6 of the best hiking trails in South Africa

With a limited number of outdoor activities accessible during these challenging times, there is still an opportunity to find fun and safe adventures to add and tick off the bucket list.

What makes hiking trails special is the diversity. It connects you with nature and gives you the chance to see the beauty that lies within the country. The forests, mountains, waterfalls and flora will all make you forget a little about the issues the country faces.

Here are six key hiking trails in South Africa:

High 5 Trail

This stunning High Five Trail is found in Mpumalanga on the R541, between Machadodorp and Badplaas. It is situated on the lip of the escarpment overlooking the Komati Valley and in the heart of the Skurwerberg Mountains, with beautiful waterfalls along the route.

Cape of Good Hope Trail

This trail is popular for its accessibility and the unsurpassed views over the pristine Diaz Beach and rugged western shoreline. The Cape of Good Hope trail takes you along a well-maintained and marked boardwalk towards the famous Cape of Good Hope sign, located on the rocky shoreline far below.

Queens Rose Trail

This beautiful hiking trail is tucked away among the beautiful mountains of the eastern escarpment and at the confluence of the Queens and the Montrose rivers. The trail runs mostly across Komatiland forestry land although it is run and maintained privately. It is a backpack trail and needs a moderate degree of fitness.

Chokka Trail

The Chokka Trail covers the area around the picturesque Eastern Cape coastal hamlets of St Francis Bay, Port St Francis, Cape St Francis and Oyster Bay. This trail consists of a route of up to 62km over four days and three nights and hikers are accompanied by either the trail owner or a local hiker on days two, three and four. The trail has a minimum of four people and a maximum of 16.

Swellendam Trail

This Hiking Trail is situated in the Marloth Nature Reserve. It is one of the Western Cape’s most rewarding multi-day routes. As it crisscrosses a large swathe of the Langeberg, it meanders through secluded green kloofs, vast fynbos-covered valleys and imposing mountainous terrain.

Amatola Trail

Known as ‘the toughest hike in South Africa’, the trail starts at Maden Dam near King Williams Town and crosses the Hogsback Mountains into the Tolkienesque village of Hogsback itself. Main features are the richness of waterfalls and mountain pools, as well as the ancient, indigenous rainforest - which makes up more than half the route.