Hiking trails at Kurisa Moya nature lodge

At Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge, the 422 hectare farm offers many different habitats. So, whether you enjoy easy walking trails through an indigenous forest, strenuous hiking trails up a 1900 m mountain, a guided bird and nature walk or a self-guided trail, this nature lodge is for you. The environment is beautiful and varied, animals, birds, mushrooms and butterflies abound and the views on the hikes are spectacular.

The various marked trails are of graded difficulty and length. Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge is situated near Magoebaskloof and Polokwane in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Three unique accommodation venues are available for walking or hiking enthusiasts.

RIVER RAMBLE

Time: + 45 Min
Difficulty: Easy
Gradient: Mild

This beautiful walk follows one of the many small streams on Kurisa Moya. It winds through riverine vegetation, over small bridges and into quiet fragrant glades.

There is a bench along the walk next to a small waterfall where guests can soak up the tranquility of this wonderfully peaceful stream.

There is a chance of encountering bushbuck or duiker along the stream, as well as various robins, sunbirds and the elusive Buff-spotted fluff-tail who call this area home.

UMSENGE FOREST WALK

Time: + 1 Hour
Difficulty: Easy
Gradient: Mild

This walk takes you into the spectacular, indigenous, temperate rain forests of Kurisa Moya.

This forest has some of the largest Cassonias (Umsenge) trees in the province, as well as large yellow wood trees. Kurisa
Moya's Cassonia features in Thomas Packenham's latest book "In Search of Remarkable Trees"
This environment has a truly magical feel, with the massive trees coated in moss and old man's beard hanging down from the forest canopy.The forest floor is littered with mushrooms, bract fungus and ferns. The walk follows the paths that the resident bush pigs, bushbuck and duiker use.

Samango monkeys can be heard and sometimes seen foraging in the canopy. Knysna Turacos, Square-tailed Drongos,the Narina Trogon, Yellow streaked Greenbuls and the rare Black fronted Bushshrike are often sighted on this awe-inspiring walk.

TRAIL OF TWO DAMS

Time: + 2 Hours
Difficulty: Easy
Gradient: Steep

This trail takes you through a variety of habitats, starting with a "tollkeinesque" riverine forest from the Farmhouse to the first dam, which is nestled in a grove of pine trees.

The trail then passes through a drier bushveld type of environment and into fallow grassland, down to the second dam which has a spectacular view back up towards the peaks of Kurisa Moya.

Vervet monkeys are often encountered on this walk and warthog can be found on the fallow
grasslands near the second dam. This walk is "a must" for birders as it offers forest, grassland
and bushveld species as well as water birds on one magnificent walk.

KOPPIE WITH A VIEW

1) From Farmhouse back to the Farmhouse
Time: + 4 Hours
Difficulty: Moderately difficult
Gradient: Steep in places
2) Drive to starting point to top of Koppie and
walk from their. Time: + 65 Mins

This walk explores the drier northern slopes of Kurisa Moya and follows the northern firebreak through a
bushveld environment with breath-taking views down the Kudu's-river valley into the lowveld.
Acacias, proteas and aloes populate these slopes and are inhabited by an incredible variety of
birds.

Spoor and quills left by porcupine are often found by the observant hiker and flowering orchids can
also be spotted along this walk. The steep climb to the top of the Koppie reveals spectacular views of
the lowveld as you sit on the very edge of the northern Drakensburg escarpment.

On a clear day the Blouburg and Soutpansburg mountains, 130 km away, can be seen. This area
still has kudu roaming in it and jackal can be seen by the hiker who starts out early enough.

MAJESTIC MOUNTAIN HIKE

Time: + 3 Hours
Difficulty: Tough
Gradient: Steep

This trail takes you to the highest point of the escarpment in the area, and as a result, offers you dazzling 360 degree views of the area.

The steep climb is more than rewarded by the wonderful views back over the indigenous forest
of Kurisa Moya, the pine plantations of Woodbush and the lowveld stretching out below. The
Iron Crown mountain of Haenerstburg, the Wolkburg, Blouberg and Soutpansburg can all be seen
from this vantage point. Jackal buzzards and Black Eagles often share these views with the hiker.

BIRDERS LOOP

Time: 20-30 Mins
Difficulty: Easy
Gradient: Fair

This short, scenic loop runs close to the Forest Lodge cabins. It can be strolled by the less energetic or by those who want to spend
their time examining the environment in more detail.

The loop passes through afro-montane forest and forest edges which are frequented
by a large variety of birds as well as troops of monkeys at various times of the day.

TWINSPOT LOOP

Time: 10-15 Mins
Difficulty: Easy
Gradient: Fair

This short loop runs close to the riverline and forest margins with thick riverine bush which makes it a productive habitat for many different species including Green Twinspot, Buff-spotted Flufftail, Bush Blackcap Narina Trogon, White-starred Robin and Forest Canary.

Twinspot Trail hosts Green Twinspot in the riverine bush on the forest margins

Nearby, the Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk pair has a nest in the pines which can be seen from the road.

The pair have successfully fledged a juvenile 2 years running. This trail can be strolled by birders searching for elusive species and the not-so-energetic walker.

Baboons can often be seen scuffling through the pine needles in search of mushrooms and Caracal are often spotted along this road during the day.

Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge, South Africa, +27 (0)15 276 1131,
Tel: +27 (0) 82 200 4596, +27 (0) 83 294 1013,
e-mail: info@krm.co.za, P O Box 280, Haenertsburg, 0730, Limpopo, South Africa, http://www.krm.co.za

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