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On almost every hike, I reach a point of exhaustion where I feel like my soul is about to leave my body. I no longer pretend to be fit. I stop blaming my discomfort on the hip belt of my backpack, or how tightly my boots are laced. No mental mantra c

Part-time hiking guide, climate change consultant and co-founder of hikingsouthafrica.co.za @daniapea How did you get into hiking? My parents were avid hikers. Before the age of 10 I’d already done the Harkerville Trail, the Otter Trail, the Groot Wi

It’s easy to forget how lucky we are in life. We quickly forget the good things when persistent problems threaten to drown out everything else. It’s understandable if you feel despondent about load shedding, potholes and dropped catches, but you can’

Location: Between King William’s Town and Hogsback Distance: 100 km Duration: 6 days Terrain: Through indigenous forest and over grassy hills. Lots of steep climbs and river crossings. Eight backpacks and a bunch of hiking poles are standing out ther

Location: Southern Namibia. Start point near Hobas; end point at Ai-Ais. Distance: 87 km (70 km if you take the short cuts) Duration: 5 days Terrain: Along the course of the river, over rocks and sand. River crossings when the water level is high. Li

Location: Between Storms River and Nature’s Valley Distance: 45 km Duration: 5 days Terrain: The trail hugs the coastline and goes through indigenous forest and fynbos. Expect steep climbs and steep descents, especially before and after river crossin

Location: Makhonjwa Mountains near Barberton  Distance: 26 km Duration: 2 days Terrain: Walk along the Queens and Montrose rivers in the Nelshoogte Nature Reserve. Plenty of shade, but steep uphills and downhills, and river crossings. The Queen Rose

Location: Between Grabouw and Villiersdorp Distance: 20 km Duration: 2 days Terrain: Forestry roads, dense fields of fynbos and a jeep track. There is water but little shade. It’s a Saturday just before 9am when we arrive at CapeNature’s Nuweberg off

Location: Cape Point Distance: 34 km Duration: 2 days Terrain: Stony footpaths along high cliffs Cape Point is busy; cars are pouring through the gate. I see fishing rods poking through open windows – it’s a sunny day and apparently the yellowtail ar

The Camino de Santiago is a pilgrimage route (“camino” in Spanish) to the town of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. According to legend, the remains of St James, an apostle who preached the gospel in Spain and Portugal, were buried in Galicia in Spai

Serves: 1 Preparation time: 5 minutes, plus resting time Instant oats are a breakfast staple on a multiday hike. This easy recipe can be prepared the night before so you can have an early start the next day. • 125 ml instant oats• 15 ml chia seeds• 1

There are two things to keep in mind when you pack: comfort and convenience. Comfort: Your backpack should sit as comfortably as possible, with the weight distributed correctly and no sharp objects poking you in the back. Convenience: Pack your stuff

I admit to coming late to the pleasures of walking in the wild. As for most Swazi kids, walking was a chore to me, something endured when the bus didn’t arrive. It took a trip to the Western Cape to open my eyes: a scramble up Skeleton Gorge from Kir

8 KM, MAGALIESBERG Getting to the Magaliesberg is only a 90-minute drive from Joburg or Pretoria, which makes this trail at Skeerpoort a nice outing. The trail climbs towards Shelter Rock, which is about 2,4 km from the trailhead. Scramble up the roc

4 DAYS, 54 KM (2-AND 3-DAY OPTIONS ALSO AVAILABLE) Starting at Dana Bay near Mossel Bay, this leisurely hike takes you back in time as you wander west along a wild coastline, rich in paleoanthropological sites, to the mouth of the Gouritz River. The

Walkies! One word that will rouse even the laziest lap dog. For my Schnauzer Bart and my bearded collie Ben, that word leads to chaos and excitement. The dogs often mistake the sound of car keys jangling for their leashes, and they come running with