Four nights of bliss when hiking with AWOL Tours on the five day Hoerikwaggo hiking trail that starts at Table Mountain and finishes at Cape Point. When I thought I had seen just about everything in Cape Town, the Hoerikwaggo Trail left me breathless. It is amazing how one can disappear from the hustle and bustle of the city into the calmness and tranquility of the rich natural world of the Mother City.
Four nights of bliss when hiking with AWOL Tours on the five day Hoerikwaggo hiking trail that starts at Table Mountain and finishes at Cape Point. When I thought I had seen just about everything in Cape Town, the Hoerikwaggo Trail left me breathless. It is amazing how one can disappear from the hustle and bustle of the city into the calmness and tranquility of the rich natural world of the Mother City.
Earth
The hiking itself is relatively strenuous, but nothing too much for any hiker with a little experience. I started the hike from Table Mountain (recommended). The first day (and night) is over the solid rock formations of Table Mountain into Orange Kloof, a unique indigenous forest. When walking through this lush and green forest one can just imagine what Cape Town looked like when the big 5 still roamed in this area.
Air
The 2nd day contains a stunning hike over high and steep ridges along some spectacular mountain tops. Starting at Orange Kloof and finishing (on the roof) of Silvermine. This day the hike goes from one dramatic view to the other with endless aerials over the Cape Peninsula.
Water
The hike ascends over two mountain tops the 3rd day (Noordhoek Peak and Chapmans Peak). Although this is probably the most strenuous day, the hiker will get rewarded by magnificent fields of fynbos, in particular proteas. And will see many more breathless views. Much of the hike is about 400 meters above Chapmans Peak drive – and the drive now seems more like a poor man’s version of the hike to me! The last stretch of the 3rd day of the hike goes along the flat Long Beach at Noordhoek. This is arguably one of the world’s most pristine beaches.
Worlds End
The 4th day is the most relaxed day of the hiking trail. After 3 days of adventure it is welcoming to have a little more time to recover physically, and to absorb all the impressions mentally. But the 5th day will re-ignite the hiker with a great hike through all of Cape Point National Park. The hike goes along dramatic cliffs and beautiful hidden beaches. The hikers on the trail will see parts of the park that cannot be matched from the road. If lucky, and we were, hikers will see some of the diverse wild animals of the reserve that includes mountain zebra, bontebok, and klipspringers. The hike ends at the most South Western Point of Africa – a unique landmark and after 5 days of trekking, it feels like the worlds end.
Fire
The accommodation on the trail is comfortable and very pleasant. South Africa National Parks has a philosophy to ‘touch the earth lightly’ – so all accommodations are 100% eco-friendly. Every rest camp has its own character. Forest, mountain, beach, fynbos are the themes of the nights. It is a complete back to nature feeling. And every day of hiking on Table Mountain will be ended with a lekker braai!
Written by Jeremy Schreiner
Four nights of bliss when hiking with AWOL Tours on the five day Hoerikwaggo hiking trail that starts at Table Mountain and finishes at Cape Point. When I thought I had seen just about everything in Cape Town, the Hoerikwaggo Trail left me breathless. It is amazing how one can disappear from the hustle and bustle of the city into the calmness and tranquility of the rich natural world of the Mother City.
Earth
The hiking itself is relatively strenuous, but nothing too much for any hiker with a little experience. I started the hike from Table Mountain (recommended). The first day (and night) is over the solid rock formations of Table Mountain into Orange Kloof, a unique indigenous forest. When walking through this lush and green forest one can just imagine what Cape Town looked like when the big 5 still roamed in this area.
Air
The 2nd day contains a stunning hike over high and steep ridges along some spectacular mountain tops. Starting at Orange Kloof and finishing (on the roof) of Silvermine. This day the hike goes from one dramatic view to the other with endless aerials over the Cape Peninsula.
Water
The hike ascends over two mountain tops the 3rd day (Noordhoek Peak and Chapmans Peak). Although this is probably the most strenuous day, the hiker will get rewarded by magnificent fields of fynbos, in particular proteas. And will see many more breathless views. Much of the hike is about 400 meters above Chapmans Peak drive – and the drive now seems more like a poor man’s version of the hike to me! The last stretch of the 3rd day of the hike goes along the flat Long Beach at Noordhoek. This is arguably one of the world’s most pristine beaches.
Worlds End
The 4th day is the most relaxed day of the hiking trail. After 3 days of adventure it is welcoming to have a little more time to recover physically, and to absorb all the impressions mentally. But the 5th day will re-ignite the hiker with a great hike through all of Cape Point National Park. The hike goes along dramatic cliffs and beautiful hidden beaches. The hikers on the trail will see parts of the park that cannot be matched from the road. If lucky, and we were, hikers will see some of the diverse wild animals of the reserve that includes mountain zebra, bontebok, and klipspringers. The hike ends at the most South Western Point of Africa – a unique landmark and after 5 days of trekking, it feels like the worlds end.
Fire
The accommodation on the trail is comfortable and very pleasant. South Africa National Parks has a philosophy to ‘touch the earth lightly’ – so all accommodations are 100% eco-friendly. Every rest camp has its own character. Forest, mountain, beach, fynbos are the themes of the nights. It is a complete back to nature feeling. And every day of hiking on Table Mountain will be ended with a lekker braai!
Written by Jeremy Schreiner
Earth
The hiking itself is relatively strenuous, but nothing too much for any hiker with a little experience. I started the hike from Table Mountain (recommended). The first day (and night) is over the solid rock formations of Table Mountain into Orange Kloof, a unique indigenous forest. When walking through this lush and green forest one can just imagine what Cape Town looked like when the big 5 still roamed in this area.
Air
The 2nd day contains a stunning hike over high and steep ridges along some spectacular mountain tops. Starting at Orange Kloof and finishing (on the roof) of Silvermine. This day the hike goes from one dramatic view to the other with endless aerials over the Cape Peninsula.
Water
The hike ascends over two mountain tops the 3rd day (Noordhoek Peak and Chapmans Peak). Although this is probably the most strenuous day, the hiker will get rewarded by magnificent fields of fynbos, in particular proteas. And will see many more breathless views. Much of the hike is about 400 meters above Chapmans Peak drive – and the drive now seems more like a poor man’s version of the hike to me! The last stretch of the 3rd day of the hike goes along the flat Long Beach at Noordhoek. This is arguably one of the world’s most pristine beaches.
Worlds End
The 4th day is the most relaxed day of the hiking trail. After 3 days of adventure it is welcoming to have a little more time to recover physically, and to absorb all the impressions mentally. But the 5th day will re-ignite the hiker with a great hike through all of Cape Point National Park. The hike goes along dramatic cliffs and beautiful hidden beaches. The hikers on the trail will see parts of the park that cannot be matched from the road. If lucky, and we were, hikers will see some of the diverse wild animals of the reserve that includes mountain zebra, bontebok, and klipspringers. The hike ends at the most South Western Point of Africa – a unique landmark and after 5 days of trekking, it feels like the worlds end.
Fire
The accommodation on the trail is comfortable and very pleasant. South Africa National Parks has a philosophy to ‘touch the earth lightly’ – so all accommodations are 100% eco-friendly. Every rest camp has its own character. Forest, mountain, beach, fynbos are the themes of the nights. It is a complete back to nature feeling. And every day of hiking on Table Mountain will be ended with a lekker braai!
Written by Jeremy Schreiner