Bring your plus one:
South Africa - Cape Town &
Amatola Mountain Hike

About this Adventure


Join us on one of South Africa’s most exciting and challenging hiking routes: The
Amatola mountains! A ONE-TIME, TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY BEYOND WORDS. OFF THE BEATEN PATH.

Located in the Eastern Cape, the Amatola region is one of the locals’ favourite hiking destinations. Get ready to explore vast pine, eucalyptus and Afromontane rainforests and be rewarded with spectacular landscapes!

On this 100 km, 6-day hike with 3,800 metre elevation gain (added up), we’ll stay in huts. We reach the highest point of our hike at around 1,800 meters of elevation. We prepare meals on our own camping stove. Clear drinking water is available along the way and the numerous mountain streams, rock pools and waterfalls offer opportunities for swimming.

Let two experienced female south african hiking experts guide you.
enjoy the simplicity and just be with yourself and nature.

Our new concept: ‘Bring Your Plus One’:
This adventure is intended for everyone and is not exclusive to women+.

Tour Overview

South Africa - Amatola Mountain Hike

Days: 13 (12 nights)

Dates:

2024: 31st August – 12th September
2025: September (dates follow)

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 journey is not suitable for individuals with limited mobility.

The itinerary shown below is subject to change depending on weather conditions. You are viewing a sample itinerary.

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

Your 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.

Your hiking journey begins in Cape Town. After a hike up Lion’s Head we head to the Eastern Cape after 2 nights. Before embarking on our 100 km hike, we’ll make 2 stops in Nature’s Valley and Hogsback. Our hike ends in Hogsback and we’ll drive back to Cape Town via Nature’s Valley before heading home after another night.

Your 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.

Your Tailor-Made Itinerary

You’ll arrive at Cape Town airport, where we’ll pick you up and take you to the guesthouse. It’s time to settle in, relax and get to know the other travellers.

In the evening, we’ll all go out to eat together at a restaurant.

We’ll embark on our first hike to Lion’s Head (350 meters elevation gain). This distinctive rock formation sits right next to Table Mountain. From here, on a clear day, you’ll have a direct view of the city and Table Bay, while on the other side, you’ll see the picturesque Atlantic coast.

At noon, we’ll head out to go shopping for our upcoming big hike.

In the evening, we’ll dine together at a restaurant.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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, our hiking guides will treat you to a fantastic group dinner.

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.

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 at the waterfront in Cape Town.

It’s time to bid farewell to your two amazing hiking guides. Depending on your booked flight, we’ll shuttle you to the airport in groups.

Amatola Bergwanderung
Amatola Wanderung
Amatola Wanderung
Amatola Berge
Amatola Bergwanderung
Amatola Wanderung
Amatola Wanderung
Amatola Berge

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