When it comes to beautiful hikes, South Africa has a long list of destinations to choose from. If you’re tired of the hustle and bustle of city life, you can explore some of the most magnificent hikes our country has to offer. Here’re some awesome places you can explore in South Africa:
Cederberg Mountains
The Wolfberg Cracks are situated in the magnificent Cederberg mountains, which are about 300 km north of Cape Town. Hikers can explore the beautiful rock formations and even spend the night once they’ve reached their destination. Just keep in mind that it is not an easy hike so you should start this hike early in the morning to avoid the mid-afternoon heat and prepare to weave through some of the formations. There are a few easier hikes available in the Cederberg mountains.
Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve
If you’re looking for a hiking destination close to Johannesburg, Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve is definitely one of the best places to go. You can view a wide variety of birds, animals and indigenous plants and trees and enjoy various hiking trails within the 680-hectare nature reserve.
Drakensberg Mountains
The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in South Africa. It spans over 1 000 km and has a peak height of 3 482m. The mountain range stretches from the Eastern Cape in the south to Mpumalanga in the north. Choose from light walks to extremely challenging trails, such as the famous Sentinel Peak and the Tugela Falls hiking trails.
Magaliesberg Mountains
The very old Magaliesberg mountains stretch from Bronkhorstspruit Dam east of Pretoria all the way to Rustenburg in the west. The mountains contain deep gullies, quartzite cliffs, beautiful waterfalls and clear rock pools. The mountains offer various destinations for climbers and hikers.
Table Mountain
The Mother City is home to one of the most iconic mountains in South Africa. Table Mountain is one of the most scenic mountains and most visited attraction in Cape Town. It towers 1086 meters over Cape Town and is a popular tourist destination. If you’re in need of an adventure or solitude, you can enjoy a beautiful walk up the mountain. You can stroll through Skeleton Gorge, which is surrounded by indigenous forest. There are also ladders and other obstacles to enjoy while you hike. If you haven’t been to Table Mountain yet, put it on your bucket list!
Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park
The Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park is very renowned for the very popular Otter trail, which is ranked among the world’s best trails. The trail runs along the Eastern Cape coastline from Storms River Mouth to Natures Valley in the Tsitsikamma National Park. This is, however, not a hike for the faint-hearted. It takes 4 ½ days to complete and is over 42 km long. The trail has a high elevation and follows very rocky shorelines. If you’re keen to tackle this hike, just make sure you secure a booking as early as possible because bookings sell out.
Read more on hiking in South Africa:
https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/tourism-south-africa/guide-south-africas-best-beaches
https://africageographic.com/blog/10-most-beautiful-hikes-in-south-africa/
http://www.getaway.co.za/activities/hiking-activities/hiking-bucketlist-south-africa/
