LOCAL TRAVEL
that makes you laugh and feel deeply zen at once.
Away With The Fairies isn’ t just about the forest and views; it’ s also a living, breathing hub of chilled-out adventure. The Green Dragon Café served us perfect smoothies and homemade stone-ground pizza that hit the spot after a day on the trails. There’ s a bar with local craft beer on tap, a cosy outdoor fireplace to gather around as night falls, and even a Heart Centre, a little sacred space for movement, meditation and unwinding.
Mornings in Hogsback arrive softly, with mist creeping low through the forest as if the forest is still waking up. Some days the fog never fully lifts, and that feels like a blessing rather than a letdown. Coffee tastes better wrapped in a blanket while birds chirp somewhere just out of sight. Trails branch out everywhere: some inviting easy exploration, others daring you to tackle longer routes.
There are unexpected moments tucked between trees and waterfalls; stone shrines, forest clearings, and paths that seem to lead nowhere and everywhere at once. They don’ t demand explanation; they invite you to pause, breathe, and either think or not think at all. Both are OK here.
Days were spent forest“ missioning”, wandering trails that start right from our garden, climbing straight into the indigenous forest and past waterfalls, from gentle strolls to loops that felt gloriously epic. It was easy to see why Tolkien was rumoured to have found inspiration here to write The Lord of the Rings – mossy paths, dripping ferns, and trees that tease the mist like shy giants.
We stayed at Away With The Fairies, a magical base perched on the cliff edge, overlooking the oldest indigenous forests in South Africa. The hikes literally start at your doorstep. One minute you’ re sipping morning tea on a deck overlooking rolling hills, and the next you’ re on a forest track leading to nearby waterfalls such as Swallowtail and Madonna & Child, all within walking distance.
When the hikes tired us out( trust me, they did), there was always the infamous cliff-edge bath: a bathtub perched precariously above the forest canopy, where bath bubbles and valley views felt like the height of indulgence. It’ s the sort of thing
Beyond the forest, the land opens into pastoral pastures edged by dark pines, with horses wandering slowly through the grass as if they’ ve forgotten what a schedule is. It’ s the kind of pastoral scene that makes city alarms feel suddenly very outdated.
Evenings arrive quietly. Sunsets glow softly over the valleys, turning everything golden before night gently settles. Fires crackle at the lodge, cabin lights glow, and conversations soften. Silence feels comfortable.
When we eventually left Hogsback, bags packed, hiking shoes dusty, hearts a little lighter, we headed towards Coffee Bay, feeling as if we were walking on extra oxygen. The pure forest air had worked its magic. It made perfect sense that Hogsback draws nature lovers, reset seekers and anyone looking to switch off.
People don’ t come here on busy days; they come to unwind, breathe deeply and press reset. Hogsback doesn’ t try to impress you. It simply lets you be. And sometimes, that’ s exactly what you need. IB
FEBRUARY 2026 / INBOUND SA 71