GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - According to the Hiking Organisation of Southern Africa, the body that grades walks, Green Flag status is a global benchmark for hiking trails examining the following criteria: conservation status, health and safety measures, cleanliness and maintenance, sustainability, management and erosion control.
Out of the 18 hiking trails with Green Flag status in the Garden Route National Park, the Tsitsikamma section boasts a whopping 12, four are in the Wilderness section and two around Knysna.
KNYSNA WALKS
Perdekop
- 9,5km
- Difficulty: moderate.
- Route markers: a yellow emblem of a horse's head engraved on blocks of cherry wood.
- No swimming here please, as this is drinking water for the area.
Elephant Walk
- 9,5km (black); 8km (white); 7km (red)
- Difficulty: reasonable fitness is required.
- Walks are weather permitting.
- Incredible scenic walk meandering through the park at elephant pace.
- Panoramic views of the Outeniqua Mountains and Knysna forest.
Harkerville Coastal Hike
- 24km (two days)
- Difficulty: extreme for heights, trails, walkways, ladders, hills.
- View of the Indian Ocean.
- Kranshoek picnic area.
- Water is available from nearby streams.
FOREST WALKS
Jubilee Creek
- Relatively unchallenging walk through pristine Tolkienesque wonderland along the river.
- Refreshing waterfall and tranquil forest pool at the end.
- Walk past historic mine excavations.
DrupKelders
- Steep decline (and ascent) – difficult.
- Series of fresh pools and waterfalls.
Half-Collared Kingfisher Trail
- 9,5km.
- Difficulty: a little strenuous in the beginning but it does get easier.
- Shady walk through the forest.
- Knysna loerie, giant kingfisher and the fish eagle. You will see the yellowwood trees.
Woodville Big Tree
- 2km.
- Delightful designated picnic areas.
- Wheelchair-friendly walkways through the forest.
Circles in the forest
- 3,1km and 9km
- Named after award-winning book, Circles in a Forest by Dalene Mathee, set in Knysna.
- Sky-splitting yellowwood marks the start.
- Difficulty: easy to moderate.
- Follow the plastic route markers.
- Water in the streams is drinkable.
Pied Kingfisher Trail
- 10km
- Difficulty: easy to moderate.
- Bird-watching.
- Flat circular route.
- It is an open trail with no shade.
- Combines with beach.
- Walk along the beach to Wilderness Village and back to camp.
Brown-Hooded Kingfisher Trail
- 4,1km
- Difficulty: easy.
- Forest that leads to the river.
- Popular for bird watching.
Cape Dune Mole Rat Trail
- 6km
- Difficulty: moderate.
- Very sandy trail.
- See fynbos and beautiful proteas from up close.
- Circular route with no shade.
PLETTENBERG BAY
Plettenberg Bay and surrounds are known for its natural beauty and the best way to experience it is through hiking. The town does not disappoint on this front, with many marvellous options, from beautiful stretches of golden beaches to forests, mountains and spectacular fynbos.
Kranshoek coastal walk
- Features forests, pine plantations, fynbos, coastal areas and a rocky beach.
- Two options (3km or 9km) which would take hikers between two and five hours to complete.
Robberg Nature Reserve
- Features coastal escarpments, geological highlights and fynbos.
- One of the only places in the world where one can witness Great White sharks from land and is also a magnificent viewpoint to witness other marine life including dolphins and whales.
- Home to a large Cape fur seal colony.
- Tackle one of three circular routes ranging from 2,2km to 9,2km and degrees of difficulty.
Nature's Valley network
- Features mountain scenery, fynbos, beautiful coastline and indigenous forests.
- The network has several trails ranging in difficulty and length. Information about all of these, including information about the fauna and flora hikers are likely to come across, is available at the De Vasselot campsite.
- A popular option is the Salt River mouth where hikers can cool off and have a picnic. The Kalander Kloof trails lead hikers along magnificent big yellowwood trees. The area is a bird watcher's paradise.
Storms River Mouth trails
- Features forests, fynbos, caves, a suspension bridge and rugged coastline.
- There are four day-walks including the mouth trail (1km each way), the waterfall trail (3km each way, the Loerie trail (1,5km circular route) and the Blue Duiker trail (5,5km circular route).
- Special places of interest are the "strandloper" cave, the famous bridge, the waterfall and the fynbos garden. It is also the beginning of the world-famous Otter trail.
Robberg. Photo: EL Rorke Photography
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