Dogs by Nature

HIKING TRAILS

Baskop Circle route - Parys (Free State)

The Baskop hiking trail forms part of the Parys Meteorite Hiking Trails – a 60 km trail complex in and around the Vredefort dome (the newest Natural World Heritage site of South Africa). This network of trails includes 4 camps and conveniently offers the hiker the option of combining any routes and camps of his choice. The following schematic diagram presents this trail complex and camps:

 Some suggested trail options are:

A) Tshwane to Deelfontein (South) - 4km

B) Tshwane to Deelfontein (North) - 8km

C) Deelfontein Summit trail - 3km

D) Deelfontein Valley Route - 2km

E) Deelfontein to Baskop - 8km

F) Baskop circle route 1 - 8km

G) Baskop circle route 2 - 4km

H) Baskop to Mooihoek - 8km

J) Mooihoek Circle Route - 5k

K) Mooihoek to Deelfontein (South) - 7km

L) Mooihoek to Deelfontein (North) - 6km

The above mentioned information and diagram was obtained from the Meteorite Hiking Trails Website

We chose to do the Baskop circle route 1 day hike and included the Baskop circle route 2 as well, which equates to a total of 10 km.  The trail starts at the Baskop bush camp which can accommodate 16 hikers, offering them shower, braai and overnight facilities. On our arrival we were given a route map.

Bookings must be made through Jakana Travel Marketing and Reservations but I contacted one of the owners of Baskop farm directly to ask permission to bring a dog along. His name is Riaan and his contact details are as follows:

Cell: 083 294 1077

e-mail: all3@absamail.co.za


Additional contact information:

Herman van Wyk: 082 770 9444

Hugo van Wyk: 056 931 0715

e-mail: domebaskop@absamail.co.za


The farm is home to a male Border collie and female Basset hound which joined our hike. They were both friendly and well socialized.

We did the trail in March and it was incredibly hot. Even though the first and last few kilometres follows the estuary of the Vaal River, the riverine forest prevented access which means that the trail does not really offer any drinking water to the dogs. In addition to that I had to share Lilly’s water ration with the Collie and Basset as well.

All-in-all the trial was not too challenging, but it is a log walk, so be sure to start early. I would recommend the additional Baskop route 2 as it leads to the summit of Baskop and offers the hiker an incredible panorama view of the Vaal River valley and ridges. This part might be the only challenge – a bit of a climb to the top. 

Take enough drinking water – both for hikers and dogs! Even though bottles can be re-filled at the end of the route at the Baskop bush camp, Parys is renowned for its bad tasting water.