In South Africa, you can find a hiking trail for every taste. Here are deserts, wild places with an abundance of animals, sea coasts, mountains and flat massifs. However, in order to go on such an exciting adventure, it is worth having some information about them and their location.
Common routes:
• Otter trail. Not too difficult, but the most popular in the country. Passes along the coastline of the Tsitsikamma Park;
• Dolphin trail. Lightweight version for less effort. Here are guest houses with food, for more comfort, the backpack is transported by car while you walk;
• The Wild Coast. Here are more difficult and less saturated routes, but interesting for sufficiently prepared tourists. You can request comfortable conditions, up to the transportation of a backpack, but you need to do everything in advance. For lovers of Spartan conditions, there are huts scattered along the routes;
• Cedarberg or Dragon Mountains. These are two wild routes, where there is nothing prepared, except for the daredevil who decided to conquer them. Permission is required to enter here.
This is only a small part of the available directions, but it is worth considering that some may lie on private land. To verify this fact, check out the FootprintHikingClub data.
Good to know
Active Escapes – This company is a leader in organizing hiking tours along the coast of South Africa. They support any format, from hiring a support car to wild extreme travel.
ADI organizes mountain trips and trekking around the globe, including team building meetings as part of Peak Tims.
Berg Free is owned by Dave Sklanders, who organizes hikes along the most scenic routes of the Drakensberg. Usually deals with routes lasting within 1-5 days.
The Boksburg Travel Club is one of the organizations involved in travel arrangements. The activists gather to discuss key issues every first Wednesday of the new month.
Cape Nature is a trusted source for information about planned itineraries. They specialize in reserves, offer alternatives to conventional hiking.
Drifters operates as a tour operator that can organize bike tours, walking tours, and walks. The asset has a three-day option and 6 days on the road.
The All Ways company allows you to evaluate route options, as all relevant maps and many photos are loaded into it. Of the useful functions of the application, we highlight satellite images and an indication of the height above sea level.
Excelsior’s Wine Walk takes a different look at holidays and offers a tour of Cape Town’s finest vineyards. In addition to visiting wineries and tastings, you can walk along the mountain ranges.
Ezemvelo is an organization that oversees all protected areas from the coast to the Dragon Mountains. The organization’s website has a huge amount of information, as well as a whole list of routes. In addition, there are links to a number of tour operators.
The Walking Club provides accurate reports on the routes traveled, in addition, the club is actively involved in social life. The key points of his activity are the preservation of the environment and helping people to find harmony with nature.
Most of the contacts for communication are present on the websites of organizations. In addition, such as Garden Route Hiking Trails, contains data on many routes in cities and beyond.
HAA is an organization dedicated to the training of mountain guides. Located in Cape Town, but covers the entire region, especially large peaks. If necessary, provide information about other guides.
“Tourism and Trekking” can be found on the Internet, the site specializes in short one-day trips. Includes guided or speed variations for running. Each developed route includes a detailed description with distances.
The Info Hub similarly provides information about tour operators, as well as many itineraries for vacationers.
The Johannesburg Hiking Club, as the name implies, is busy with organizational issues in the field of tourism. Its representatives constantly take part in social life, independently organize educational events. The main message is environmental protection.
Komatiland Eco-Tourism is located in Nelspruit. As part of their activities, they offer 4X4 trips, cycling and walking passes. At the moment, the company has 8 daytime directions and 7 night ones.
Linx Africa – Trailsin Southern Africa is an excellent online resource that provides information to tourists in a convenient interactive way. You can view the entire map, area by area, and get information about popular routes in the selected area.
The South African Mountain Club is fully immersed in the provision of organizing services and accompaniment during hiking. A list of one-day hikes is offered and with increasing difficulty up to multi-day trips in remote mountainous areas.
MTO Forestry takes care of the protected area. An excellent direction along the coast, which has the infrastructure and everything you need to pass. The total length is 40-60 km (depending on the exact choice of trails).
Namaqua Silver Sands offers two coastal tour options. With full provision, it lasts 6 days, with independent – 5. This adventure is called Namaqua.
Num-num (Mpumalang) includes a 42 km trail that requires a 5-day hike. Here, forests of incredible beauty are full of animals and birds, so a meeting with representatives of the local fauna is inevitable. There are more than 1000 waterfalls on the square. Each overnight stay will be like in a camp, of which there are 5 on the route.
Ridgway Ramblers is an operator that not only demonstrates historical beauties, but also works outside the city. Serve clients of all ages and levels, in large teams and individuals.
National parks conduct management activities in the territory of the surrounding parks. They are aimed at preserving and displaying the flora, fauna, as well as the cultural heritage of the country.
Sandpiper Safaris is a trekking and safari based hotel near Mossel Bay. Guides work on the routes, there is all the necessary infrastructure.
Ecotrails are called Serendipity, which are located on the territory of the Tirklough farm. You can go on foot, on motorcycles or quad bikes, while overnight stays take place in equipped campsites.
SHAKAbarker Tours operates in a protected area. The organization of trails of various lengths, from a day hike to the 65-kilometer Emoeni, is in the asset.
In addition to a detailed description, information about the length, condition, complexity, as well as photographic materials is published. Like South African Hiking Trails, which includes a huge database of hundreds of trails.
SA AdventureTrails in the Hilton gathers people for hiking and cycling adventures. The site on the Internet has all the information on available events.
Spanafrican Adventures acts as the organizer of the hikes in the park. In addition to nature, you can admire rock art here. The company’s assets include the famous Giant’s Cup crossing, which lasts 5 days and includes 60 kilometers.
The Strandloper Hiking Trail stretches along the coast for 60 km. It usually takes 4 days to pass it, during which you have to overcome a vast stretch of sandy beaches. It starts from the mouth of the Kei and leads to the Gonubi.
Trail Guide South Africa contains an extensive knowledge base of local trails and their difficulty. Includes walking and cycling options, including those available through the app.
Cape Town is home to Trails of South Africa, a club with a wide range of hiking activities. Most of the variations will take 2-4 days, among them there are city trips and those associated with participation in social events.
Among the peaks that can be visited are Kilimanjaro, Table Mountain. Venture Forth International is a club combined with a mountaineering school. There are many accredited guides who will gladly take you to the mountains.
Wild Coast Holiday Reservations will guide you through unique places. All the best can be visited within the framework of hikes for 4-6 days. Parking lots are organized, there is the necessary infrastructure and equipment. Of the famous trails, the Hole can be noted, which will take 4-5 days.
WMA offers relaxation in comfortable conditions with service. From the rest, you can choose a format such as fishing or horseback riding, 4×4, rafting and much more.
