It's official: Robberg hiking trail among the best in the world

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Anyone who has taken in the breathtaking sights along the Robberg Nature Reserve hiking trail in Plettenberg Bay, will attest that it is probably one of the most spectacular hikes in the world, but this sentiment is now official.

The travel adventure company Explore! recently compiled a list of the best hiking trails in the world and Robberg became one of only two South African trails that made the list.

According to Explore!, the trails were evaluated according to their length, elevation, duration to complete, weather, and "Instagrammability".

The Robberg Nature Reserve hiking trail offers various options in terms of distance, with a loop to the Gap and back to the parking lot being about 2km. There is also a 4km option which includes a walk to the Witsand sand dune, down to the Island and back.

For the more adventurous at heart, the round trip via the Point is about 11km and takes four hours or more to complete.

These routes offer breathtaking views of the ocean, glimpses of great white sharks patrolling the waters, whales, a seal colony and an array of fauna and flora. It is also steeped in history with traces of human habitation dating back more than 100 000 years. The Robberg trail came in at number 27 while the other South African trail, Cecilia Forest in Cape Town, featured at number 29.

Vast marine and other wildlife can be viewed at Robberg Nature Reserve hiking trail.

The travel company crowned the Perito Moreno Glacier Trail in El Calafate, Santa Cruz, Argentina, as the best hiking trail in the world. Explore! also compiled a list of the top hikes in Africa and here Robberg took the second spot, while Cecilia Forest clinched third place.

Morocco's Berber Villages in the Atlas Mountains took the top spot.

CapeNature chief executive Dr Razeena Omar said it is an honour to receive global recognition. "We are proud to have played a role in the management and protection of this iconic trail and look forward to welcoming even more visitors to experience its wonders. This recognition further highlights the importance of eco-tourism in driving economic growth while promoting environmental conservation," Omar said.

Bitou Mayor Dave Swart said this was another accolade for Plettenberg Bay as it strived to be among the best tourism destinations in the world. "The Bitou Municipality's vision is 'to be the best together' and we believe that through our collective efforts we can achieve so much more.

"Eco-tourism is another niche market that gives us a competitive edge. We must continue to work with our partners and stakeholders to manage these effectively in order to establish Plettenberg Bay as a top eco-tourism destination in the world," Swart said.

'Instagrammability' is one of the criteria