The Fynbos Trail Budget Option

Stanford, Gansbaai

Note:

This option is available for select weekend dates and is not available over long weekends. Minimum group size of 6 required for this option and 8 over weekends. (If you book for 8 you will have the trail exclusively for your group, any group smaller may have others joined to it.

Why the Budget Option

Access – Exclusive access to the Fynbos trail through the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy’s fynbos and forests.

Sleep Well – One night’s accommodation at Fountain Bush Cottage on Witvoetskloof and the second night’s accommodation at Cone Bush Cottage on Witkrans Nature Reserve.

Cook – Both houses are fully equipped

Slackpack – All luggage transfers

Trail includes:

Three-day hike with exclusive access to the Fynbos Trail through Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy fynbos and forests
One night’s accommodation at Fountain Bush cottage on Witvoetskloof and the second nights’ accommodation at Cone bush cottage on Witkrans Nature reserve. Both houses are fully equipped.
All luggage transfers
Total hiking distance for standard trail is approximately 29 km.

Itinerary

29km

Day 1

Day 1 which is a three hour walk that covers 6.6 kilometers from Growing the Future at Steynsbos Farm to Fountain Bush Cottage at Witvoetskloof. The trail meanders through an amazing diversity of habitats including coastal strandveld, enchanting milkwood forests, limestone and mountain fynbos. On arrival at Witvoetskloof you can put your feet up and relax or take a swim in the beautiful dam. Cottage is fully equipped and ready for hikers to do their own catering. Firewood and a wood fired pizza oven and braai area available.

Day 2

Day 2 starts with a walk down the Witvoetskloof Valley to a beautiful indigenous forest and waterfall. The trail then climbs up through the limestone fynbos clad hills to the summit of Grootberg with 360° panoramic views of the Overberg and oceans. From the summit the trail zig-zags down to Stinkhoutsbos Forest on Flower Valley (a perfect spot for a picnic lunch under the shade of the forest trees). After lunch hikers head through the magnificent Flower valley with the opportunity to swim in the flower valley dam to their evening accommodation at Witkrans Farm and a soak in the wood fired hot tub. 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

Day 3 Leaving Conebush cottage on Witkrans, the trail traverses around Wtkransberg and up the Baviaansfontein valley through patches of indigenous forest and rare limestone fynbos. On exiting the valley, hikers have the option of either summiting Swartkransberg or traversing around the peak on a contour path. The trail then heads back down to the cars at Steynsbos.

This is a 9 km walk that takes about four hours from Witkrans to Steynsbos.

Rates:

BUDGET OPTION (Option 3) – Self-guided, uncatered slackpacking option

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.