tsweni Lodge
Tel: +27 (0) 13 767 1380
Email: thabatsweni@absamail.co.za
Web: www.blyderiveraccommodation.com
How to get here
Graskop is situated 400km east of Johannesburg on the R532 in the heart of the Panorama Route. The Jock of the Bushvled Trail starts at the Graskop Municipal Holiday Resort in Louis Trichardt St.
Around the area
Graskop, on the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment, is only a few minutes drive from God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes and the Blyde River Canyon, as well as spectacular waterfalls such as Lisbon Falls, Berlin Falls and Mac Mac Falls.
What will it cost
There is no cost to hike the Jock of the Bushveld Trail.
Length of stay
Choose between a 3-hour or 5-hour walk.
What to pack
Sunscreen and a hat are essential as there is little to no shade on the trail. Pack a raincoat in summer as sudden storms can blow up.
Where to stay
Thabe Tsweni Lodge, 9km from Graskop, is situated in the beautiful Blyde River Canyon.