Talk:Wolkberg Wilderness Area

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I asked the CDSM (Chief Directorate Surveys and Maps) if I was allowed to put a scanned copy of their map of Wolkberg on this site. Here is there reply This is fine, as long as you acknowledge where the information is coming from. Chief Directorate: National Geo-spatial Information, Private Bag X10, Mowbray, 7705. South Africa Van der Sterr Building, Rhodes Avenue, Mowbray. Cape Town. Email: sales@ruraldevelopment.gov.za. Website: http://www.cdsm.gov.za Tel : +27 (0)21-658 4300. Fax: +27 (0)21-686 9884 or 086 620 2175

Hi, I would like to put a copy of a 1:50000 map (Serala 2430AA) onto an internet site (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolkberg_Wilderness_Area). Is this allowed ? Alternatively I would like to put an extract of the map on the web site. Is this allowed ? Kind regards I will scan the map onto the page. Piotr567 (talk) 10:52, 28 September 2010 (UTC)

I started this page because to share the information I have collected about the wilderness area. Initially it was difficult to find information (especially maps) about the wilderness area. Hopefully people will add more information over time.

A map would be very helpful. I am reluctant to scan in the maps I have. They are printed by the South African government and they sell them at cost to anyone, so I imagine they will not mind if someone copies their maps. But I'm not sure. Piotr567 (talk) 09:53, 27 September 2010 (UTC)

Name of the highest peak in the Wolkberg Wilderness Area
I'm not sure if the highest peak is called Wolkberg or Serala. I've only seen Serala on a map but I'm not sure what the locals call the mountain. Also, what is the height of the peak? The South African governments map shows Serala 2050.4m.Piotr567 (talk) 21:08, 29 September 2010 (UTC)


 * As far as I know the peak is called Wolkberg, but I do stand to be corrected. It might be that the range is called Wolkberg and that there is a peak called Serala. The article has many issues and some further research will be needed to turn in into a valid encyclopedic article.
 * Wolkberg Wilderness Area seems to be located in the Serala State Forest. The total size of the Serala State Forest is 21998 ha, indicating that Wolkberg Wilderness Area is probably smaller than that.
 * --NJR_ZA (talk) 04:46, 30 September 2010 (UTC)

Non encyclopedic content
I have removed the following non-encyclopedic content from the article and am placing it here as it might still be useful to someone --NJR_ZA (talk) 04:52, 30 September 2010 (UTC)

Directions to Klipdraai
To get to Klipdraai (which is where the campsite, staff quarters and the office are located), from Polokwane follow the R71 towards Tzaneen for about 40 km (this road is tarred). Approximately 2 km after the Moira church there is a sign to the left for Wolkberg (23°50′34.97″S, 29°48′45.79″E ). The road is not tarred. Follow this road for a further 40 km to reach the entrance. Along the way are signs to the Serala State Forest (possibly the old name of the wilderness area). About 300 metres before the office, the road forks. Take the left fork. At the fork there is an old sign with the words Serala State Forest.

The 40 km untarred road can be done in a 4x2wd vehicle (normal passenger car).

South East Entrance
Starting from the Orrie Baragwanath Pass at 24°06′21.91″S 30°07′13.77″E, a 4wd jeep track leads from the south east corner of the park, west along the Mohlapitse river for about 12 km before heading up north for about 13 km to the office at Klipdraai. The east-west section of the track crosses the river numerous times. Many of the drifts / small bridges have been washed away but can be negotiated in a good 4wd vehicle. The north section up to Klipdraai is steep and crosses smaller streams.

From Haenertsburg
There could be a road from Haenertsburg into the park. From Google Earth: leave the R528 at 23°58′54.11″S 29°59′16.48″E (the author has never been on this road). Follow the untarred road to 24°00′58.18″S 30°01′43.40″E (where there is a group of abandonned buildings). Here the road forks. East, the road leads up to the Mountain Club Hut at 24°00′09.05″S 30°03′52.29″E (4wd required, road is fairly steep). In a south-westerly direction the road goes to the office at Klipdraai (road crosses Mohlapitse river).

Contact Details

 * +27 (0)72 779 1676 (mobile number of the man in charge of the wilderness area)
 * +27 (0)15 276 1303 (land line number to the office at Wolkberg - usually no one answers so try the mobile)

Maps
The South African government prints 1:50000 maps and 1:10000 b/w aerial photographs of the area. Contact the Chief Directorate Surveys and Maps (CDSM) at +27 (0)21 658-4301 / +(27) (0)21 689 1351/ +27 (0)21 686 9884 (Wikipedia recommended not putting the email address of CDSM here, but orders are placed by email. The telephone numbers are from CDSM website, which looks underconstruction). The 1:50000 map for Wolkberg has number 2430AA Serala.

Facilities / activities

 * Camping site
 * Toilets + Showers (in theory with hot water)
 * Soccer field
 * Hiking (Overnight hiking)
 * 4wd trail

There is no accommodation at Klipdraai.

Mohlapitse River
The Mohlapitse river enters the north west corner of the park, flows south for abouth 10km and then turns east for about 12km.

Trails
Hiking is allowed anywhere in the wilderness area. There are some jeep tracks and paths. The bush tends to be rather dense which makes it difficult to get up to the plateaus, so below are some rough indications of trails that are easy to follow.

Below is a map of the Wolkberg area. The scale of the map is 1:50000. The Klipdraai Forest Station is near the top left. Near the top is the Serala Peak. Dashed black lines are jeep tracks. The map was stitched together from 4 scanned images.



Southern East-West Jeep Track
Jeep track along the southern section of the river. The track is parallel with the river in an east-west direction.

Path to Southern Plateau
At 24°05′41.07″S 30°04′00.72″E, a valley leads from the jeep track up to the southern plateau. A small stream flows in the center of the valley. The stream flows into the Mohlapitse river.

A good place to enter the valley (to avoid the dense bush) is the point where the stream meets the jeep track. Near the jeep track the stream becomes wider and it is difficult to pin point an exact location. The area where the stream crosses the jeep track is muddy. One should try to enter the valley on the eastern side (of the valley-opening at the jeep track, just before the stream).

For the first 500m the path stays close to the stream. Initially the path goes up on the western side, then crosses east and finally crosses west again to a clearing. The clearing provides plenty of camping space. This is also the last point before the plateau to get water. From here the path follows the dry river bed of the stream for about 1.1 km. At this point the path leaves the stream on the western side and moves up a grassy slope in a north-westerly direction to the top of the plateau. The slope is covered in long grass and trees but there is no thick bush.

Near the jeep track the stream contains water, however after about half a kilometer the stream is dry. The nearest stream is on the plateau (about 4 km).

Klipdraai to waterfall
Two waterfalls at about 24°03′54.10″S 30°01′36.75″E.

Lots of space to camp at river.

Jeep track leading from Klipdraai to waterfall.

Path leading north from waterfall along river.

Faint path leading up to southern ridges at 24°03′37.46″S 30°02′06.29″E. Walking along the ridges leads to the southern plateau.

Waterfall to Y
Y is located at 24°04′08.89″S 30°02′49.58″E.

From the waterfall to Y, one follows the river. Frequent river crossings. A faint path is visible.

At Y a small stream coming from the north, flows into the Mohlapitse river.

Y to Southern Ridges
From Y it is possible to get to the top of the southern ridges (at about 24°04′09.28″S 30°03′02.64″E). Walking along the ridges leads to the southern plateau. This section explains one possible way to the top of the ridges. This is not the only path up, it is not necessarily the best and it is not the safest.

When walking to Y from the waterfall, one can see the top of the southern ridges. Aim for about 24°04′09.28″S 30°03′02.64″E. Once at Y, in theory it is possible to beat a direct path to the top. Through the thick bush, this is fairly exhausting. Alternatively, walk north up the small stream for between 100m and 200m. This involves boulder hopping and ducking branches and vines. Then head directly up the mountain slope in a easterly direction to just below the cliffs. Initially the bush is thick. A little further up, the slopes are steep but covered by grass and trees. Once at the cliffs move south along the cliffs till an opening leads to the top of the ridges. The path south along the cliffs is steep and the ground is lose.

There is no water for 1.5km from the small stream till the stream flowing down the top of the southern plateau.

Y to Corner
Not sure if it is possible to walk from Y to Corner. Perhaps lots of walking in river. In summer river could be too deep.

Klipdraai to Corner
Corner at 24°05′26.74″S 30°02′42.10″E.

Plenty of camping space.

Jeep track from Klipdraai to corner.

Jeep track from corner to south-east entrance of park.

Klipdraai to X
The quickest way from Klipdraai down to the river.

X is located at 24°02′21.45″S 30°01′52.10″E.

From X easy to follow path to mountain club hut.

From X to easy to follow path to Wonderwoud.