This is a 6 Day & 5 Night slack-packing hiking trail along the west coast of South Africa in the Namaqua National Park. This hiking trail offers you not only sandy beaches, but a wide variety of wildlife and some of the most beautiful flowers during season.
Each day the hiking trail starts at a different location and winding your way down to the base camp is an experience not to miss. There is a visit to Hondeklip Bay with the famous spitfire rock. To end off this amazing hiking trail we stop for a wine taste at Lutzville wine cellar.
Make sure you gear up for this amazing all-inclusive hike with good hiking shoes and warm clothes for the evenings. We can’t wait for you to join the trail.
Price: R7 500 pp sharing.
Every week July to September. Depart every Sunday and returns on Friday.
Current available dates for 2024 are as follows;
28 July to 2 August
4 to 9 August
11 to 16 August
18 to 23 August
1 to 6 September
8 to 13 September
22 to 27 September
29 September to 4 October
Terrain: Trail is moderate, walking on paths with soft sand, jeep tracks and cliff paths that are firm but uneven. Short stretches along rocky coastline. A moderate level of fitness is required but active hikers will manage well.
Day 1- Sunday: Get together in Garies. Get together on the first day (Sunday) in Garies in the Northern Cape. From here the tour operator will escort the vehicles to their Base Camp. On arrival we will settle in, have some welcome drinks, enjoy a warm cooked west coast meal and spend the evening around the campfire.
Day 2- Monday: Spoegrivier Caves to the seals. We start our first day’s hike early. After receiving our day lunch pack, we will be transported with a 4×4 game viewing vehicle through the Namaqua National Park to Spoegrivier Caves (about 1 hour’s game drive). The group will be guided, and we will cover a distance of 15km along the spectacular coastline in the direction of the Base Camp. We will be collected after the hike and transported back to base camp. Warm showers will be ready, sundowners and a delicious meal.
Day 3- Tuesday: Silversands Dune Trail. Amazing hike through the moving white dunes of the Namaqua National Park. We will be dropped off 16km north from the base camp. This is a spectacular part of the trail with silver beaches, white granite rock formation, seals and bird life. We arrive at base camp where we will take time to relax and have a sundowner while dinner is being prepared.
Day 4- Wednesday: Groenrivier to Base Camp. Last day of hiking and we take on the southern part of the Namaqua National Park. We will be dropped off 10km from base camp, as we will hike back. This is also a scenic part of the trail and a lot different from the other days trails. This trail has less beach hiking and a little more rock formations. Arriving back at base camp we will enjoy ourselves with drinks and a BBQ around the campfire with the sound of crashing waves and beautiful open sky filled with stars.
Day 5- Thursday: Hondeklipbaai & Aristea Shipwreck. This morning we take the game viewing vehicle and head to the little town Hondeklipbaai. This is a 2 hour drive through the Namaqua National Park. On arrival we will take a leisure walk through the little town visiting all the historical sites and the Aristea Shipwreck. We will have lunch at one of the local restaurants and make our way back to base camp.
Day 6- Friday: Tour ends with a cheese and wine taste at Lutzville wine cellar. It’s time to pack up and say our goodbyes. We travel to collect our vehicles and leave for Lutzville to enjoy a wine tasting together at Lutzville wine cellar.
Included in tour
All meals (Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner), fresh fruit
Water and selected drinks (Beer & wine)
Accommodation (2 persons sharing a tent)
Park fees
Excluded in tour
Own transport to Garies and Lutzville
Important Things to pack!
- Small day backpack
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Good hiking shoes
- Own toiletries include a towel
- Warm windbreaker
- Hiking gear, warm clothes for evenings.
- Own water bottle
- Own sleeping bag and pillow
- Extra hiking snacks if wanted.
- Camera and binoculars.
