15 of the best hiking trails and walking trails in South Africa
South Africa is one of the countries that take pride in being a tourism hub. The country is endowed with the most spectacular sceneries. The country also boasts of having the most breath-taking landscape that stretches throughout the country. The hilly landscape in the country is one of the gems that the country is glad to have. They offer the best hiking trails for the individuals who love the sport.
Source: UGC
Are you a South African native? Do you plan on visiting the country for the holidays? How about making hiking part of your bucket list while in the country. The country has some of the most mind-blowing vistas that will guarantee the best experience and satisfy your wanderlust. The unadulterated terrain in the country will make you create the best of memories and unleash the part of you that you never knew existed. The best part about it is the fact that the hiking trails unleash the beauty and the most captivating parts in the country.
Hiking trails South Africa
South Africa is one of the countries that has mountains spread throughout the country. The hilly parts of the country provide a very adventurous opportunity for travel enthusiasts. The Cape region, for instance, is one of the most ideal places to go for the sporting activity. It has mountains whose altitudes differ, hence provide you with options on the intensity of the sport. These are the best hiking trails in South Africa that you could choose from;
READ ALSO: Things to do in Mossel Bay with your family and friends
Hiking trails in Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the hilliest places in South Africa. The terrain of the location is ideal for hiking and the related kind of activities. Small towns like Magaliesburg have the most fascinating hiking trails Gauteng. Here, you will not only experience the beauty of the landscape but also have experience watching the wild animals and plants in their habitats. These are some of the hiking trails South Africa Gauteng that you could choose from;
1. Kranskloof Hiking Trail
Source: UGC
Do you have a phobia for heights? Are you looking forward to beating your fears? Kranskloof is one of the places that you could visit for an experience of a lifetime. The hilly and rocky terrain is enough to make you grow a thick skin towards fearing heights. The awesome streams that are situated along the trail provide the most beautiful views. The rugged terrain is also ideal for you to burn the extra calories in your body. Along the way, there is a gorge in the rocky formations, how awesome is that? The 8.5 kilometres of the path is worth it, especially if you wish to explore your inner potential.
2. Krokodilberg Trail
Source: UGC
The Krokodilberg Trail is one of the most spectacular and adventurous places that an adventure enthusiast should visit. The 11.3-kilometre path guarantees a fun-filled and exhilarating experience. The adventure kicks off at the Hadeda Camp and goes all the way, meandering through the Hennops River.
The path then goes up to the hilly Magaliesburg area. Along the path, you will be able to notice the beautiful rock formation of the dolomite rocks. You will also come across a series of streams, which makes taking a dip in the water another fascinating activity that you could engage in. How else would you describe this experience if not fun-filled one?
3. Suikerboschfontein Hiking Trail
Source: UGC
Suikerboschfontein Hiking Trail is one of the places that will provide you with an experience that will be a roller-coaster. The path takes you to the grassland, all the way to the indigenous forests. Along the way, you will also come across a gorge. As you advance, you will come across waterfalls where you could enjoy an awesome experience skin dipping.
4. Uitkyk Trail
Source: UGC
This is another exciting trail in the hilly Magaliesburg region. It gives the best views of the country's landscape. Along the way, you will come across the Hartbeespoort dam. The 8.5-kilometre trail is on the grassland parts of the hilly ranges and is bound to bring out the best of the country's mountainous regions.
Hiking trails Pretoria
Pretoria is known for being home to the most spectacular tourist attraction sites. Among these sites are the awesome hiking trails that one could try. These paths have different steepnesses and lengths that one should consider before planning for the exercise. Besides that, you will be assured to have a fun-filled experience. These are some of the different locations that you could go to for hiking or walks while in Pretoria;
5. Ezemvelo Nature Reserve
Source: UGC
If you are the type that gets obsessed by the beauty of nature, Ezemvelo Nature Reserve is one of the places that you do not want to miss. The location has the best and most unique plant species. It also boasts of close to three hundred different species of birds. Imagine the spectacular view that the birds and the plants create.
Apart from the distinct view of the birds and plants, the location has the most beautiful field of grassland. The field extends to quite a large portion and gives the best view of the wild animals in their natural habitat. Some of the game that you will be sure to spot during the exercise include; giraffes, the blue and black wildebeest, Buku and waterbuck, to mention a few. This is definitely a reason why you should consider visiting the place.
6. Hedianga Farm Trail
Source: UGC
Hedianga Farm Trail is one of the most serene and diverse places that you could ever go to for hiking The location has the best vegetation that suits the activity. The location has three different vegetation types; the savanna grassland, the bushveld and the forested part. The paths in the location have been marked, hence you do not have to worry about getting lost.
Hiking along the Hedianga Farm Trail requires a level of fitness. You could also kill two birds with one stone by jogging throughout the trail.
7. Zebra Trail
Source: UGC
This is another hiking trail that starts off at the Hadeda camp and goes on for the next 6.5 kilometres near the game. It is one of the most fascinating locations since you get to ascend and descend the mountainous area and as you do so, you will experience the beautiful view of the game, especially the kudus in their wild nature. You could also try out camping while at the location.
8. Faerie Glen Nature Reserve
Source: UGC
Faerie Glen Nature Reserve is one of the most serene and most breath-taking venues for hiking. It is one of the locations with the highest and most diversified population of birds. The location is also dominated by the growing protea which thrives so well along the hillside and creates the most beautiful view.
9. Wonderboom Nature Reserve
Source: UGC
If you are the type that falls in love with the gift that mother nature has to offer, this should be your next big thing. The location is one of the most epic and serene environments that is found near the Magaliesburg mountain. The most exhilarating part about the location is the existence of a fig tree that is more than one thousand years old. The physical features of the tree are interesting enough for you to consider going for the hike.
Apart from that, the area is also home to some of the wild animals, among them the antelopes and the guinea fowls. Another thing that will make your experience worthwhile is the presence of a man-made cave. There are also traces of pre-historic rocks along the way that are another centre of attention. It is one of the most sought hiking trails in Pretoria.
10. Pretoria national botanical gardens
Source: UGC
This is one of the most spectacular places in the city. It is situated on a piece of land that has an estimated size of about 76 hectares. Besides the beautiful flowers that are associated with this location, there are several nature trails that provide the best views for exploring the beauty of the botanical gardens. This is one of the most interesting hiking trails Pretoria.
Other trails for hiking South Africa
The rest of the country has some of the most hidden gems that you could try out for hiking. These places are distributed across the whole country and have the most breath-taking sceneries that will make you appreciate the beauty of nature. These are the different locations that you could consider while choosing the most suitable location for hiking;
11. Amatola hiking trail
Source: UGC
Amatola hiking trail is situated in the Eastern Cape region. The path starts at the King William’s Town and goes all the way to the highlands in the Amatola mountains situated in the Eastern Cape region. Along the path, there are some of the most beautiful waterfalls that you will fall in love with, and even enjoy a dip in the water. Along the path, there are some of the most indigenous forests.
The path from the start of the trail to the peak of the mountain is roughly 100 kilometres which one can cover within six days. Climbing the Amatola mountains could be one of the most adventurous things to do.
12. Magoebaskloof hiking trail
Source: UGC
The Magoebaskloof hiking trail is a 60-kilometre path that is not so steep. The path is situated along the Limpopo region which is densely forested. The path is located in an area that is dominated by eucalyptus and gum trees. The trees are so tall and join the canopies in the upper side, making it look like the tropical forest that it is. The whole hiking experience for this location goes on for a whole five days, how adventurous is that? Before considering this experience, it is wise for one to invest in the best raincoat as the region has the highest annual rainfall. Besides that, you will have the best of experience in the densely forested area.
13. Fanie Botha hiking trail
Source: UGC
Fanie Botha hiking trail is a 75-kilometre trail that is situated in Mpumalanga. The path cuts through the Komatiland forest. As hikers make their way through the Komatiland forest, they are exposed to the wide variety of bird species. Besides that, hikers are bound to come across a series of streams that have the cleanest waters. Along the way, they will also come across two of the most famous national monuments called the Lone Creek Falls and the Mac Mac. The serenity of the environs where the path is situated is worth the sacrifice. The beauty that the evergreen vegetation creates is one to die for, especially when taking a break from the hustle and bustle of life in the city.
Covering the 75 kilometres of the path will take one between three to five days, depending on the how fast one is.
14. Giant's Cup
Source: UGC
Giant’s Cup is another trail that starts from the Sani Pass all through to the Bushman’s Nek. It perfectly captures the best view of the Drakensberg hiking trail. The path winds through the hilly mountain ranges, all through to the forest, and eventually to the streams that offer the best and most spectacular views. The gradient of the path is fair, making it convenient for kids as well as pets.
15. Swellendam hiking trail
Source: UGC
Swellendam hiking trail is another breath-taking place that one could visit for a fun-filled and adventurous experience. The location offers the most admirable views of the country's richness when it comes to the beauty of the landscape. It also provides the best views when it comes to the ever-green vegetation that the mountainous regions have. If you are the type that loves flowers, the path provides the most spectacular views of the beauty of flowers.
The path is 70 kilometres. Hikers take at least six days to go through the whole hiking experience.
South Africa is one of the African countries that is a gem. It has some of the most beneficial physical features that can be turned to be the best leisure activities. Regardless of whether or not you are a fan of the activity, there is a reason that will attract you to the activity. Be it the beautiful views or the hiking South Africa experience, you are guaranteed to have the best experience. If you were wondering about where to get the ideal hiking equipment for the sport, you should consider hiking backpacks South Africa for the best quality bags.
There is more to life than working. It is prudent to take a break from the hustle and bustle of life in the city. You could engage in productive leisure activities like hiking. They will not only help you build your strengths and help you overcome your fear for heights. Trying out the hiking trails in the country will also help unleash the hidden strengths that you did not know you had.
READ ALSO:
- Top touristy things to do in Magaliesburg even if you are a local
- 8 facts about Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains
- 15 interesting things to do in Clarens
- Top 20 things to do in Langebaan
Source: Briefly News
