The 5 Best Hikes In South Africa To Add To Your Bucket List
A few of us are arguing about not only the best hikes in South Africa, but the best sections. Can you help?

September 16, 2011

best hikes in south africa lion's head hike

Peter Frost has travelled South Africa extensively which has allowed him to discover which are the best hikes in South Africa (in his opinion, of course).

Related: 7 Tips From A Travel Writer To Guarantee Stress-Free Travel

That’s why he did a bit of a vox-pop with some hiking buddies and they came up with these five top hike moments for you so you can out their and take a hike, literally!

1. Swellendam Trail Goedgeloof hut to Protea Valley

If you want fynbos and mountain splendour, there’s no better place.

Check out CapeNature for more info.

2. Otter Trail Scott Hut to Oakhurst

A natural tea-black plunge pool hangs on a cliff edge of a forest high above the breakers – one of the best “pools with a view”. The Otter Trail is 45kms and takes 5 days to complete and it’s one of the most sought-after trails in South Africa.

For more information check out SanParks.

Related: The 5 Best Local Adventures From A Guy Who Travelled SA For 3 Years

3. Amatola Trail Mnyamnei to Zingcuka

You encounter a series of forest-enclosed waterfalls and pools, one after the other, each one better than the previous.

Head here for more information.

4. Drakensberg

Sleep in one of the caves and wake up on the edge of the escarpment with the sun gilding the cloud below you. The best is Ledgers.

Keen to hit the hills of KZN? Henk Brand, The Secret Adventurer, shows you how to plan a guy trip to hike the Drakensberg Mountains.

Related: This Otter Trail Legend Showed Us How To Prepare For A Trail Run

5. Garden Route Hike

Head to Gericke’s Point, near Sedgefield Huge, with its wide untouched beach, protected pool to swim in and dolphins just beyond the rocks.

For more information, head here.

If you’ve chosen which of the best hikes in South Africa to tackle next you’re of course going to need some snacks to keep you going. Check out the best superfoods to take on your next trip.