TAKE A HIKE - De Mond delight!

The Sterna Trail in De Mond Nature Reserve is a circular route for the whole family. It's 5.5 km long, on mostly flat terrain, and the views will take your breath away.

- ESMA MARNEWICK

On most hiking trails you have to work hard to reap the rewards: A steep hill might lead to a view, or a knee-grinding slope will take you down to a river at the bottom of a shaded valley…Not so on the Sterna Trail in De Mond Nature Reserve – you get all the rewards for free!

De Mond is on the coast between Arniston and Struisbaai. At only 9 km² in size it’s one of Cape Nature’s smallest reserves, but it has a wild feel and it provides a safe harbour for many species. For example, it’s one of only two places in South Africa where Damara terns (Sternula balaenarum) breed within a conservation area. The trail was named after this rare and endangered bird – the old Latin name was Sterna balaenarum.

You start the hike at the bridge across the Heuningnes River. From the bridge, the river snakes through the dunes for about 2 km before it reaches the ocean. On the opposite bank, the trail splits into three. Take the wooden steps directly ahead and climb up to the lookout point. Inland of the river, grazing and wheat fields stretch out as far as the eye can see; in the reserve, the dunes are covered in Agulhas sand fynbos and limestone fynbos. This is one of the furthest reaches of the Agulhas Plain.