Amatola Trail
Often referred to as the toughest trail in South Africa, the Amatola Trail is worthy of other superlatives too. It’s the forest paths – full of tiny luminescent ferns, moss-covered trees, and a canopy of leaves that form a ceiling above the verdant cavern – that I remember most. Each day promises 10 hours of descending and ascending ahead, through lush valleys and up to the flower-strewn grasslands and peaks of the Amatola Range. This is a grueling, self-guided trail and you have to take everything with you. Should something go wrong in this remote mountain wilderness, it’s a long way back to civilization.
Type: Backpacking with huts
Duration: 6 days
Distance: 100 km
Cost: From R2000
Pondo Trail
I believe that if the world knew about this trail, it would be on every hiker’s wishlist. It’s the wildest part of the Wild Coast, from Mtentu down to Manteku, with rivers meeting the shore every two-and-a-half kilometers, on average. Every day is different, a mixture of beautiful grasslands, ravines, a shelf section, a cliff section, and a string of lovely beaches. Waterfall Bluff, a rare phenomenon of waterfalls tumbling into the ocean, is the most picturesque section but it’s all breathtakingly beautiful. And to make it even better, this hike with Wild Child Africa is fully catered, featuring local seafood, cold G&Ts waiting for you at the end of the day, and local, knowledgeable guides.
Type: Slackpacking with tented huts
Duration: 5 days
Distance: 100 km
Cost: R10 500 pp (Sold out for 2021, but bookings open for 2022)
What is the most popular hiking trail in South Africa?
Otter Trail –
1. Otter Trail – Garden Route, Western Cape. The Otter Trail is considered South Africa’s most popular hiking trail, and one of the best for serious hikers.
What is the highest mountain to climb in South Africa?
Mafadi
Mafadi is a peak on the border of South Africa and Lesotho. At a height of 3,446.1 meters (11,306 ft), it is the highest mountain in the nation of South Africa but is lower than Thabana Ntlenyana, the highest peak in Lesotho which is, at 3,482 meters (11,424 ft), the highest point in Southern Africa.