ADVENTURE
INVEST IN GOOD GEAR Footwear On a trail like Amatola, bad shoes are dangerous. Solid traction, ankle support, and thick soles are nonnegotiable. I used Adidas Terrex AX3 shoes with Versus trail socks – great grip and flexibility. The older AX2s were tougher, but the AX3s win for comfort on long days.
Backpack For a six-day hike, go for a 55L + pack with cushioned straps, a waist belt, and hydration sleeve. My old First Ascent pack held up well, though it’ s ready for retirement. If I repeated the trail, I’ d choose one with better back airflow.
Lighting A strong headlamp is a must. My Fenix HM65r-RT was brilliant – multiple brightness modes, solid battery life, and comfortable enough to wear for hours. I used it nightly, even during a small rescue mission, and it barely needed recharging.
Water Bladder Hydration can make or break you. Streams are plentiful but unpredictable, so I recommend a 3-litre bladder. Those extra sips matter.
When we finally walked back into Hogsback – dusty, sore, and grinning – we treated ourselves to local gelato and souvenirs. We’ d done it: 106 kilometres of sweat, laughter, and sheer stubborn joy.
THINKING OF TAKING ON AMATOLA? Pack Light Overpacking is the classic rookie mistake. Every extra item feels heavier with each climb.
Train Hard Start months before. Strengthen your legs, back, and core – your future self will thank you.
The Amatola Trail is not just a hike – it’ s a rite of passage. Six days of pain, beauty, laughter, and silence. It breaks you down and builds you anew.
Yes, it’ s tough. But it rewards you with over a hundred waterfalls, ancient forests, and moments that reset your sense of what’ s possible.
When you finally take that last step back into Hogsback, you realise it was never just about conquering a trail. It was about discovering what you’ re made of.
Trekking Poles If you’ re on the fence, just buy them. Mine were a R650 carbon-fibre set from Temu – light, sturdy, and now my favourite gear. They’ ve saved my knees more times than I can count.
Power Bank No huts have electricity. My 50 000 mAh power bank from Takealot( R550) lasted the full six days, keeping my phone, camera, and headlamp charged.
Day 5: Mnyameni → Zingcuka Hut( 19,4 km) By now our bodies had adapted. We crossed ridges under the Eastern Cape sun with baboons echoing in the valleys. Zingcuka Hut was a forest gem – open-air dining, a fireplace, and, miraculously, the option to order pizza from the Green Dragon Café. After five days of trail food, that hot pizza felt like fine dining.
Day 6: Zingcuka → Hogsback( 16,5 km) The final stretch carried a bittersweet weight. I was eager to finish, yet reluctant to leave the quiet rhythm of the mountains. Mist forced us to skip the Hobbit Route, taking a gentler forest path instead. A short detour to the Madonna and Child Waterfall offered a final moment of awe.
48 | SUMMER 2025 / 26 • rovesa. co. za