What to Expect
The Diversity Trail is a five-day, four-night hiking trail, based at the magnificent Bellavista Country Place. The trail offers daily guided walking excursions to explore the glorious fynbos, forests, dunes, caves, coastline, wines and botanical art of the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy. And at the end of each busy day, you can enjoy our delicious meals, rim-flow pool, spectacular views over Walker Bay and finally relax in your luxury ensuite bedrooms.
Throughout the five days and four nights, you’ll be spoilt on this 40km hiking journey through untouched fynbos, into secret forests and along ancient coastlines. On this slackpacking trail, we’ll treat you to our locally sourced cuisine for every meal. And we’ll sip on the region’s finest wines at the end of each day.
Groups set their own pace and distances can be adjusted according to the group’s interests and capabilities. Let our experienced Diversity Trail team take care of your every.
Itinerary
Day 1
Birding adventure on the Kleinriver from Stanford.
Day 2
Fynbos, forests, and conservation –hiking the private trails of Grootbos Nature Reserve with their untouched fynbos and secret forests.
Day 3
A coastal hike along the pristine Walker Bay coastline to the world-renowned archaeological site at Klipgat Cave, with wonderful whale watching in season.
Day 4
A day on the trail where fynbos, wine, conservation, and botanical art meet. After a unique hiking, wine experience at Lomond, you’ll visit the Grootbos Florilegium and Hannarie Wenhold Botanical Art Gallery on GrootbosPrivate Nature Reserve. The day ends with a gala dinner with a fynbos botanicals twist!
Our trails are led by professional FGASA guides.
Our trail guide
Our trails are led by professional FGASA-registered trail guide, Christoff Longland, who has a wealth of knowledge about the region’s history, natural wonders, beautiful landscapes and remarkable ecology. Spending a few days with Christoff on the trail is an unforgettable and highly entertaining experience.
All-inclusive package
This is an all-inclusive package, with the exception of drinks (wine, beer, soft drinks and some spirits are available for purchase at Bella Vista) and you may wish to bring some additional snacks along for during the hike (limited snacks will be available each morning).
What’s included
- Welcome meal and drink in Stanford
- Knowledgeable, FGASA guide
- All delicious home-cooked meals -4 lunches, 4 dinners, 4 breakfasts
- Boat trip on the Stanford River
- Two local wine tastings
- Four nights’ accommodation at the magnificent Bellavista Country Place
- Large suites with ensuite bathrooms
- Rim-flow pool with magnificent views
- Entrance permits to Walker Bay Nature Reserve
- A unique vineyard wine experience at Lomond Wine Farm
- Teas, coffees, and biscuits daily
- A guided tour of the Grootbos Florilegium at the Hannarie Wenhold Botanical Art Gallery on Grootbos.
What to bring
- Walking shoes (already worn in)
- Comfortable hiking clothes
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Swimming costume & beach towel
- Waterproof poncho/raincoat (just in case!)
- Evenings can be cool so a warm jacket
- Comfortable evening clothes and footwear
- Small backpack and water bottle
Some optional items include walking sticks, camera, binoculars, head torch, gaiters and a magnifying glass for the little details.
Trail Food & Drink
All meals are prepared and made on site from fresh, local ingredients. Vegetarian options are available for all meals. Here’s a taster of the kind of meals provided on the route.
(NOTE: this is a guideline menu and is
Breakfasts
1. Scrambled eggs with continental breakfast.
2,3, 4: Quiche, French toast with continental breakfast.
Last morning: Cheese & Charcuterie platter with continental breakfast.
Lunches
1. Pizza in Stanford.
2. Homemade chicken and beef pies, vegetarian pie options, fresh garden salad, local cheese platter, homemade bread, jams and fynbos honey and fresh fruit. Homemade ginger beer, tea and coffee.
3.Packed picnic-style lunch chicken/salmon paninis, cheese & crackers, fruit skewer, tea, coffee, biscuits, water and juice.
4.Lomond Platters: including local trout, pâté, cheeses, biscuits & Lomond wine tasting.
Dinners
1.Traditional braai with lamb chops, chicken and boerewors, vegetables, salads and breads, malva pudding.
2.Soup of the day & bread, beef bredie & basmati rice, Vegetarian option: vegetable bredie & basmati rice, Tiramisu.
3.Soup of the day & fresh bread, local fish braai & salsa, potato bake, green salad & butternut in foil, meringues, berries & cream.
3.Schneider’s Cape Floral Kingdom restaurant fynbos botanical surprise.
Water provision while on the trail –the water at Bellavista is high quality potable water and safe for consumption.
Trail Rate excludes:
- Transport to and from the trail.
- Beverages other than those included in tastings.
What you need to know:
Meeting Point
- Stanford Kitchen (19 Queen Victoria Street Stanford 7210)
Meeting Time
- 13h30pm on Sunday.
- Vehicles will be self-driven to Bellavista.
- Vehicles can remain at Bellavista in secure parking for duration of the trail.
End Time
This trail is restricted to a maximum of 10 participants and starts every Sunday at 13h30 at Stanford Kitchen in Stanford.
