HIKING & SLACKPACKING TRAILS
"My father considered a walk among the mountains the equivalent of churchgoing" – Aldous Huxley
For many people, walking is one of the greatest pleasures in life. Being surrounded by unspoilt beauty and hiking with a few close friends and family is a wonderful way to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. In South Africa we are lucky to have a vast range of mountains, valleys and coastlines that hold incredible hiking, trekking and backpacking opportunities.
Active Escapes offer walking holidays in the Drakensberg Mountains, the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, the Eastern Cape Highlands, Kosi Bay and along the entire length of the Wild Coast. Whether you're keen to summit lofty high altitude peaks in the famous Berg with Cape Vultures cruising the thermals, or have your sights set on days of warm weather walking in the Transkei with lunch time dips in the sea; Active Escapes will set your feet moving in the right direction.
Some of our most popular offerings are the Active Escapes' 'slackpacking' trails. Slackpacking is the no mess, no fuss version of overnight hiking! If you're the kind of person who loves to walk, but would rather not have to haul a heavy pack and deal with the rigmarole of camping – slackpacking is the answer. Walk the rugged paths of South Africa's mountains and coastlines, and have your bags safely transferred from one overnight stop to the next. Tasty food, cold beers, relaxed evenings and days of uncomplicated walking; its little wonder slackpacking is a firm favourite with our clients.
If you're a serious hiker and rather attached to priming your gas stove and setting up your tent, Active Escapes also offer traditional hiking and guided expeditions. The Drakensberg Mountains, famous for the Grand Traverse across the whole escarpment, are a truly awesome destination for local and international hiking enthusiasts. With overnights in caves, mountain huts or tents; the mystical Berg is one place you need to tick off on your hiking list.
Catering to a wide range of hiking fitness & experience, we’ll tailor-make a hiking holiday to suit your family or friends, or why not see what hikes we currently offer in the following destinations:
Slackpacking around the Kosi Lakes
Fern and swamp forests, coastal lakes, high dunes and secluded beaches. The diverse biomes on the Kosi Bay Slackpacker allow one to go
swimming with dolphins one day and birding from dugout canoes the next. This is a great hike for families and friends...
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Southern, Central & Northern Berg
The Drakensberg mountains provide lofty terrain for walkers. Our Amphitheatre Trail will get you to the top without sleeping in tents or caves, whilst the Giants Cup Slackpacker provides a more gentle amble through the foothills of the Southern Berg.
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Wilderness Trails on the Garden Route.
Make tracks off the N2 and discover the reason behind the Garden Route allure. This naturalist-led trail passes through Wilderness and Goukamma Nature Reserves and finishes at Knsyna heads. It is a fully supported & catered trail for nature enthusiasts.
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Trail in Wild Mountain Territory
The wild mountains around Rhodes and Barkly East provide a tranquil escape from fast city life. Relax with a glass of Gluhwein by a logfire in winter, or enjoy an invigorating swim in a mountain stream by summer, the Eastern Cape highlands has a bounty of pleasures to discover.
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Much more than mielie's...
Make tracks off the N2 and discover the reason behind the Garden Route allure. This naturalist-led trail passes through Wilderness and Goukamma Nature Reserves and finishes at Knsyna heads. It is a fully supported & catered trail for nature enthusiasts.
Read More »
Trailists hiking between Coffee Bay & Hole in the Wall.
A dusting of snow on the rugged peaks of the Drakensberg.
The iconic Cathedral Rock - Pondoland Wild Coast
3 Giants Cup Slackpacking Trail - Southern Berg.
