Hiking
PORT ALFRED TRAIL Tree guide available from tourism office. Stroll through the little town, amble along the river. View the historical sites and places of interest (map available). Extensive and beautiful walks along the beaches.
SETTLER HIKING TRAIL Extensive options with this trail. Walk for a day or take a package. From the Great Fish River Valley to Beyond Adventure.
SUNSHINE COAST HIKES Trace the footsteps of ancient explorers along our wild, unspoilt beaches. Enjoy strolls along wide open beaches, view fascinating rock pools and marvel at the wildlife and birds of this unique environment. All hikes are in the Sunshine Coast. Accommodation, all meals, sundowner cruises, canoe trails and transfers are all included in this scenic and fascinating hike.
KOWIE NATURE RESERVE Pleasant eight kilometre walk through grass, bush and alongside the river. The Nature Conservation Department of the Ndlambe Municipality has created the Kowie Hiking Trail, not only as an estuarine and scenic attraction in itself, but also as an off-shoot of the Kowie Canoe Trail which canoeists can add to their discovery of the Kowie River. The Hiking Trail involves a two-hour walk of eight kilometres inside the Kowie Nature Reserve on land which was once part of the commonage.
To reach it, drive along the Grahamstown road (R67) for five kilometres out of Port Alfred, turn left at the SANTA turn off, drive past the hospital, 43 Air School and the Balancing Dam and park cars at own risk inside the fenced-off area. Vehicles can drive down to the picnic sites (rough road). The reserve is open between 07h00 and 17h00. As it is in a Nature Reserve, disturbing the animals or damaging the plants is, of course, forbidden. Pets, particularly dogs, and NOT allowed.
Yellow footprints mark the walk downhill in a clockwise direction on a path hacked from thick undergrowth leading to the river side just upriver from Centenary Park. The path continues alongside the Kowie River's peaceful banks past the old Air Force jetty and round Windy Reach corner as far as Cob Hole. Here it leaves the river and climbs up the steep hill in a wide arc to reach the car park and the ranger's quarters at the fence. Hikers can also return uphill along the gravel road.
The beauty and peace of the Kowie Hiking Trail, disturbed only by the crackling of the undergrowth under the hiker's feet, the sound of the insects and birds and the rippling of the tidal water, is enough to restore and revitalise the most world-weary hiker as he rests at the picnic spot provided under the trees. There are braai areas and toilet facilities and the area is patrolled by rangers who live in the reserve and keep the camp sites clean, check fencing and guard the animals against poachers.
Here and there one comes across shallow open-water -troughs created in the bush for the abundant animal life which includes bush buck, duikers and miniature blue duikers, tree dassies, vervet monkeys, mountain tortoises, the Cape clawless otter and various other small carnivores. CONTACT: Ndlambe Tourism Port Alfred Unit, PO Box 63, Port Alfred 6170. TEL: 046 624 1235.
BATHURST RAMBLE Walk or drive around Bathurst. Historical-guide leaflets available from tourism office. Guided tours of places of interest.
NYALA VALLEY GAME PARK Wonderful hikes through the valley bushveld. Birds abound and game frolics as you walk. Sleep over at the "Lily Pad" or walk for the day.
KAP RIVER RESERVE Glorious hikes through indigenous bush. Or enjoy canoeing through scenery offering masses of game and flora. Overnight lodge. 25 km on route 72.
BLAAUWKRANTZ RESERVE To date 215 plant species have been identified here. Birds in excess of 185 species. Rare endangered Sandelia Banseii freshwater fish in the pools. Access R67 to Bathurst.
ALEXANDRIA Alexandria hiking trail, the largest shifting dune fields in the world! Trail through indigenous forest on to dunes and glorious beach. Two overnight stops.
BELTON HIKING TRAILS Established trails through Eastern Cape forest/bush and pineapple farm.
ASSEGAAI TRAILS Biking and birding offered as well as hiking. Overnight stops offer river and forest kloofs views.
BUSHMANS RIVER TRAIL Canoe up the river and hike through game reserve. For details check with Ken or Dee at Kenton Marina.
BUSHMANS HIKING TRAIL Routes planned to suit individuals.
DIAZ CROSS Hike and trail. Hike from Boknes to Diaz Cross along the beach. Rare oyster catcher and tern abound here. For the really fit you can walk on to Bushmans River mouth.
GHIO WETLAND RESERVE A magnificent wetlands area and interesting hike around the park. No charge but you are requested to telephone 082 733 4000 for directions and permission to go there.
THOMAS BAINES Hike through national reserve. (Oldenburg hiking trail).
SOETVALLEI Farm Trail. TEL: 046 648 2415.
SPRINGMOUNT Hiking Trails. TEL: 046 648 2418.
SETTLERS HIKING CLUB. TEL: 046 622 5751.
BELTON ACCOMMODATION & BACKPACKERS:
IMBABALA - MOUNTAIN BIKing. HIKING AND BIRD TRAILS TEL: Chris 082 773 4868 Mountain biking and game viewing in a sublime combination! The pleasure of viewing giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest while cycling alongside pristine grasslands and up challenging hills with awesome views down the Kowie River is hard to beat! The riding itself is as challenging as you want to make it, with a variety of options and difficulty levels. Easy tracks meander along dams, the Kowie river and grass plains. On the other end of the spectrum are single tracks leading you up and down challenging hills, certain to get the heart rate going! Loops range between 5km and 14km. If you are looking for an almost-perfect place to take the whole family on a ride, this is it. Kids can play in the forest or look for game while the rest of the family builds up a sweat. Perfect too when you are looking to get out of the wind. For a longer ride, the farm is 15km from town mainly on dirt roads, so cycling from town could have you doing a 50km loop. Of course hikers are also welcome. Adults - R35 for a day pass. Kids - R15 for a day pass (2 - 12 yr old) Kids under 2 yr old free.
