Visiting the Magoebaskloof flowers are top on my list of favourites when it comes to Spring activities! Throw in a gorgeous day hike through a mist-belt forest and we are SOLD!

Magoebaskloof and the nearest little town, Haenertsburg, are nestled at the northeastern tip of the Drakensberg mountain range in Limpopo Province. Known as “The Land of the Silver Mist,” this area often has soft, mysterious mist that we absolutely loved experiencing on our trip.

Thanks to this mist, lush indigenous forests thrive. Beyond the forest, grasslands spread across the open spaces to border the plantations of the region. There are beautiful multi-day hiking trails in Magoebaskloof, but we chose short forest and grassland hiking trails on our trip so that we still had time to explore the beautiful private gardens that are home to the Magoebaskloof flowers.

How Far is Magoebaskloof from Johannesburg?

Magoebaskloof is 395 kms from Joburg, just under 4 hours on the N1 with a few toll gates. It is the perfect long-weekend getaway with only one caveat: If you are maxing your long weekend and leaving with the masses then be prepared for toll gate congestion. Our drive back to Johannesburg from Magoebaskloof over the September Heritage Day long weekend surprised us with an extra 2 hours waiting time at toll gates. Be smart with your departure times.

The Magoebaskloof Pass (R71) is the most popular driving route for viewing the spring flowers in the area. This scenic drive connects the towns of Haenertsburg and Tzaneen, winding through the lush mountains and valleys of Magoebaskloof.

What Sort of Vehicle Do You Need When Visiting the Magoebaskloof Flowers?

I definitely recommend having your own vehicle for the trip if you are visiting from another part of SA or abroad. Some accommodation requires a 4×4 for access so enquire upfront. And whilst the highway is tar, most of the offshoot roads are dirt roads, so if it is raining you are going to encounter quite a bit of mud.

When to Visit the Area to See the Spring Magoebaskloof Flowers?

The forests are sub-tropical and evergreen, which means you can visit them all year round. However, in Spring the area comes alive with azaleas and wildflowers. The very best months are late August through to early October. Mid-September is usually prime time.

The Best Magoebaskloof Gardens to View the Flowers

Cheerio Gardens | Magoebaskloof Flowers

In the heart of Magoebaskloof, you’ll discover the famous Cheerio Gardens, where hundreds of azaleas and flowering cherry trees burst into spectacular bloom from late September to early October.

The hand-built terraces with azalea-lined pathways guide you through the gardens. If you’re adventurous like us then you are sure to find a few secluded spots where you can have a seat and quietly enjoy the beauty of it all.

The dams surrounded by old overhanging trees and blooming azaleas are truly incredible. Our favourite part of the Cheerio Gardens were the masses of light pink azalea bushes just above the main dam. Jaw-droppingly beautiful! I’m a sucker for colour-blocking 🙂

There is a restaurant/tea garden on site which serves light meals, and as such picnics are unfortunately not allowed. Cheerio Gardens in Magoebaskloof do cater for events and weddings. Last year I photographed the most spectacular floral elopement inspiration photoshoot at Cheerio Gardens and it was SO BEAUTIFUL! You can have a look at that photoshoot here: ELOPEMENT INSPIRATION IN MAGOEBASKLOOF

Directions to Cheerio Gardens: We descended the Magoebaskloof mountain pass, taking the Cheerio Road just before Stanford Lake College, and followed the signboards to reach Cheerio Gardens. There was a man at the entrance to the parking lot who allocated tickets and took payment.

Opening Time for Cheerio Gardens: Cheerio Gardens is now home to the AfriCamps Magoebaskloof Luxury Tented accommodation, but the gardens are still open to the public. Opening times of the Cheerio Gardens are usually Thurs-Sun 09h00-17h00, but vary per season, so please check the Cheerio Gardens google listing for updated info.

Entrance Fee for Cheerio Gardens: At the time of posting, the entrance fee was R30 for adults.

Sequoia Gardens | Magoebaskloof Flowers

Sequoia Garden Retreat is one of my favourites! We phoned ahead to arrange our visit and WOW is all I can say. The gardens were quiet, peaceful, and jam-packed with beauty.

Sequoia features SIX HECTARES of formal and wild gardens, with all of the flowers and trees you could dream of. We loved that the owners have taken the time to identify over 100 of their trees with labels. Exploring these gardens was an absolute treat, and the Japanese influence of some of the areas (where the blossoming cherry trees flower) shone through!

Pack yourself a picnic and head down to the main dam, or pick a scenic spot (there is no shortage).

Sequoia Garden Retreat also has accomodation where you can book in for a weekend. The cottages looked quaint and absolutely gorgeous – we’d definitely stay here! In addition they have a labyrith (you KNOW I had to go walk it) and the sweetest little lily pond with wistaria surrounding it. I think I left a little bit of my heart in these gardens.

Directions to Sequoia Gardens: Sequoia is also on the Cheerio Road. Click through to the Sequoia Garden Retreat Google Listing for exact directions to these incredible gardens.

Opening Time for Sequoia Gardens: You’ll have to phone and arrange a time to visit, and the owners are very easygoing so don’t be shy 🙂 072 595 3511 or email sequoiastay@gmail.com

Entrance Fee for Sequoia Gardens: At the time of posting, the entrance fee was R50 for adults which we put into the red postbox in the parking lot.

Kuhestan Organic Farm | Magoebaskloof Flowers

We woke up to thick mist on our last day but headed out anyway because it was absolutely beautiful! Our last garden stop on our trip to see the Magoebaskloof flowers was Kuhestan Organic Farm. As we wound our way down the Houtbosdorp Road to Kuhestan we had to stop to take in the beauty of the thick mist in the pine plantations.

Arriving to the beauty of Kuhestan in the mist is something I’ll never forget. It was as if we took a right turn, through a portal, straight to the grounds of Hogwarts. The variety of garden flowers and trees at Kuhestan are absolutely breathtaking and were a welcome break from all the azaleas we had seen on the days prior.

Kuhestan is also an organic farm, and we took a little tour through their netted vegetable and flower gardens. The property is a favourite for the rare Samango monkey that, I am sure, would otherwise have a feast on all the incredible produce and edible flowers. The poppies were out in force, and we all know how much I love I poppy!

This was my first taste of local magnolia trees, having only seen them in Europe before, so that was where a lot of my time was focused for sure! We then strolled down the hedge-lined paths and made our way to the shop to pay for our visit and browse their delights. All in all, totally worth the trip and we think it was even better that we got to see Kuhestan in the mist!

Directions to Kuhestan Organic Farm: Head straight at the stop sign at Haenertsburg towards the Magoebaskloof Hotel (10km). 2.5 km after the hotel turn left into the Houtbosdorp road.

Opening Time for Kuhestan Organic Farm: Open 09h00-12h00 daily

Entrance Fee for Kuhestan Organic Farm: At the time of posting, the entrance fee was R30 for adults

Things to Do in Magoebaskloof: Our Favourite Day Hike, The Swartbos/Lesodi Trail

Be prepared to have a hike or two lined up in between the Magoebaskloof flowers adventuring! We trekked a few of the shorter hikes in the area and one stood out head and shoulders above the rest.

Our favourite Magoebaskloof day hike is definitely the Swartbos/Lesodi trail. The Swartbos trail winds its way through the incredible indigenous forest of Magoebaskloof and is a medium to difficult trail (there are a lot of stairs). It is well marked and maintained, and an absolute pleasure to hike. You’ll be walking through a mist-belt forest, the likes of which don’t usually have easy access, so it really is special!

The hike starts on the road alongside the Magoebaskloof Hotel. Maps are available at the hotel or you can download a copy HERE

The trail itself takes 2-3 hours, but we made a morning of it as we usually do, stopping to take photos and enjoy the sound of the birds. As the trail winds you’ll go past an incredible viewing point that looks out over the Wolkberg mountains. We spotted our favourite bird, the Knysna Turaco, so that give this Magoebaskloof hiking trail an extra seal of approval.

You can spot strangler fig trees along the trail, and one in particular called the “Cathedral tree” spans over several host trees. It towers high into the forest. Spectacular! And well worth a stop.

Don’t discount the grasslands at the beginning and end of the trail! The tiniest wildflowers dot the landscape in Spring and we spent quite a while oohing and aahing at them. All the more reason to make sure you pack your macro lens!

The Magoebaskloof Flower Adventure Wraps Up

Every step of this weekend trip to Magoebaskloof felt like a dream and it remains one of the most beautiful trips we have taken in and around South Africa. If you are looking for something to do over a long weekend in Spring then make sure you check out all the beauty of the Magoebaskloof flowers! We found the most incredible spots and even a few beauties along the side of the road. The best part of this trip was the company… make sure you pick your travelling partner well 🙂