– 137km over 10 days (8 days’ hiking) by combining the Baviaans Camino and the Chokka Trail.

Would you like to hike from the Baviaanskloof Mountains to the south-eastern most tip of Africa? Combine two popular hiking trails, the Baviaans Camino and the Chokka Trail, and you have an amazing hiking holiday of 157km over 10 days (arrival and departure dates included).

The Baviaans Camino starts in the Steytlerville District, and once over the Baviaanskloof Mountains you keep on following old roads over many more hills until you get to Kareedouw in the Langkloof. The Chokka Trail starts a mere 60km to the south in Oyster Bay and finishes in St Francis Bay.

We have set dates between March and November, and group sizes are limited to 14 people.

What do I need:

Hikers must bring their own hiking gear – a day backpack, hiking poles, a headlamp, towels and sleeping bags with small pillow. Always be prepared for extreme heat or severe cold including unexpected rain storms. Make sure what you bring will fit into a medium sized bag – clothes and extra snacks (things you feel you cannot hike without) plus energy drinks (preferably powder/mixes).

Tents (if and when necessary), mattresses and chairs will be supplied. 99% of the route has no cell phone reception. A support vehicle will accompany all groups to ensure safety and a guide will be with you at all times.

Breakfasts and dinners are cooked, and you will either receive a hearty lunch pack or will be surprised with a sit down lunch each day. The accommodation for the Chokka Trail is in guest houses and a resort, so pack a separate bag for the 4 days of the Chokka Trail – you will only need a day pack and hiking pole.

Day 1

Groups must be in Willowmore by 18h (transport not included in the rate and can be organised from Port Elizabeth or George Airport or Cape St Francis).  We all will have dinner together at the Willow Historical Guest House.

Day 2

After an early breakfast we will be transported to Nakop. The trail starts with a 400m climb over the first 4km, traversing the Baviaanskloof Mountain, followed by a 7km descent into the Kloof. Overnight accommodation is 3km further on the farm Joachimskraal in an old farmhouse. A cooked dinner is enjoyed around the fire, a well deserved treat after a challenging day!

Day 3

The trail starts through some farmland before you tackle the first short uphill of the day. Soon civilization is forgotten and you start the traverse of the Kouga Mountain Range, with unimpeded views into the Klein Kommando and Tjandokloofs. You move from thorntrees to aloes, cycads, proteas and spekboom, and 95 bird species have been counted here.

The last few kilometres into a kloof leads to Modderhuisie at Entkraal.  This venue is extremely remote and basic.

Day 4

We start off through the beautiful Koudenek Kortkloof, towards the Joubertskraal River, before you tackle the Koudnek to the highest point, a steep mountain with many false summits! Then a generous and slow reintroduction back to civilization follows, as you enter the remote farming community of Nooitgedacht.

Accommodation is in a few beautifully restored farmhouses.

Day 5

We enjoy the early morning trail again through the kloofs around the Ragels River, before we tackle the Moordenaarskloof – by now nothing to fear! We continue on the district road to Nguniland Guest Farm on the outskirts of Kareedouw.

Day 6

After another hearty breakfast we pack up and leave for Oyster Bay, a transfer and rest day at the Oyster Kaya. If you need to restock on anything, you can do so in Kareedouw.

Day 7

You will explore the coastline between Oyster Bay and Thysbaai, an out and back trail. At Thysfontein, a little beach with a holiday cottage, you might find spoor of the cape clawless otter. The trail continues past a rock gully, where if it is low tide, you can see circular rock walls in the water – it is ancient Koi-San fish traps, more than 2 000 years old.  This day is unguided and can be done in your own time at your own speed.

Day 8

We will traverse the dunes of the Sand River – a mobile dune field mobilized by wind and water. It changes from week to week, and mapping, marking or even describing this route seems impossible. The first 3km of the dune field have some steep dunes until it opens up and we follow the contours. We will walk through some wetlands, our feet might get wet and it is a challenging day – but nothing beats the feeling of conquering the Sand River! The trail stops at the Dune Ridge Country House.

Day 9

The hike starts through a beautiful section of coastal forest and coastal thicket until you reach the shoreline. Enjoy walking through this special landscape, filled with bird calls, and keep your eyes open for grey duiker, mongoose, porcupine quills, bushbuck or caracal (watch out for puffies!). Look for otters in the rock pools and keep your eyes open for Oystercatchers, Kelp Gulls, Terns, and Turnstones.

You will pass Mostertshoek, and walk along the Wild Side – so named for the untamed sea that crashes onto the rocks in spectacular fashion the length of the trail. You will see the second largest blow hole in SA, an unknown grave, the remains of the HMS Osprey that ran onto the rocks in 1867, as well as the Cape Recife (1929) before we end the hike at the Cape St Francis Resort.  You will enjoy a canal cruise before dinner.

Day 10

The hike starts at the Resort and follows the footpaths via Shark Point to Port St Francis, where your will enjoy a calamari tasting and light lunch, before you hike back to the Resort.

It will be possible to catch a late afternoon flight on day 10. The hike is fully inclusive, and you are accompanied by the owner at all times.

Contact: Esti Stewart: 073 825 0835, [email protected]