Lower Tonquani

The information below is limited. For all details please contact the MCSA Johannesburg Section.

The MCSA as a land owner seeks to preserve the land in its natural state, therefore none of our properties have clearly indicated paths, nor are there any facilities on our properties.

Lower Tonquani is a beautiful, long kloof with crystal clear pools, shady spots and classic climbs congregated around the lower section of the kloof near the Cedarberg Kloof/Upper Tonquani/Boulder Kloof junction.

This area is part of the Magaliesberg Protected Environment (MPE) and the Magaliesberg Biosphere.

The land is owned by the MCSA, therefore is open to all MCSA members and their guests. Please carry your MCSA membership card, with latest sticker, with you.

Non-members require permits which must be bought from the MCSA Johannesburg section. All visitors must carry a copy of the permit. Please see the FAQ: Permit Rules.

Permits are not issued for non-members for the first full weekend of every month. These weekends are reserved for MCSA members & their guests only.

Access to this property is across other land owners property. Access agreements with these land owners was established by the MCSA. The access rules in these agreements must be adhered to.

The access agreements with these land owners are sensitive and dependent on your adherence to their rules. The rules are available on request from the MCSA Johannesburg Section and will be provided with your access permit.

A breach of these rules (etiquette, gate times, etc.) could result in the MCSA permanently losing this convenient access route to its properties. The MCSA will also not hesitate to take action against offending members or permit holders.

Join the club here.

Travelling takes about 1 hour 20 mins via Buffelspoort Dam.

Camping is available at the top end of Cedarberg Kloof at the top of Grey Gully – no facilities available apart from a cage to store food. There’s no water available at either campsites, so you need to get water from the kloof. No camping in the kloof please. Please do not leave litter in the cages and please do not feed the monkeys.

Otherwise Mountain Sanctuary Park has camping and chalets, as well as ablution facilities and a small shop selling cold drinks and ice-cream.

There’s water all year in the kloof, which is safe to drink. Please note field toilet manners apply, see the FAQ: What are ‘Field toilet manners?’.

This is a long section of the kloof with over 120 trad routes on excellent rock. The climbs are mostly multi-pitch with a range of grades from 7 to 26, including a number of classic climbs of all grades. Some 90 metre and longer climbs, with superb views, can be found in the area where Cedarberg Kloof intersects Tonquani. Please take note of eagle activity at the crags on the website home page.

Yes, the walk-in is long, but easier from MSP. Children are only allowed with adult supervision.

Yes.

Strictly not allowed, as it is part of the Biosphere.

Crystal clear pools to swim in, a wide variety of birds, animals and plants and beautiful scenery to inspire photographers and artists. Kloofing from Upper to Lower Tonquani is a great way to explore the kloof – but be very careful when negotiating the traverse above the Help-Help Pool as the rock is extremely slippery.

The general area has had muggings, so be alert. The access from Upper to Lower Tonquani using the traverse above the Help-Help Pool is over-polished rock and hazardous to inexperienced parties should actually not be used – creating erosion.

MCSA Johannesburg Section

Email: admin@jhb.mcsa.org.za

Contact Tel: 061 461 8259

Office hours: Mon – Fri, 15:00 – 18:00; closed on weekends & public holidays.

Mountaineering (climbing and hiking) is de facto an activity which carries certain inherent risks. Neither the MCSA, nor any of its members or representatives accept responsibility for any deaths, injury or illness sustained or suffered by any person or for any theft, loss or damage to any property that result from participation in MCSA activities, no matter in what manner caused and whether allegedly due to negligence or not. Full indemnity is available here.