Discover the Garden Route on foot

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - South Africa’s first and only walking festival is building on its three years of growth and is getting ready to put its boots on for a fourth year.

The Hi-Tec Garden Route Walking Festival takes place over the Easter weekend, from 30 March to 2 April, with an offering of over 52 different walks between Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Nature's Valley.

Arguably one of the world's great walking destinations, the Garden Route is the ideal place to host South Africa's only walking festival, with its beautiful mountains, secret forests, cascading waterfalls, coastal cliffs, incredible beaches and world famous trails.

“Walking festivals are an ideal way to discover new places and meet new people who share a passion for the outdoors, and this festival is unique, as it involves the support and involvement of all the local communities, from volunteer walk leaders to professional guides. Our nature gems on the Garden Route are cared for by SANParks and CapeNature who are 100% behind this exciting outdoor event.

"Hi-Tec, a brand synonymous with hiking in SA, is committed to the event, which enables us to offer a wide range of walks for free and catering to all levels of fitness and adventure,” says festival founder Galeo Saintz.

A walk for everyone
And there really are walks for everyone, from slow saunters along the beach at the end of the day, to brisk walks up some of the region's highest peaks, such as George Peak and Peak Formosa in the Tsitsikamma. Some of the traditional walks include the Brown-Hooded Kingfisher Trail or Circles in the Forest Elephant Walk, and for the more intrepid, there is a Nature’s Valley to Plett Walk.

A collection of festive walks such as the Fancy Dress Masked Walk at sundown, or the Inner Magic walk for kids, promise great fun with friends and family. A highlight for the kids is the Coastal Pirate Walk and Treasure Hunt on Easter.

The extensive programme also includes many unusual walks, such as the Walk with Poetry and the Yoga Walk. For those with an adventurous spirit, the Naked in Nature Walk is on offer again, and is a chance to experience nature au naturel.

Adding to the selection is the Moonlight Meander, a favourite among festivalgoers, as is the Game Walk, which includes viewing wildlife such as giraffe, bushbuck and bontebok.

The walks are all led by local walk leaders who know the region and the local secret spots, be it for swimming or insights into the area’s rich history.