Hone in on Hogsback: Hogrock Falls
- Alichia Dicker
- Apr 14, 2021
- 3 min read
“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” - Henry David Thoreau
What better way to ground and soothe your soul than to pack a bag and head into the forest?
For many, Hogsback, a little village positioned high in the Amatole Mountains of the Eastern Cape, is nothing more than a snowy destination. For the past few years (except during lockdown 2020) it has been a sought after destination for many, far and wide, to go frolic in the snow and enjoy the hearty warmth that the village has to offer during the cold winter months.
But what many fail to see once the snow has melted and the throngs of people leave till next time, is the absolute magic that lives and thrives in the Hogsback village all year round. Not only is the village beaming with ripe culture, creativity and community, but the surrounding indigenous forest sings with all the life and beauty that it holds...
Every now and then I get antsy... I start to feel like the air we breathe in the city just isn't fresh enough. On one such day, I decided to book a getaway for no special occasion in Hogsback!
While looking for accommodation, this specific description caught my eye: "self-catering cottages nestled in the forests of the Magical Kingdom of Hogsback...close to enchanted waterfalls..." I was sold immediately!
Hogrock Falls is situated just outside the hustle and bustle of the village, towards the end of Hogsback... but where things are quieter, naturally things are more magical! I booked the Copper Aloe cottage and off we went on a weekend expedition, to find some peace and to refresh our lungs!
On arrival, we were matter-of-factly met by a friendly ginger cat that decided we'd be his (we think it was a he, as he was way too fluffy to tell!) new pals for the weekend, and he smugly walked us toward the entrance of our cottage as though he was the man in charge.
We were immediately charmed by the gorgeous deck that felt as though it was being engulfed by the forest. Perfectly laid out with two comfy chairs to sip our coffee as we look over the treetops.
Entering the cottage itself was like being wrapped in a warm embrace, with comfortable furnishings, original paintings by the artist who designed the house, a well-equipped kitchen and everything you need to comfortably rest for a little while. The rustic fireplace was an absolute treat as, if you've been to Hogsback, you know that even in early Autumn the nights can get frosty!
But the major highlight of this little cottage with the living roof was the bath! I'm a sucker for an aesthetic bath and for the low booking price, you wouldn't expect one with a gorgeous view and an awesome rustic touch with the watering-can styled shower.
One of the main activities we undertook while staying at Hogrock Falls, was to make use of the forest meander down to their own majestic waterfall! This is an easy walk, a little slippery here and there, but worth a muddy shoe or two when it rains as you walk completely into a blanket of forest, all the while taking in the great biodiversity of trees and creatures. If you're lucky, Ginger Cat will follow you down this path, but he seemed to enjoy chilling on the daybed more than parading around with us.
Down by this stunning waterfall, we could enjoy the beautiful sounds of cascading water and get nice and close with the little viewing deck. If you go and check out the Hogrock Falls Facebook Page, you'll see that this exact spot can be booked for private and small weddings, with a small venue on offer on the main grounds!
We spent our mornings there, doing some yoga and enjoying the super-cool air, before heading off to explore all the other waterfalls that Hogsback has to offer.
Because we opted to visit outside of snow season, we were lucky enough to enjoy the waterfall trails around town unrushed and uninterrupted, having the opportunity to really explore (and get lost) and enjoy the scenery. Another benefit of visiting out of season was that the village shops weren't overcrowded and the roads and trails weren't so muddy and mushed due to traffic.
Then once we were exhausted for the day, we could simply light a fire and relax with some wine back at our little den!
We'd love to go back with more friends and perhaps then book out their bigger cottage, Silver Birch, to further enjoy and share the beauty of their magical piece of land!
To view more information about Hogrock Falls, check out their pages:
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