Fynbos Hiking Trial
It’s true voyage of discovery, led by a passionate, expert guide who points out the various endemics and rare species and explains that role the various birds, ants and other propagators play in the eco-system. More than 800 fynbos species have been identified along the route and, whatever time of year you walk there is always something in bloom. As you go you learn about the remarkable diversity and fascinating ecology of the proteas, ericas, reeds and wonderful bulbs, gaining an understanding of their preferred habitats and their remarkable tricks. The seeds of the local limestone pincushion (Leucospermum pattersoni) have a waxy coating that attract the local pugnacious ants, who carry the seeds to the safety of their underground nests, where ants are rewarded with nutritious seed coat as food and the seed is planted out of harm’s way until a future fire activated germination!
As you wander you begin to understand the uniqueness of this trail. Vegetation studies on Grootbos Nature Reserve have recorded six plant species that are new to science! Several plant species including the spectacular Erica irregularis which paints the hills pink in winter and early spring, and Aloe juddii, which escapes fire by finding refuge in a few of the rocky outcrops along the trail are found here and nowhere else in the world and, as you hike, you occasionally come across previously un-noticed individuals. Surprisingly, exciting stuff!
There are swimming opportunities in the dams and pools on each day and the views of Walker Bay, across to Dyer Island and over the rolling hills are stunning, but it’s not just the natural beauty that makes this trail so special. The Fynbos Trail is as much about the amazing people and stories of this fascinating region; how European settlers came to settle the farms through which you hike, how modern man has thrived along this fertile coastline and the wonderful work that Grootbos Nature Reserve and Flower Valley Conservation Trust are doing to conserve and support local communities. By hiking the trail, you contribute directly towards the conservation and social development work of the partners within the conservancy. Some of the funds generated by the trail are re-invested into clearing alien vegetation, managing fire and documenting and monitoring flora and fauna within the conservancy.
The trail starts at Growing the Future Sustainable Agriculture and Life Skills College on Grootbos Nature Reserve. Growing the Future is all about food production, growing of vegetables and fruit, beekeeping, and the principles of successful animal husbandry. In fact, most of the fresh produce enjoyed along the trail is sourced from the project.
From Growing the Future, the trail leads through coastal strandveld into the Steynsbos Milkwood forest, one of only eight milkwood forests of its type in the world, all of which are found in the Stanford-Gansbaai area. An island surrounded by fynbos, this small patch of forest contains trees that are many hundreds, if not thousands of years old and is refuge for several animals and birds not commonly seen in the fynbos. Thirty-four bird species, including Rameron pigeon, Cape Batis, African paradise flycatcher and forest buzzard have been sighted as well as a variety of mammals including bushbuck, porcupine, honey badger and mongoose.
The first night is at the very comfortable Fynbos Retreat, also on the Grootbos Nature Reserve, then on day 2 you hike down through a beautiful valley – characterised by an extra-ordinary mosaic of fynbos – into the lush, green Witwoetskloof forest. This is a different world to the open veld above. You walk on boardwalks and over bridges under the canopy of the magnificent ancient trees such as white stinkwood, wild olive, rooiels and assegai trees that line the river to a waterfall where, if you are feeling brave, you can enjoy a natural shower.
A steep climb out of the valley takes you onto the limestone hills of the Agulhas Plain. The limestone fynbos here is very uncommon so it’s a real privilege to encounter some of the rare endemic species. The path then winds up the slopes of Grootberg (which the energetic can summit) and down into Flower Valley, where wild fynbos is harvested for making bouquets for the local and export market. The afromontane Stinkhoutsbos Forest on the property was badly damaged by the huge fire that swept through the region in 2006, and, as part of the restoration work being undertaken at Flower Valley, each hiker is given the opportunity to plant an indigenous tree grown in this beautiful forest pocket overlooking Flower Valley.
After a night at Witkrans the trail ends with a short walk through more indigenous forest and fynbos-clad hills to the upmarket and superbly located, Grootbos Garden Lodge where you celebrate the end of the trail with a leisurely lunch overlooking the magnificent Walker Bay.
To really appreciate the trail, we would strongly recommend the slackpacking version on which you’re treated to great local cuisine, expert guiding and wonderful hospitality but there is also a very affordable, unguided and self-catering option which utilises the same secluded accommodation.
The Fynbos trail offers the opportunity for hikers to add an extra overnight and day on the trail to experience the magnificent Walker Bay coastline. After settling in to a guesthouse in De kelders in the early afternoon enjoy a 5km walk along the Klipgat trail overlooking the sea ending with a fascinating guided tour of the Drup Kelder Cave. The following morning after a hearty breakfast you will be joined by your experienced guide to start the 10km morning walk along the Walker Bay coastline. Between June and November each year the rocky cliffs at De Kelders are amongst the very best places in the World to view magnificent Southern Right Whales from the shore. Southern rights visit Walker Bay in this time to mate and calve. The high coastal cliffs provide a dramatic viewing site, the water below is deep and the whales are often so close you feel as if you could reach out and touch them. The scenery is also spectacular with waves crashing into the deep gullies between jagged sandstone rocks and magnificent vistas across Walker Bay to Hermanus and the distant Cape of Good Hope.
The sweeping sands of Die Plaat, the long beach between DeKelders and Hermanus stretch out ahead of you as you descend the last section of cliff past the deep Duiwelsgat, a cave that is accessible from its base at low tide. You then head down into the fascinating archaeological treasure trove that is the Klipgat Cave, a home for early people for at least the last 80 000 years. After a short section of beach walking along a stretch of pristine white beach the trail heads inland through a magnificent dune field to a pick up point from where hikers are transferred to the Growing the Future sustainable agriculture project on Grootbos Nature Reserve. Here you will enjoy a fresh, wholesome lunch before starting of the core Fynbos Trail.
Distance: 8km
Total hiking distance for standard trail is 25 km
Day 1 is a three hour walk that covers 6.6 kilometres from Steynsbos to Fountain Bush Cottage at Grootbos Environmental Centre, Fynbos Retreat
Day 2 is a 11 km walk that takes most of the day and takes hikers from the first overnight at Fynbos Retreat to the second overnight at Witkrans
Day 3 is a 9 km walk that takes about four hours from Witkrans to the finish at Steynsbos
Includes: Overnight accommodation at fully equipped Fynbos Retreat and Witkrans, two dinners, two lunches and two breakfasts, Lomond wine tasting at Witkrans, expert FGASA accredited guide for three days, planting of indigenous tree at Stinkhoutsbos Forest on day two lunch stop, fynbos gift on completion of trail and all luggage transfers. Exclusive tour to the Grootbos Florilegium and Wenhold Botanical art gallery at the end of Day 3 (the only botanical art gallery in the Southern hemisphere).
Price: R5200 per person over weekend (or including Friday and Saturday nights)
Price: R4850 per person during the week (Sunday to Thursday night)
Note: Minimum group size of 4 required for this option and 6 over weekends.
Includes: Overnight accommodation at fully equipped Fynbos Retreat and Witkrans, two dinners, one lunch and two breakfasts, (drinks excluded but you are welcome to bring along drinks and they will be transported to overnight stops and chilled for your arrival) and all luggage transfers. This is a circular route that takes hikers all the way back to the start at Steynsbos.
Price: R3850 per person over weekend (or including Friday and Saturday nights)
Price: R3650 per person during the week (Sunday to Thursday night)
Note: Minimum group size of 4 required for this option and 6 over weekends.
Includes: Overnight accommodation at fully equipped Fynbos Retreat and Witkrans (bedding and towels provided), route map and narrative and luggage transfers. This is a circular route that takes hikers all the way back to the start at Steynsbos.
Price: R1800 per person
Note: Minimum group size of 4 required for this option and 8 over weekends.
Option 3 is only available for select weekend dates and is not available over long weekends.
Total hiking distance for the coastal section is 13km.
On completion of the trail, hikers who choose to include the coastal add-on will be transferred down to the De Kelders coastline for a walk along the cliffs from Stanford’s Cove to the Drup Kelder in the afternoon. This is a beautiful walk with spectacular views across Walker Bay and the distant Cape of Good Hope. During whale season (June to November) there is a good chance of up-close encounters with Southern Right whales along
this coastline. The trail ends with a tour of the Drup kelder cave where there is an opportunity to swim in the magnificent fresh water pool inside the cave. Hikers will then be driven back to Witkrans farm for a traditional farm meal at the boma.
The following day, hikers are transported back down to the De kelders cliffs after breakfast for a coastal walk that includes a guided tour of the Kilpgat Cave, with its fascinating stories of early human occupation and then a walk along the pristine Walker Bay beach and dunes fields before transfer back to Bellavista Country House for a light lunch before departure.
Price: R2200 per person
Full slackpacking – (includes overnight accommodation at Witkrans, dinner, breakfast, morning tea, lunch at Bellavista. Permit fees for Walker Bay Nature Reserves, transfers, luggage transfers and guide).
*NB: This section cannot be done without a guide as it is very difficult to find your way through the unmarked dune fields.
** NB: The coastal add can only be added onto Monday or Friday start dates.