A Friday hike near Stellenbosch ended with a helicopter hovering inside a narrow gorge. A 20-year-old Stellenbosch University student slipped on wet rock while scrambling towards the upper waterfall in Second Waterfall Ravine, falling roughly four metres. Injured and unable to walk out, he and his five hiking companions called for help — a decision rescue officials say likely made all the difference.
Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) Western Cape coordinated the operation, backed by Stellenbosch Fire and Rescue and the Air Mercy Service helicopter. Getting to the student was the hard part: steep rock walls and a waterfall left the crew almost no room to work with. They held the aircraft steady in the confined ravine while the student was secured in a harness and hoisted up. Ground teams then used ropes to bring the rest of the group down safely. WSAR spokesperson Murray Williams was blunt in his praise, calling the flying in the ravine exceptional.
Why call early? Williams' advice to hikers is simple: if someone is hurt and can't continue, phone for rescue immediately rather than attempting to carry them out through steep terrain. An early call gives teams more time to plan and more options while there's still daylight. The group here, he said, did exactly the right thing.
There's a broader warning in this story for anyone heading into Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, one of the Western Cape's most popular hiking areas. Rock near waterfalls stays slick from constant spray even on dry-looking days, and moss, algae and wet grass make footholds unreliable. The risk spikes when hikers leave marked paths and start scrambling over exposed rock, where one slip leaves little room for recovery. WSAR's guidance: check conditions as you go, avoid wet scrambling, and turn back if the route feels wrong. Nobody in a group should feel pushed towards a summit or viewpoint they're not comfortable with.
Just as useful: save the WSAR emergency number — 021 937 0300 — before you set off. If something goes wrong, give your location as precisely as you can, follow the call-taker's instructions, and don't move an injured person unless leaving them put is actively dangerous.
For travellers, the takeaway isn't to skip Jonkershoek's waterfalls — they're among the finest in the Cape Winelands. It's that mountain smarts matter as much as fitness. The injured student was airlifted to hospital, and WSAR has wished him a full recovery.
