Immerse yourself in the bountiful beauty of Formosa Bay

About Formosa Trails

Formosa Trails is a division of Umbulelo Africa (Pty) Ltd which operates hiking trails and training of guides and other hospitality services along the Garden Route and Tsitsikamma areas in Southern Africa.

Umbulelo Africa is a newly formed local BEE-compliant company with opportunities for local participation, to provide training and employment for local guides and hospitality staff, to educate youth and uplift local communities in Tourism Areas in Southern Africa and to embrace the Sense of Purpose and SANParks Conservation = Tourism = People philosophy.

The Umbulelo Africa Mission and Objectives are:

• To provide Tourism Operators within the broader Bitou / Tsitsikamma Area with a guide service for walking trails and hospitality support services.
• To provide a conduit for trained / qualified guides living in these areas to find internships and employment with operators.
• To introduce and create a specialized guide and hospitality program for local community participation
• To approach local Tourism Operators and venues to use Umbulelo Guides and services e.g. SAN Parks, Lodges, Wine Farms and Restaurants.
• Umbulelo Africa operates in the SAN Parks Tsitsikamma, Natures Valley Parks and other private properties to conduct the following Formosa Trails guided programs.
• Guiding and Hosting of the various hiking Trails, Coastal Caminos and other activities along the Formosa Bay Coastline and through SAN Parks properties.
• To introduce a local “Ad Hoc” guiding Program with Umbulelo Guides to manage and maintain trails on SAN Parks and other properties, and to create income opportunities for the Guides, by offering a Guiding service to ad hoc hikers wishing to use existing trails in the Nature’s Valley / Groot River / De Vasselot / Kalanderkloof areas.

Enjoy Our Unique Slackpacking Experiences

A guided hike through pristine indigenous forest and coastal areas of the Formosa Bay Coastline from Storms River to Plettenberg Bay

Guided hikes through pristine indigenous forest, river and coastal areas of the Formosa Bay Coastline from Plettenberg Bay to Storms River.

Introducing Formosa Trails – slackpacking trails along the Formosa Bay coastline, for groups of between 6 and 12 people. This is the prelude to our epic Formosa Coastal Camino (previously known as the Plett Coastal Camino).

Our Slackpacking Trails provide a comfortable and safe hiking adventure along one of South Africa’s most beautiful and diverse coastlines. We provide a nature-based experience, with walking distances of around 10-12 km per day and comfortable overnight stays en route.

Guests are invited to escape into nature for a few days of rebooting and recharging to rejuvenate oneself.

Our philosophy is to uplift local communities by training and providing professional guides, who can offer clients a safe and comfortable experience, through trails in pristine forests and coastal routes. We guide and walk with minimal talk.

OUR 1,2,3 and 4-Day Trail Packages Include:

• Professional Guides 
• Interesting flora and fauna facts
• Backup services eg paramedic support 
• Picnic lunches and water    
• 3 or 4 star accommodation
• Transfers where relevant
• Meals where applicable
• For between 6 and 12 persons per trail.

Extended trails and various add-on experiences are available.

Dates

Guided Formosa Trails are available on request at any time during most seasons of the year. Ideal times would be the cooler months of the year in the Garden Route area from April to October to avoid walking in hot conditions, but there are times from June to October when rain can prevail.

Scheduled guided trails are based on mid-month trails from a Sunday to Wednesday or Thursday. However, groups of 6 or more can request other dates for a walk, which we will try to accommodate – all subject to guide and venue availability.

1 Day Trails

These are 4 to 6 hour guided trails that are designed to suit guests who wish to do a shorter more scenic trail and who are residing in, near or visiting Plettenberg Bay, in the Crags or Nature’s Valley areas.

Arrive around 09h00 at designated areas to leave vehicles at our secure parking venues for a check-in/sign indemnities and meet the guides and other guests for a brief before beginning your hike.

These trails have a medium degree of difficulty along existing trail paths and are around 6 to 8 kilometres long. Trained guides will provide regular stops for interesting fauna and flora information and offer water and support in an emergency.

Break after a few hours of walking at a scenic spot for a picnic lunch, before heading back in the afternoon to your vehicle.

Rates:

1 Day Trails

• Costs from R 649 per person per day

2 Day Trails

Arrive at Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in the Crags to leave vehicles at a secure parking venue and check-in/sign indemnities and meet the guides and other guests for a warmup Forest Walk or Tour through the Rehab Centre.

Overnight at Tenikwa with Dinner in the Boma on a Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis. After breakfast, we will transfer you to a point nearby to enjoy a 6-hour walk through De Vasselot Forest to the Salt River on the way to Nature’s Valley with a picnic lunch on the way. This walk is around 8 to 10 kilometres with a medium degree of difficulty.

After a refreshing swim at Nature’s Valley, transfer back to Tenikwa to fetch your vehicle/ transport to your next destination.

Rates:

2 Day Trails

• Costs from R2599 per person

3 Day Trails

This “Slack Packing” trail starts in The Crags with your first night there, before heading down to Nature’s Valley through the Kalanderkloof Forest and along the Groot River to overnight in a 4-star lodge on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis in Nature’s Valley on your 2nd night.

Your third day takes you on a coastal walk from Nature’s Valley along the Salt River, through the De Vasselot Forest to Forest Hall, depending on access and the degree of difficulty that you are happy with. Have a picnic lunch en route in a spectacular scenic site before heading back to the Crags to fetch your vehicle or transport to your next destination.

Rates:

3 Day Trail

• Costs from R4140 per person

4 Day Trails

For those wanting longer hiking trails, we can offer several add-on trails to our standard trails above, which will involve different distances and degrees of difficulty, including walks along the Keurbooms Coastline and other properties along the Formosa Bay coastline.

In particular – the Formosa Coastal Camino trail, which is under development, will offer seasoned hikers a 5 or 8-day unique slack-packing trail and nature-based spiritual experience.

Rates:

4 Day (or longer) Trails

• Costs to be confirmed on application and based on numbers. Itinerary details will be provided on request.

Terms and Conditions

The following general Terms & Conditions will apply to clients wishing to join one of our Formosa Trails.

• Each trail is subject to a minimum group of 6 clients and a max of 12 clients, and the organizers reserve the right to cancel, postpone or adjust these parameters if necessary.
• Rates quoted are per person sharing. A single supplement will be charged if necessary.
• A 50 % deposit to be paid to secure your space on any particular scheduled Trail.
• This deposit will be refunded or credited if there are not at least 6 clients booked on the relevant Trail/Scheduled dates at least 60 days before the Departure date.
• For every 6 confirmed clients in a group that books/confirms, the 6th Person will enjoy a 50% referral/introductory discount.
• The quoted rates above are for SADC guests and are only applicable for the launch period. International rates in US Dollars are available on request.
• All Trails are subject to availability at the participating lodges and the organisers reserve the right to move the scheduled itinerary if necessary to facilitate groups.
• Clients should be fit enough to handle approx. 10-12 km of walking per day and must declare any medical issues before booking.
• In the event of poor walking conditions, the organizers reserve the right to postpone or cancel part or all of the trail, and refund or credit 25% of the paid rate, but unfortunately booked accommodation cannot be cancelled or refunded, so the organizers will facilitate stays in each accommodation establishment and the relevant transfers on the trail for guests.
• Full Terms and Conditions are available upon request or upon booking.

Admin Fee:

• R55.00 once off per reservation.