Dassie Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · River/Creek · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The Dassie Trail starts at the northern entrance on the western side of the Silent Pool. After a tiny crossing at the start of the Bloubos Trail, you'll be on the western side of the reserve hiking in a southward direction. The Dassie Trail crosses an intersection with the Sunbird Trail, and passes along the front of the Dassie Trail Lookout with a very gentle ascent. Once the trail turns west, you'll reach the starting point to ascend the lookout point. A short but taxing ascent to the lookout point along the Dassie Trail Lookout Spur will give you a bird's eye view of the entire reserve. From there, the trail heads northbound and ends with the intersection at the Sunbird Trail.

The reserve is home to approximately 215 bird species, which include Barbet's, Swifts, Swallows, Crows and Doves, and 9 large mammal species which include Zebras, Black Wildebeest, Blesbok, Springbok and Red Hartebeest. There is also an assortment of insect life, which includes various butterflies, geckos and lizards. Smaller mammals in the reserve include Klip Dassies.