Multi-day Trails
- Fully catered overnight hiking trails
- Comfortable accommodation
- Clean ablutions and warm showers
- Overnight luggage transported (you carry day packs only)
- Trained and experienced guides
- Logistical support & planning
South Africa is hiking country, with numerous multi-day, overnight trails. Many of these require full hiking gear, with backpacks and the necessity to carry your own food and equipment. The best known of these is probably the five day Otter Trail, but there are many weekend excursions.
Over the last 15 to 20 years a different type of trail has emerged that we like to refer to as ‘Slackpacking’. These are trails that have a higher level of comfort and avoid having to carry a heavy backpack. The hiking is not always easy, although it can be – it's on these trails that we focus.
Clarens San Traverse
Discover the best kept secrets of the Eastern Free State. Situated between the bustling art village of Clarens and the craggy sandstone Maluti mountains, this slackpack offers the unique combination of high berg wilderness and cultural treasures. The area, famous for its landmark San paintings, well-preserved dinosaur fossils and intriguing African folk lore tales,…
Fossil Hills Wine Walk
Wine walks and fresh air. What could be better? Add in McGregor culture, a trained guide, and visits to local wine farms. Explore fossil hunting on Fossil Hills farm. With all accommodation and meals provided and you’re guaranteed to have a fun and relaxing three days made in heaven. Hike a moderate 10-15km a day with friends or join a group and make new friends…
Helderberg Heritage Trail
The Helderberg Heritage Trail is a 4 day guided trail in the beautiful Helderberg basin. Accommodation is in a luxury lodge, situated on a 600 acre country estate. The trail includes historic sites, walking through pristine fynbos and and vineyards, enjoying fabulous views, stopover at a famous local artist and visits at world renown wine estates…
Walker Bay Diversity Trail
Where adventure meets luxury: The Diversity Trail is based at the magnificent Bellavista Country Place with luxury en-suite bedrooms, a rim-flow pool, delicious meals and spectacular views over Walker Bay. The trail offers daily guided walking excursions to explore the glorious fynbos , forests, dunes, caves, coastline, wines and botanical art of the Walker Bay…
De Hoop Trail – Vlei to Whales
The “De Hoop Trail – Vlei to Whales” promises a memorable walking experience with up to +-38km covered over 4 days! Experience the wonder that is De Hoop Nature and Marine Reserve, first-hand and retreat into comfort every night at De Mond Villa alongside a spectacular Vlei rich in birdlife. Walk and experience the natural and cultural history of the De Hoop Nature Reserve…
theLAB Robertson Walk, Wine and Wellness Retreat
Based at theLAB Robertson, luxury Cape Dutch style guesthouse, the trail is located in the charming rural area of Klaasvoogds West. theLAB Robertson Walk and Wine Trail is a 3 day guided hike that gives guests an opportunity to discover this magnificent area on foot. Explore the part of the Breede River Valley, between Robertson and Ashton at the heart of the R62 Wine Route…
Leopard Trail – Baviaanskloof
The Leopard Trail is understandably becoming one of the most popular trails in the country. The route provides one of the rare opportunities to walk in the Biviaankloof Wilderness Reserve, spending 3 nights in the rustic comfort, in the magnificent setting of the majestic kloofs. The basic trail is a self-catered slackpacking option where we provide the added value of a fully catered…
Gifberg Farm Camping and Hiking Trails
Close to the Northern Cape border, south of Vanrhynsdorp and the flower region of the Matzikamma, lie the Gifberg Mountains. They stand out from the surrounding plains, but only once you start driving up the Gifberg Pass, do you get a sense of the scenic beauty of these impressive crags. Over the top of the pass you will find the Gifberg Holiday Farm…
Wild Coast – Hotel Hopper
Walk the lower section of the magnificent Wild Coast, along some of the most unspoilt and picturesque sections of our coastline. Long sandy beaches, rocky points and cliffs, beautiful lagoons and coastal forests, characterise this section of the Eastern Cape, north of East London. This iconic and popular trail ends each day with a comfortable hotel stay…
Giants Castle Slackpacking Trail
Explore the Drakensberg foothills without the burden of a backpack walking from lodge to lodge, having your luggage transported for you and looking forward to excellent 3 course meals. The Drakensberg Slack packing trail is a luxury hike offering comfortable and varied accommodation experiences each night, luggage transfers and delectable catering…
Alikreukel Trail
The Alikreukel Trail runs along the beautiful stretch of coast in the Southern Cape, from Blombos, through Jongensfontein and Stillbaai. You will traverse wild, rocky shores, lonely beaches, stretches of fynbos covered coastal dunes, caves, amazing sea life and intriguing cultural heritage. Be fascinated by the mysteries of the past, while experiencing the delights of the present…
Karkloof Falls2Falls Trail
The Karkloof Falls-2-Falls 3-day slackpacking trail offers the chance to immerse oneself in the natural splendor of the KZN Midlands. If magnificent waterfalls, spectacular escarpment views and gliding on a zipline through the forest canopy gets your pulse racing, then this hike has just the right combination to test your stamina and sense of adventure. Heading off on ancient logging paths through…
Giants Cup Slackpacker Trail
The Giants Cup Hiking Trail is part of the Drakensberg Park National Hiking Way. The hike follows a clearly marked trail that runs southwards from Sani Pass in the north to Bushmans Nek in the south, the full trail being approximately 60km in length. SA Trails offers a ‘slackpacking’ version of the full hike with daily shuttles to/from the trail head and overnight accommodation…
Green Mountain Trail
Staying at the Wildekrans Country House for the duration of the trail, you are treated to top class hospitality and led by professionally trained guides with in depth knowledge of the region. Trek through pristine fynbos-covered landscape, partly within the beautiful Groenlandberg section Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve and partly on private land…
Blue Mountain Trail
The Blue Mountain Trail is a three day slackpacking trail, starting in Bot River, traversing pristine fynbos wilderness, forests, private farm land and crossing parts of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, on the south side of the Elgin Valley. The vistas from the Perdeberg Mountain over the Palmiet River and Kleinmond estuary are up with the most magnificent of the region. The accommodation…
Fynbos Trail
The Fynbos trail is a unique nature experience in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom that can be undertaken as a fully guided and catered slackpacking trail or as a self-guided and catered trail. This trail, just two hours from Cape Town and close to Hermanus in the Overberg, has a two, three or four night option, if you include the coastal add on. The trail takes hikers along a beautiful route…
Cederberg – Dwarsrivier Trails
The Cederberg Wilderness District is a vast area stretching roughly 400 km South to North and varying from 50km to 200km West to East. There are numerous hiking routes that very often link up with each other, covering the entire terrain, some of which are on private land and some of which are reserve territory, managed by Cape Nature. Two of the most popular trails are…
Whale Trail
The Whale Trail is one of South Africa’s iconic trails, with bookings opening a year in advance. Situated in the De Hoop Nature Reserve, the is operated by Cape Nature. The route starts with a trek up the Posberg Ridge, with the first two days inland and the last three days along the coast. Whale sighting are frequent between July and November…
Table Mountain Trail
The Table Mountain Trail provides a rare opportunities to spend the night in comfort, high up on the slopes of Table Mountain. The Overseers Cottage, situated on the ‘Back’ Table of the Mountain is a fully serviced overnight facility where we gather around the fire to enjoy a traditional South African ‘braai’ (barbeque). It is a 2 day / 1 night hike that starts in the world renown Kirstenbosch Botanical…
Oukraal Trail
The Oukraal Trail is a unique and little known trail in the Gamkaberg Mountains close to Calitzdorp, off the R62. It is an out and back trail through the Tierkloof Valley and emerging high on the top of the Gamkaberg Ridge with views over the Outeniqua Mountains to the east and the Swartberg to the west. The overnight accommodation at the start is in ‘glamping’ style tents in the Gamkaberg…
Oystercatcher Trail
One of the first ‘slackpacking’ trails established in South Africa, the Oystercatcher Trail is a superb coastal walk, varying from cliff paths to beach and spectacular sand dunes. The hiking is generally easy going over moderate distances, although a good level of hiking fitness is recommended. Hikers return to the same accommodation each evening having covered a different section of the coast…
Chokka Trail
Cape St Francis is probably best known as a surfing and holiday village, what is not so well known is that it is the centre of the Squid (Chokka) fishing industry in South Africa. It starts with a fairly testing but fascinating walk over the extensive inland dune fields before joining up with a coastal path that passes through Cape St Francis and finishing in the St Francis Bay village and marina…
Baviaans Camino
Traversing one of the most remote and magnificent valleys in the country, this trail is a ‘must do’ for any ardent hiking enthusiast. The hills are steep and the valleys are deep but the route follows mainly old farm roads and jeep tracks. It is an isolated area where the hiker can feel at one with nature and there is opportunity to walk alone or interact with other hikers. The accommodation is rustic…
Scheduled Multi-day Trails
Here you'll find any scheduled trails that you can join. Trails may be booked up to one year in advance, so be sure to scroll ahead using the arrows on the left to find if there are any available.
If you would like to enquire about alternative dates, please complete the form below and you will be contacted. Alternative trail dates may be scheduled when someone makes an enquiry, and confirmed once the minimum numbers are booked.
Featured Trail
The Red Cederberg
The Red Cederberg