Pace yourself outdoors. As the world searches for escapes from high pressure urban lifestyles, research is showing that a mere hour in nature on a daily basis has incredible therapeutic benefits on both physical health and mental well being. South Africans that do get out into nature on a regular basis have recently evolved into stopwatch addicts, racing the clock to raise their heart rate … Continue reading The Art of Sauntering in Nature
There are a few signature features that draw visitors to Cape Town. The Mountain, Cape Point, Penguins, Robbin Island, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Two Ocean Aquarium, the V&A Water Front and the beaches. Kilometers of beaches of white bleached sand. It is a city to be explored, savored and experienced. It is a city with four seasons in one morning. A metropolis with a 24 hour … Continue reading Table Mountain : Hiking above the Mother City
At 108km, the Outeniqua Trail is one of the longest hiking trails in South Africa. Traversing through forest and fynbos along the southern slopes of the Outeniqua Mountain range, the trail is hiked in a west to east direction sleeping in hiking huts with a capacity for 20 hikers. Mountain Wilderness. It is in the true sense, a wilderness hike, a trail that removes you … Continue reading Giants and Dwarves weaving between Spotted Ghosts on the Outeniqua Trail.
‘Fiffty Dolla’ the voice barked from behind the counter. We looked at each other before Sue replied ‘The fees were paid in full’. ‘You want to hike, fiffty dolla!’ ‘But there are only 4 of us and the original booking was for 12 hikers and was paid in full’.’ You want to hike?’ The official behind the counter repeated. Heck, we had come all this … Continue reading Getting to Lost Bend in the Fish River Canyon.
After the recent mountain rescue on Table Mountain this weekend, it is important to share some salient safety measures when hiking on any mountain, irrespective of experience. • use official foot paths only • carry more that one operational cellphone in your hiking party • plan your intended route in a way that you are off the mountain before sunset • carry an accurate map … Continue reading Be Prepared to be Safe when hiking in South Africa.
One of the last true wilderness areas in South Africa is undisputedly the Baviaanskloof, a series of folded mountains, canyons and valleys between Willomore and Patensie in the Eastern Cape. It is a botanical wonderland that transforms from Karoo through Fynbos and into pockets of Afro-Montane forest with hints of Spekboom along an east west axis. The Baviaans is a landscape that begs to be … Continue reading Leopard Trail – Baviaankloof Hiking
So often a sign lacks the detail of what it is indicating. In Graaff Reinet, as you enter the town from the south, there is an insignificant sign indicating a hiking trail. No trail name. No trail distance. Merely, turn west off the N9. Recently, while visiting Graaff Reinet, I again saw the sign and decided to do some online research. All I found was … Continue reading Karoo Hiking – Eerstefontein Trail
