Alikreukel Trail, a wonderful coastal slackpacking trail in the Stilbaai, Blombos and Jongensfontein area of the Southern Cape coast.  The Alikreukel Trail offers you a guided four-day slackpacking hike – three day’s hiking along the coast and half a day of easy kayaking on the Goukou River at Stilbaai.

A three-day and two-day option is also available, as well as a SELF-CATERING OPTION, please inquire.

2026 Hiking Dates

Autumn Season

• Tues, 17 to Fri, 20 February
• Sat, 28 Feb to Tues, 3 March (fully booked)
• Sat, 21 to Tues, 24 March
• Mon, 30 Mar to Thurs, 2 April (Maybe 6 spaces open)
• Sat, 18 to Tues, 21 April
• Sat, 2 to Tues, 5 May
• Sat, 16 to Tues, 19 May
• Sat, 30 May to Tues, 2 June (fully booked)

The trail will be closed during the winter months.

Spring Season

• Sat, 12 to Tues, 15 Sept
• Sat, 26 to Tues, 29 Sept
• Sat, 10 to Tues, 13 Oct
• Tues, 27 to Fri, 30 Oct
• Tues, 10 to Fri 13 Nov
• Tues, 24 to Fri 27 Nov

Basic information:

• Number of days: Four (full trail) and shorter options
• Distance of trail:  46 km hiking; 4 km kayaking
• Difficulty: Average to easy, but the first day is rather long and tiring, with difficult terrain
• Number of hikers allowed: Minimum of 8, maximum of 14.
• Accommodation: Four nights’ comfortable holiday house type (shared bathrooms), with bedding supplied
• Meals: All meals supplied (including lunch packs with snacks for along the trail)

The Alikreukel Trail runs along a beautiful stretch of coast with wild rocky shores, lonely beaches, fynbos-covered coastal dunes, caves, amazing sea life and intriguing cultural heritage. As a variation to the hiking theme, there is also a paddle on the breathtaking Goukou River.

Besides the standard four-day hike, we also offer a three-day and two-day option on certain dates.

The 3-day option offers you either day one or day two, as well as day three and four, as described below. The 2-day option is over a weekend and offers you day one or two, and day three.

Authentic experiences during the hike:

• Listen to an archaeologist about the excavations in the Blombos Cave
• Learn more about inter-tidal sea life and fascinating facts about the octopus – and you might see one in its’ natural environment.
• See what the semi-petrified sand dunes, formed during the last ice age, reveals about local conditions back then.
• Taste a variety of olive products and become olive-wise on an olive farm.
• Learn about the importance of the Alikreukel (giant periwinkle) during early inhabitation.
• Taste the alikreukel shellfish in a starter to one of your meals.

What to take along?

You need a day pack to carry your food and drinks for the day, as well as other essential items like a windbreaker, rain jacket, sun hat, sunblock, personal medication, and a water container. A lunch pack with snacks and fruit juice will be supplied.

Day 1:

“Once upon a cave”, Distance: 13,5 km
Grading: average to difficult, with a lot of loose sand and some rough, rocky terrain in places.  People over 70 are not allowed to do this day’s hike.
Hike from Blombos private hamlet to Jongensfontein, a beautiful and peaceful seaside village, past lovely places like Skurwebaai, Pletsenbaai and Heuningnesbaai.

Features:

• Pass the Blombos cave, where stone-age people dwelled more than 70 000 years ago, with explanations on how these people lived
• Ancient shell middens with hundreds of alikreukel shells
• The impressive Blombos rock arch
• Good vantage points to spot whales and dolphins beyond the waves
• Overnight in Jongensfontein again.

Day 2:

Whales and walls”, Distance: 12 km
Grading: easy to average.
Hike from Jongensfontein to Stilbaai, past scenic places like Jongensgat arch, Noordkapper Point, the ancient fish traps and a milkwood forest in the Skulpiesbaai Nature Reserve.

Features:

• Scenic coastline with a variety of natural and cultural features
• Whale and dolphin vantage points
• Information on the sea life of the area
• Visit the ancient fish traps (a National Heritage Site), built with stones by Khoikhoi people more than 2000 years ago and get interesting information
• Walk through a milkwood tree forest
• Enjoy the best view of Stilbaai, before retiring to your accommodation, right on the beach!

Day 3:

“Up the River”, Distance: 5 km walking & 4 km paddling in a kayak:
Grading: easy walking; average paddling.
Walk to the Stilbaai Museum, view the Blombos Cave exhibition, with a talk by an achaeologist. Then get transported up the Goukou River for an hour’s paddling in kayaks. Next is a visit to a beautiful olive farm on the river banks, with olive tastings and a very special luncheon. Then you are transported back to your accommodation.

Features:

• Walk past the famous Stilbaai stilt beach houses and Goukou River mouth.
• View the excellent display on the excavations at the Blombos Cave and listen to an informative talk by an achaeologist
• Paddle in a very stable kayak up the most scenic part of the Goukou River
• Have an olive tasting, informative talk and lunch at Kransfontein, a productive olive farm.
• Enjoy some free time in Stilbaai during the afternoon.

Day 4:

“The sands of time”, Distance: 12 (or 16 km if you have time)
Grading: Relatively easy walking. Hike on the eastern side of Stilbaai from the Preekstoel towards Geelkrans (and further to Rooikrans, if desired).
This is a beach walk with fascinating scenery, totally different from the first two days. It is a there-and-back walk.

Features:

• Semi-petrified dunes, eroded into cliffs with fascinating textures and shapes
• Aeolianite formations dating from the last ice-age, with explanations of its’ origin
• Interesting eroded stones and pebbles that you will like to take home
• A unique shell midden left by the early inhabitants
• A really wild and pristine stretch of coast – you will love this walk

Rates:

2026

• R7 750.00 pp sharing (group of more than 10) – Sharing
• R8 300.00 pp for less than 11 people – Sharing
• R8 500.00 pp (group of 11 plus) – Single
• R8 800.00 pp for group of 10 or less. – Single

Self-catering Option:

• R3 700 pp (minimum 12 people).

Should you want to be an exclusive group – please arrange that with us.  The condition is that you will have to book and pay for at least 12 people at the relevant rate.

Note:

The minimum group size is 8, and maximum 14.  Small groups, couples or singles will be combined as a group if the same dates are booked.  Single room accommodation is limited with larger groups.  

Should you want to be an exclusive group, a minimum of 12 people must book and pay the relevant rate.

Admin Fee:

• R55.00 once off per reservation.