Estate Living Magazine Invest SA - Issue 41 May 2019 | Seite 41

C O M M U N I T Y
Flexibility is a common feature, and some slackpacking trails
offer a choice of accommodation, route or duration.
Start simple
The most rudimentary are the self-guided, self-catered trails
on which the only support is bag transfer. Three of the best are
the spectacular and very accessible, circular, overnight Cape
of Good Hope Trail, in Table Mountain National Park’s reserve
of the same name; the wonderfully diverse, five-night Whale
Trail, which traverses the mountains and rugged coastline of
CapeNature’s flagship reserve, De Hoop; and the Tsitsikamma
Mountain Trail, which is a very strenuous, five-night trail through
the lush forests and fynbos-clad mountains between Nature’s
Valley and Storm’s River. These follow long-established, well-
marked backpacking trails and demand a good level of fitness
and self-sufficiency. Since you’ll stay in rustic, but comfortable,
hikers’ huts and self-cater, you’ll need to pack a sleeping bag,
cutlery and crockery, and, generally, a stove, in addition to
everything you carry on the trail.
L I V I N G
Giants Cup Hikeathon, a self-guided, four-night slackpack
that follows the route of the Giant’s Cup Trail in the foothills of
the ’Berg. But instead of staying in hikers’ huts, slackpackers
are shuttled to nearby guesthouses, where there’s a soft bed
and hearty meals.
trails.co.za/tours/drakensberg/slackpacking/giants-cup-trail
sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/tourism/overnight_hikes.php
capenature.co.za/reserves/de-hoop-nature-reserve
mtoecotourism.co.za/tsitsikamma-trail
The Goldilocks spot
One up on the comfort scale, but still physically demanding,
are trails such as the Wild Coast Amble, which for the most
part follows the route of the somewhat less luxurious hutted
Strandloper Hiking Trail along the empty beaches of the scenic
coastline north of East London, slackpackers stay at beautifully
sited Wild Coast hotels and feast on seafood.
wildcoastholidays.co.za/hiking-options/wild-coast-amble
Likewise, on the suite of slackpacking trails that comprise the
Cederberg Heritage Routes, community guides facilitate safe
passage through the challenging, rugged wilderness of the
I
wildcoasthikes.com
Community guides lead some of the best-value slackpacking
trails, with simple accommodation in villages along the way.
These combine stiff walks with opportunities to interact with
the people of the regions you hike through. On the dramatic,
strenuous four-night hike from Port St John’s to Coffee Bay,
you’ll traverse beaches, rolling green hills, nature reserves and
estuaries rich in endemic flora and birds. Village stays and visits
to sangomas and shebeens give insight into the rich culture of
the Xhosa people.