Hiking and Day Walking Trails

A birding and hiking paradise

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yQrVXe3iYmU

Plett Surf ‘n Turf Trail:  Base camp style slackpacking holiday we suggest 4 nights/4 or 5 days 

The trail offers a fantastic choice of day hikes with various options all located around Plettenberg Bay. There is  a wonderful “menu” of trails which vary both in length and difficulty with options for all levels of fitness.

It has been developed to give the hiker a wilderness experience of coastal surf as well as forest turf. The days are interchangeable so that guests can choose forest hikes or coastal trails depending on the prevailing weather conditions. There is the option of accredited guides as well as transfers with licenced operators to start and pick up points.

The main attraction of this “base camp slackpacking” option is not having to pack up every morning, the flexibility of the options for hiking, a laundry service and the onsite expertise of the live-in owners.

Perdekop hiking trail
Perdekop hiking trail
Amphitheatre hike
Cave on the Amphitheatre hike
hiking holidays
Hiking holidays Cairnbrogie

The entire region is a birders and hikers paradise – indigenous rain forest, coastal wetlands and forest trails, Fynbos mountain vegetation, river estuaries, coastal hiking, waterfalls and rock pools. There are experienced tour guides offering a variety of experiences.

The Robberg Peninsula

By far the most popular with hikers, is a nature reserve and national monument that lies to the south of Plettenberg bay. The ecology of the Robberg Peninsula is similar to that of other rocky headlands and promontories on this coastline. It presents a fine example of how plants and animals adapt to the interacting influences of land and sea. The Reserve offers a choice of three circular routes of increasing difficulty with distance: a short and comparatively easy 2.2 kms; a more difficult 5.6 kms and more challenging 9.2 kms.

The Garden of Eden Forest Walk

Alongside the N2 between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay is a very short, pleasant walk of 1 km offering a good introduction to the forests.

Kranshoek Coastal Trail

Offers a choice of two circular routes, 4kms or 9 kms. Fairly rough terrain is covered, offering magnificent views of the coastline, passing through forest, pine plantation and Fynbos, along a beautiful rocky beach and climbs an escarpment overlooking the sea. The beauty of this walk lies in its variety and the magnificence of the scenery.

Nature’s Valley

A small village situated at the mouth of the Groot River at the bottom of the pass alongside the Groot River estuary forming part of the Tsitsikamma De Vasselot nature reserve offering a network of trails traversing a wide diversity of geographical features – sea, lagoons, estuaries, Fynbos, forests, valleys and mountains. This is where the Otter trail finishes and numerous day hikes are possible including the Salt River to secret beach, Kalanderkloof and Groot river lagoon.

Tsitsikamma

“Place of abundant or sparkling water”, where cold and warm currents meet and mingle to create an immensely rich variety of underwater species. This enchanting area is covered in large tracts of indigenous forest, commercial plantation, Fynbos and is rich in animal and bird life. Deep river gorges cleft the plateau as they make their way down to the sea, creating spectacular waterfalls and deep kloofs. The Tskitsikamma National Park encompasses a marine reserve made up of 80km of rugged coastline and offers the visitor magnificent scenery, walks and numerous hiking trails including a lovely walk to the waterfall which is the first day of the famous Otter Trail.

Also within the Plett area there are the Cairnbrogie, Robberg Coastal Corridor Amphitheatre and Perdekop hikes.

Closer to Knysna Diepwalle is worth a visit for the three Elephant hikes as well as Jubilee Creek, Terblans, Drupkelders and Circles in the Forest. Just outside Knysna is the spectacular Brenton to Buffels Bay beach walk and the Goukamma hiking trails. Near the Tsitsikamma toll gate is the Stinkhoutkloof hike.

https://www.baysidelodge.co.za/hiking-holidays/bayside-lodge-now-offering-base-camp-style-slackpacking-hiking-holidays/

http://www.gardenrouteadventureguide.com/day-hikes.html