Hiking And Walking Trails In South Africa

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 96
Comment this article

Although many hikes and trails require you to navigate your own way, there are also many options that include guides, though guided walking tours will obviously incur appropriate costs. Whatever your preference, and whether you are looking for a gentle walk or a vigorous and testing hike, you''ll find something to suit your skills and interests in the South African outdoors.

The Otter Trail, on the Cape south coast, on the scenic stretch known as the Garden Route, the Otter Trail is one of the country''s best known trails. (That means hikers need to book well in advance.) This 5 day/4 night trail in the Tsitsikamma National Park offers hutted accommodation in between hiking stages. Though some days only demand a few kilometres hiking, the trail includes steep sections and the 13.8 kilometre hike on Day 4 demands a certain level of fitness. The trail affords spectacular coastal views and crosses several rivers and streams. A less strenuous version, the Dolphin Trail, is nearby.

Other coastal walks and trails worth considering can be found on the glorious Wild Coast, Eastern Cape, an area altogether wilder (as the ...
... name suggests) than the tourist-dense Garden Route. However, there''s more to South African than its extensive coastline and great beaches. Mountain trails are another alternative. The Amatola Trail in the Eastern Cape mountains is a 6 night, 105 kilometre hike through diverse landscapes. The Drakensberg Mountains in the east and the Cederberg Mountains three hours drive north of Cape Town also offer unforgettable mountain hikes.

For something a little different to the standard hike, visitors can try a desert hike. The Klipspringer Trail (named after a small antelope) in the Northern Cape Province is a 3 day hike, almost 40 kilometres long, that will introduce hikers to the rare beauty of the arid landscapes bordering the Orange River. The trail runs partly through the impressive Aughrabies Canyon, with its well-known waterfall.

Wildlife walks are not for the faint-hearted, but can be unforgettable. In areas where large and potentially dangerous animals roam free, hikers are accompanied by experienced guards, who are armed in case of problems. The Kruger National Park in the north-east offers a variety of walks where hikers can see wildlife in their natural habitat. One of the most celebrated wildlife trails is the Umfolozi Trail, KwaZulu-Natal. A three day guided tour takes visitors through wilderness areas in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi National Park, with the opportunity to see a huge range of wildlife ? including elephant, lion and leopard, as well as hundreds of species of bird.

Every part of the country boasts some kind of trail. Tourists may also want to consider canoeing trails, 4x4 trails and trails on horseback. Hikers should make sure that they are up to the terrain and have the right equipment ? poorly prepared hikers regularly get into trouble in South Africa, where the beguiling beauty of the landscape often hides the danger of the terrain. For those who choose carefully and plan well, a hike ? whether that''s a one day ramble or a lengthy wilderness adventure ? is the perfect highlight of a South African holiday. Bonny Kominek wrote this article while on a holiday booked with Dialaflight who provide flights to South Africa and other desinations.