Leopard's Kloof
ModerateBetty's Bay
Main risk: slips and fallsAt a glance
Distance
3 km return
Time
1.5–2.5 hr
Elevation gain
180 m
Summit
200 m
Wet rock, river crossings and three wooden ladders — treacherous after rain. Keys are only issued until 13:00 and must be back by 16:00; the locked gate means no late exit.
Know before you go
- Permit and key from the garden entrance — trail fee plus a refundable key deposit.
- Three waterfalls stacked up the kloof; red disas flower late December to end January.
- Baboons frequent the garden — keep food zipped away.
If you need help
Slips on wet rock and ladder falls are the pattern. The kloof is narrow — any extraction is a stretcher carry.
Emergency exit
Back down the kloof — the ladders are the only way up or down the final section.
Cell reception
Fine in the garden, unreliable inside the kloof.
Start point
Harold Porter National Botanical Garden, Betty's Bay — collect the gate key at the entrance
Parking: Parking inside the garden grounds.
Elevation profile
Peak
200 m
Total ascent
180 m
Trail length
3 km
Best time of year
Disas flower late December to January. The kloof runs slippery through winter.
Water sources
Treat or filter before drinking — never trust a stream raw.
Leopard's Kloof stream
Year-round
Mountain stream feeding the waterfalls. Treat before drinking.
Tell someone where you are going
Share your plan with a friend or family member before you set off.
Last reviewed July 2026
Report incorrect information