South Africa - Cape Town &
Amatola Mountain Hike
About this Adventure
The Amatola Hike is one of South Africa’s most exciting and challenging hiking routes: The Amatola mountains! A Unique, TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY That can hardly be put into words. OFF THE BEATEN PATH.
The Amatola region is located in the Eastern Cape and is one of the most popular hiking destinations among locals.
You can look forward to extensive pine forests, eucalyptus groves, and indigenous rainforests. You’ll be rewarded with truly spectacular landscapes!
During the 100 km trek over 6-days with approx. 3,800 metre of cumulative elevation gain, you will stay in huts. The highest point of the hike reaches about 1,800 meters above sea level.
Meals are prepared on your own camping stove, fresh drinking water is available along the way, and numerous mountain rivers, rock pools, and waterfalls offer refreshing opportunities for a swim.
Accompanied by two experienced female south african hiking experts.
enjoy the simplicity and just be with yourself and nature.
Tour Overview
South Africa - Amatola Mountain Hike
Days: 13 (12 nights)
Dates: currently no dates available
Estimated Price: 1,685 €
Number of participants: 2-6
Visa: Not required for most EU nationals.
Hiking-Level
Accomodation
Simple huts during the hike (dorms)
Backpackers (shared rooms)
Guest house in Cape Town (single room)
Notice: This is a trip recommendation.
What's included?
- Airport transfers
- Transfers to all activities
- Accomodation + breakfast pack in Cape Town (guest house)
- Guided hike up Lion's Head
- 6 guided hiking days in the Amatola Mountains
- 2-3 experienced female South African hinking guides (English-speaking)
- Accomodation in huts (dormitory) during the hike
- 1x "goodie drop" service = meal ration for 3 days delivered to the hut to reduce backpack weight initially
- Clear, clean drinking water along the hiking trail
- Accommodation in hostels in Nature's Valley and Hogsback (multi-bed rooms)
- 1x farewell dinner in Hogsback
- Mountain rescue insurance (SATIB)
- Meditation and stretching sessions during the hike
- Journey-Journal
- German-speaking contact person
What's excluded?
- Flights to and from South Africa
- Travel health and repatriation insurance
- All meals and drinks along the hike (we will dine together in Cape Town - expect approximately 100-150€ for food for the hike)
- Restaurant visits and additional drinks
- Hiking equipment (you will receive a packing list after booking)
What's included?
- Airport transfers
- Transfers to all activities
- Accomodation + breakfast pack in Cape Town (guest house)
- Guided hike up Lion's Head
- 6 guided hiking days in the Amatola Mountains
- 2-3 experienced female South African hinking guides (English-speaking)
- Accomodation in huts (dormitory) during the hike
- 1x "goodie drop" service = meal ration for 3 days delivered to the hut to reduce backpack weight initially
- Clear, clean drinking water along the hiking trail
- Accommodation in hostels in Nature's Valley and Hogsback (multi-bed rooms)
- 1x farewell dinner in Hogsback
- Mountain rescue insurance (SATIB)
- Meditation and stretching sessions during the hike
- Journey-Journal
Travel Destination
South Africa captivates with its rich diversity of landscapes, from endless savannahs to spectacular coastlines. Renowned for its rich culture, history and wildlife, the country also boasts vibrant cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. You’ll get to know Cape Town on this journey.
Located in the Western Cape, Cape Town is a cosmopolitan city with breathtaking coastal scenery, Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and a diverse culture. The Eastern Cape, where we also find our hiking region, the Amatola Mountains, impresses with wild beauty, historic towns and nature reserves like the Addo Elephant Park. The Amatola region in the Eastern Cape is known for its green mountains, waterfalls and hiking trails, a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.
The hiking journey can begin in Cape Town. After a hike up Lion’s Head and two nights in the city, you’ll head off to the Eastern Cape. Before starting the 100 km trek, there are two stopovers in Nature’s Valley and Hogsback.
After completing the hike, you’ll return to Hogsback and then travel back to Cape Town via Nature’s Valley. Following one more night there, it’s time to head home.
Accomodation
In Cape Town, we’ll provide comfortable guesthouse accommodation in the Seapoint/Fresnaye district for the first two nights and the last night. You’ll stay in double rooms (for yourself) with private bathrooms. The guesthouse offers all amenities.
During our stops on the way to the hiking starting point, we’ll stay in shared rooms in hostels. In Nature’s Valley, expect a fantastic backpacker’s lodge nestled in nature with a great atmosphere and delicious food.
In Hogsback, we’ll also stay in a backpacker’s lodge or a simple nature lodge. Here, on the last day of our hike, we’ll enjoy a shared, delicious, and exquisite dinner together.
Our 6-day hike takes us from hut to hut, each offering simple dormitory-style accommodation exclusively for our group. With the exception of one hut, we have access to water and showers at every stop. Though the showers are cold, you’ll heat up quickly after. All huts feature basic toilets, barbecue areas and seating where we can prepare our meals.
Tour Programme
Day 1: Arrival in Cape Town
You will arrive at Cape Town Airport, where you’ll be picked up and transferred to the guesthouse. First, it’s time to settle in, relax, and get to know your fellow travelers.
In the evening, you can head out together to a restaurant for dinner.
Day 2: Lion's Head
We set out on our first hike up Lion’s Head (350 meters of elevation gain). This distinctively shaped peak lies right next to Table Mountain. On a clear day, you’ll enjoy direct views over the city and Table Bay, while on the other side you can admire the picturesque Atlantic coastline.
At midday, we head into the city together to shop for supplies for the Amatola mountain trek. In the evening, you can once again visit a restaurant together and enjoy dinner as a group.
Day 3: Drive to Nature's Valley
Early in the morning, you’ll be picked up from the guesthouse by your hiking guides and we’ll head to Nature’s Valley, a small town on the Garden Route. During the approximately 6.5 hour drive, we’ll have the opportunity to stop for lunch and to see the remote beaches of the Garden route. We’ll spend the night at the Wild Spirit Backpackers Lodge and have dinner there as well.
Day 4: Onward to Hogsback
We’ll depart Nature’s Valley early and continue to Hogsback (5.5 hours). Along the way, we’ll have another opportunity for a snack and beaches before arriving at the Backpacker’s and Nature Lodge “Away with the Fairies” in the early afternoon.
You’ll have time to relax and enjoy dinner together in the evening. We will have our hike briefing before that.
Day 5: The Amatola Mountain Hike begins
Our 100 km hike starts at Maden Dam. From now on, we’ll rise very early every morning, often before sunrise, as we’ll be hiking all day from hut to hut.
First stage: 11.9 km; 763 meters elevation gain through beautiful indigenous South African rain forest.
Day 6: The challenging second milestone
We’ll continue to the next hut. At dawn, we’ll rise, fuel up with a self-prepared breakfast and hike again through forests and past a waterfall.
You’ll feel the strain in your knees on the second day and at certain points, you’ll need a good grip. But together we will manage everything.
Second stage: 19.1 km; 633 meters elevation gain
Day 7: The early bird catches the worm
We’ll rise at dawn. Today marks the longest and most challenging part in terms of distance.
We’ll leave the forested plain and ascend to a plateau with abundant grassland and wildflowers. We’ll then face a 550-meter ascent over 5 km, leading us alongside a densely wooded waterfall.
In the afternoon, we’ll receive our “goodie drop,” meaning our next 3-day meal package, thus replenishing our food supplies for the remainder of the hike.
Third stage: 20.6 km; 1,024 meters elevation gain
Day 8: Back to nature
Today’s hiking day is a bit shorter. The route is the most picturesque!
We’ll pass the highest point of the trail, the mighty Geju Peak (1,880m), and a meteorite crash site. We’ll cross the Mnyameni Gorge several times, with breaks to swim in the small pools.
Our accommodation for tonight’s hut does not have showers, but there’s a stream nearby. We’ll utilize natural resources for washing. Drinking water is available.
Fourth stage: 14.5 km; 634 meters elevation gain
Day 9: Through plateaus and the Black Forest
It’ll be an incredible day on the trail with many pools for swimming. Most of the day will be spent in open landscapes. Only the last few kilometres will take us through the dense black forest. Yes, you heard it right: there is not only a black forest in Germany.
We’ll stay overnight in our next hut.
Fifth stage: 19.4 km; 991 meters elevation gain
Day 10: The final leg in the Amatola Mountains
Sixth stage: 16.2 km; 955 meters elevation gain
The last day on the trail offers fantastic waterfalls in the black forest. You’ll once again test your endurance with a 950m ascent before descending into the Tyumi River basin.
We’ll pass the Madonna and Child Waterfall before returning to Hogsback at “Away with the Fairies.”
You’ve made it!!! 100 km in 6 days and 3,800 meters elevation gain in total! One of the most challenging hikes in South Africa.
To celebrate, the hiking guides will treat you to a fantastic group dinner.
Day 11: Drive from Hogsback to Nature's Valley
After breakfast in Hogsback, we’ll journey back to Nature’s Valley. We’ll spend another night here, reflecting on the exciting tour during dinner, before heading back to Cape Town the next day.
Day 12: Return to Cape Town
The journey is nearing its end. On the drive back to Cape Town, we’ll have another opportunity for a snack and a beach visit. We’ll return to the guesthouse and enjoy a final dinner in Cape Town.
Day 13: Departure
It’s time to bid farewell to your two amazing hiking guides. Depending on your booked flight, you need to head to the airport in groups.
