Garden Route Walking Festival highlights
The Garden Route Walking Festival 2019, a favourite late-summer-early-autumn event, launched several years ago and quickly became unmissable for many. The festival is a combination of walks, hikes and fun, unusual meanders celebrating the incredible diversity, natural surroundings and hospitality that makes the Garden Route so unique. Whether you’re weighed down with toddlers, can barely manage the stairs or regularly summit mountains, there is something at the Garden Route Walking Festival for everyone.
Below is a quick breakdown of some of our recommended walks, but for the full schedule of 50+ walks over the Easter Weekend 2019, visit www.walkingfestival.co.za
GARDEN ROUTE NATIONAL PARK – GARDEN OF EDEN
We really do live in the Garden of Eden! The Garden of Eden walk is a perfect roadside stop where a short trail and boardwalk take visitors into a canopy-covered wonderland of lush ferns. The 1km circular walk is wheelchair friendly and a super introduction to the forest and the festival.
GARDEN ROUTE NATIONAL PARK – KRANSHOEK FYNBOS HARKERVILLE FOREST TRAIL
Did you know that 5000 of the 8000 species found in the Cape Floral Kingdom are endemic to our coastline (i.e. found nowhere else in the world)? This Fynbos trail runs along the edge of a deep valley and is ideal for young and old – the perfect way to enjoy our magnificent Fynbos.
ROBBERG POINT WALK
The Robberg Point Walk is a challenge, no doubt about it. But, for those who are up for the challenge, you’ll be rewarded with unimaginably lovely views across the bay, mountains and ocean. Robberg Nature Reserve offers a variety of plant, bird, mammal and marine life to the visitor which is complemented by breathtaking views of Plettenberg Bay, Tsitsikamma Mountains and the Indian Ocean. Robberg Point Walk is 9.5km.
FOREST TO BEACH
This walk is symbolic of the wonderful natural variety that exists in the Garden Route. Start along an open plain, with spectacular views of
THE PERFECT WALK
It’s not called “The Perfect Walk” for nothing! This blissful walk includes more Fynbos, beach and forest with the added benefit of rock pools for swimming! Estimated to take three hours.
KIDS’ PIRATE BEACH WALK
Arrrgh, Maties! This Robinson-Crusoe-style beach walk is for the kids, and young at heart. Come dressed as pirates and win a prize on an adventure from Keurboomstrand to Cathedral Rock. Meet an amazing team of wild pirates as you go, learn their songs and hear their stories from the sea. Great prizes to be won from Hi-Tec as kids hunt for the treasure buried in pirate’s hide-outs.
VERTICAL WALK
Yup, you read it right – this is a vertical walk! Rock climbing and abseiling have never looked so good, or so safe! Traverse a section of rock with the Via Ferrata (always connected) system of
KALANDERKLOOF CIRCLE
Nature’s Valley – a pinnacle of natural perfection in Plett! The Kalanderkloof hike is surrounded by Fynbos and has lovely viewpoints over Nature’s Valley. The walk will include information about the Fynbos like the importance of fire, pollination and seed dispersal as well as the medicinal and cultural uses of some of the plants in the area. Learn something new while you take in the splendour of the Garden Route.