Soutpans Slackpacking Trail

A private slackpacking experience in one of the most biodiverse and aesthetically mesmerizing mountain wildlife sanctuaries.

The Western Soutpansberg Mountains in northern Limpopo, South Africa – is a biodiversity hotspot, where leopards prowl ancient forests and baobabs are silhouetted against glowing red shales and quartzites of rifted scarps.

This 3-night slackpacking hike forms part of the Old Salt Trail, from the private Leshiba Wilderness area to Mount Lajuma – the highest peak in the Western Soutpansberg and a centre of botanical and birding endemism.

This trail requires a good level of fitness and agility, as you follow game trails, traverse giant rock slabs, and boulder-hop stream beds. But without the burden of a heavy backpack, and led by our experienced guides, nature really is your playground. In true slackpacking style - cosy lodges with old world charms (think high tea and cake), and delectable bush-inspired meals, await your arrival.

  • Trip Duration3 Nights / 2.5 Hike Days
  • Daily DistancesD1: 15km     D2: 12km
  • Trail Grading3 / 5 - Fitness. A moderately good level of fitness is definitely required for this trail.3-4 / 5 - Technicality. Parts of the trail require negotiating angled rocks, boulder-hopping and stream crossings; rocky ascents and descents, and some scrambling in places.
  • Trail TerrainThe Western Soutpansberg Wilderness is a rugged, biodiverse region characterised by steep quartzite ridges, deep gorges, and ancient montane forests.
  • AccommodationVery comfortable Bush Chalets and a unique Venda-Art inspired Lodge.
  • Logistic SupportFully-catered & professionally led trail with vehicle luggage support, game drive, 4x4 collections and return-transfers.
  • Group SizeMin 2 - maximum 12 trailists
  • Pricing3 Nights / 2.5 Hike Days: R15 500/pp
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At a Glance

The Western Soutpansberg Wilderness is a rugged, biodiverse region characterised by steep quartzite ridges, deep gorges, and ancient montane forests. The area forms part of the Soutpansberg Centre of Endemism, hosting exceptional plant and animal diversity. This remote, conservation-focused area is key to scientific research and forms part of the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve.

Our slackpacking trail comprises the western loop of the Old Salt Trail going from the steeply gorged folds and ravines of the 2500 ha private Leshiba Wilderness area across to the high mountain tops of Sigurwana (5500 ha).

Due to the mountain's elevation and the microclimates that present, a mosaic of biomes occur in the area – including woodlands, savanna, cliff and rocky outcrop vegetation and expansive montane forest. Leopards, Samango monkeys, klipspringers, bushbuck, civets, and many different antelope and small mammals have made the forests, cliffs and ridges of this mountainous terrain their home.

With over 300 recorded bird species, it is a haven for twitchers, with some rare endemics too. The area also boasts a massive floral diversity from cycads to orchids, proteas to baobabs, and many endemic aloe species too.

It’s an area rich in Venda and Tsonga Arts and Culture, and truly breathtaking vistas. A multi-day hike through this northern Limpopo region promises equal measures of challenge, wonder, and reward.

  1. Day 1Arrival Day

    Self-drive to Venda Art Lodge, Leshiba Wilderness – the Soutpansberg Mountains, 36km west of Louis Trichardt, Limpopo Province (approx. 6hrs from JHB and 2hrs from Polokwane)

    Enjoy one of the many self-guided and well-marked nature trails this afternoon; or kick back on the deck and enjoy the view out over the Dulani valley, watching wildlife come to drink at the waterhole.

    This unique lodge is a creation of Art itself – with sculpted figures of mermaids, maidens and crocodiles emerging from the clay walls, whilst their five en-suite rondavel rooms open up to sculptured sun-baked courtyards.

    Overnight: Venda Art Lodge - Leshiba Wilderness (Dinner)

  2. Day 2Hike Day 1: Leshiba Venda Art Lodge to Sigurwana Lodge (15km hike / 530m altitude gain)

    Today’s hike is a true journey through time and terrain – passing ancient rock art hidden in overhangs, and walking through winding gorges carved by centuries of weather.

    After following the established game trails of the Leshiba plains (good wildlife sightings), the trail heads into the Bushman’s Medicine Chest, where your guide will show you some medicinal plants native to the region and recall the stories around them.

    A small diversion to a rock art shelter showcases Khoekhoe and San rock art and ancient artefacts, before a forested descent into the rock-strewn Hamasha Gorge. This stretch of the trail is technical, with steep angled rocks, boulder-hopping and numerous stream crossings. It is, however, incredibly rewarding with the most dramatic landscape unfolding before you. The rock pool also makes for a great tea break spot and a place to cool off.

    The trail then heads up ‘The Slabs’, big red rock slabs that slope down towards the stream; and then back into a beautiful riverine forest section where you will enjoy a welcome lunch stop. After lunch, you’ll keep a westerly bearing along a rocky trail traversing beautiful mountain bushveld. After crossing into Sigurwana, the terrain morphs into open grassland and savannah, with one last descent into a Waterberry forest gorge with a deep pool and magical waterfall. The lodge, thereafter, is a short hop and a scramble up a rocky ledge and through mountain bushveld, to be greeted with a freshly brewed cup of tea and slice of homemade cake.

    Overnight: Sigurwana Lodge (Breakfast, trail lunch & 3-course dinner)

  3. Day 3Hike Day 2: Summit Mount Lajuma (approx 12km / 545m altitude gain)

    With a light breakfast to start the day and lunch packs in hand, today’s goal is to reach the summit of Mount Lajuma, which at 1747m is the highest point in the western Soutpansberg.

    Today’s hike takes you through diverse terrain, with a steady climb and ever-changing views. A beautiful fever tree forest gives way to a ridge ascent which requires some scrambling in parts. Once on the ridge top, you’ll wind your way along a long plateau of open grasslands and forest patches. This area is a hotspot for wildlife sightings!

    The trail to the Lajuma summit, continues from the saddle up rocky and grassy slopes. Your toil, however, is amply rewarded by 360 degree panoramic views from the top – looking out across the Limpopo Valley to Botswana and Zimbabwe, and across the southern bushveld plains towards Polokwane.

    Lunch is enjoyed right at the top, where there's time to take photos, soak in the quiet, and simply BE. After a sufficient eat and rest – we’ll head back down to the saddle and take a different forested path to a backroad, where you’ll be collected by 4x4 for a relaxed game drive back to Sigurwana Lodge for your final night.

    Overnight: Sigurwana Lodge (Breakfast, trail lunch & 3-course dinner)

  4. Day 4Hike Day 3: Optional Short hike (6.5km) & Departure

    Before heading home, there’s one last chance to soak up the mountain air. After a light breakfast, guests have the option to hike to Vulture Pool, a clear, natural rock pool tucked high in the hills and often visited by the region’s iconic Cape Vultures.

    After returning to the lodge and freshening up, guests will be transferred back to their vehicles (approx 1hr transfer), leaving with memories of mountain paths, quiet moments, and untouched places. * Should you wish to make an earlier start, you can forgo this final day’s hike.

Active Photographer's Paradise

Active Photographer's Paradise

The Western Soutpansberg Mountains not only provides mesmerising scenery, but so many wildlife encounters.

Night 1 – Venda Art Lodge

The Venda Art Lodge is a testament to dreams and creativity. The footprint of the original Venda homestead was used to shape the lodge – offering five en-suite African style huts that open up to sculpted sun-baked courtyards.

Intimate and unique, Noria’s sculptures and the rondavels original footprint, give you an opportunity to experience art and village life in a ‘one of a kind’ live-in gallery.

Their gorgeous deck and swimming pool offer the perfect place to ‘settle-in’ to the rhythm of the landscape, whilst their massage hut provides the opportunity to have any lactic-acid flushed pre-trail. A fire-pit with congenial seating provides a fitting venue to toast to a good trail ahead.

Night 2 & 3 – Sigurwana Lodge

Sigurwana Lodge, built from the natural rocks, thatch and materials of its beautiful surrounds, provides an authentic and homely abode for the last 2 nights of the trail. With décor inspired by local arts and craftmanship, the lodge encapsulates the spirit of this land and her people.

There are 6 ensuite rooms, accommodating a maximum of 12 guests. So like on the first night, it will always be an intimate experience with your hike group.

Pool and congenial firepit with a breathtaking view
Pool and congenial firepit with a breathtaking view
The views from Lajuma Mountain are something to behold
The views from Lajuma Mountain are something to behold
  1. What are we likely to see?

    The Soutpansberg Wilderness is a faunal and floral biodiversity hotspot. Whilst it is not a Big-5 Reserve, the area provides a critical sanctuary for several rare and threatened animal species due to their isolation, habitat diversity, and protection under conservancies and the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve.

    The Soutpansberg supports one of the densest known free-roaming leopard populations in Africa. Its montane forests are home to the vulnerable Samango monkey and some endemic species such as the Soutpansberg Rock Gecko, which is found only in the rocky outcrops of the Soutpansberg. The elevation gradients, varied microclimates, and isolated forest patches of the Soutpansberg create a refuge for species unable to survive in surrounding savannas. It also has a bird list of over 300 species!

    It is a treasure trove to hundreds of rare, endemic, and range-restricted plant species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth . These include a high altitude aloe, one of the rarest cycads in the world – found only on a few inaccessible cliffs, and rare orchids.

  2. What sort of meals can we look forward to?

    Both Venda Art and Sigurwana Lodge pride themselves in providing Safari-style cuisine, with an authentic African twist. Your hiking efforts will be deliciously and calorifically rewarded.

  3. What is the best time of year for this trail?

    Like most of our other trips, we do not run scheduled trails. This trail can potentially be organised all year round, but it is best in the relatively balmy winter months.

    Soutpansberg is characterised by a warm wet summer and a cool (but not cold) dry winter. Daytime temps can go from 16°C to 38°C in summer, 12 - 22°C in winter; whilst the shoulder seasons Mar - April and Sept to Nov are pleasantly warm, ranging from 16°C to 26°C. Perfect hiking weather!

    The area receives one period of rainfall of approximately 340 – 500 mm per annum that begins in November and ends in March, followed by a sunny dry season from April to October.

  4. Is malaria a problem here?

    No, malaria is NOT a problem in the Soutpansberg Mountains, including areas like Leshiba, Lajuma, and the broader western Soutpansberg wilderness. Another good reason to choose the Soutpans Slackpacker as your next wilderness adventure.

  • The Soutpansberg is renowned for it diverse geomorphology, vegetation biomes and fauna.
    LimpopoSoutpans Slackpacking Trail
  • The vibrant painted reed frog thrives in the seasonally moist grasslands, riparian zones, and bushveld margins in the Soutpansberg mountains.
    LimpopoSoutpans Slackpacking Trail
  • The plains are ecologically rich, transitional zones that contrast beautifully with the rugged, forested mountain ridges. They play a vital role in the region’s biodiversity and cultural landscape.
    LimpopoSoutpans Slackpacking Trail
  • The Soutpansberg once formed part of the natural range of wild dogs, particularly the foothill savannas and plains, but sadly resident packs are no longer common, largely due to habitat loss and human conflict.
    LimpopoSoutpans Slackpacking Trail
  • The rock formations of Sigurwana rise like ancient sentinels from the earth — sculpted by time into rugged outcrops, weathered cliffs, and craggy ridgelines that tell a silent story of geological time.
    LimpopoSoutpans Slackpacking Trail
  • The rocky, grassy terrain, especially in climbing Mount Lajuma, does require a good level of agility.
    LimpopoSoutpans Slackpacking Trail
  • The rounded granite koppies stand as timeworn islands in a sea of bushveld.
    LimpopoSoutpans Slackpacking Trail
  • The Western Soutpansberg Mountains are home to one of the highest known densities of leopards in southern Africa. They thrive in the mosaic of forest patches, rocky outcrops (koppies), bushveld, and grasslands found in this region.
    LimpopoSoutpans Slackpacking Trail
  • The area is home to many rare and endemic plant species including this crassula.
    LimpopoSoutpans Slackpacking Trail
  • The rocky outcrops and savanna woodlands of the Soutpansberg support many different kinds of colourful lizards.
    LimpopoSoutpans Slackpacking Trail
  • Venda Art Lodge in Leshiba Wilderness provides a fitting start to this slackpacking trail.
    LimpopoSoutpans Slackpacking Trail
  • A good level of fitness and agility is required for this hike, but the scenery is worth every bit of toil!
    LimpopoSoutpans Slackpacking Trail

3 Nights / 2.5 Hike Days:    R15 500 / per person

Whats included in this tour
  • 3 Nights Accom (sharing basis) - in intimate Bush Lodges – all private ensuite rooms.
  • All meals, snacks & house drinks - from dinner on arrival night to breakfast on departure day
  • Experienced Wilderness Hiking Guide
  • Vehicle Luggage Transfers
  • All 4x4 support, game drives and return transfer to starting point
  • Conservation Levies & Permits
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