The Baviaans Camino Slackpacking Trail.
The Baviaans Camino is a 95km north-south traverse of the Baviaanskloof Mountains and Kouga Mountain Range in the Eastern Cape, taking place between March and October each year. It is also available as a 60km hike over 3 days to group bookings - contact the operator for more details.
Up to 14 hikers meet at the Willow Historical Guest House in Willowmore for dinner, from where they will be shuttled to the farm Nakop early the next morning.
The first day’s challenge is to conquer the Baviaanskloof Mountain, a steep elevation of 450m over the first 5km. Once at the top of the mountain, you bid farewell to the vistas of the Karoo, before descending into the Kloof where you will reach the farm Joachimskraal after 20km.
On day 2 (24km) the traverse of the Kouga Mountain Range starts, and shortly after breakfast hikers tackle the first of three climbs. A big surprise is the kudu patties braaied for lunch in the middle of nowhere, at a pop-up lunch stop complete with camping chairs under a gazebo!
The overnight stop at Entkraal, an outpost on a honeybush tea farm, is absolute bliss, although very basic – however complete with hot water and flushing toilets, make no mistake!
Day 3 starts with a beautiful section of the Koude Nek Kortkloof, with aloes, wabome (Protea nitida), cycads and numerous other fynbos species. At 15km this is the shortest day of the hike, so we push through to the farm Mooigedacht for lunch. We love watching the 2022 SA Champion Border Collie, Kyla, working the sheep while we enjoy a Honeybush Tea tasting (going down well with a dash of gin!).
The last day (32km) is the longest, but not the most difficult. The trail crosses the Rachels River a few times before we tackle the Moordenaars Kloof and stop for lunch at the Kouga River.
It finishes at Nguniland Guest Farm just outside Kareedouw.
It is fully guided and supported, all meals catered and drinks are available at an honesty bar.
For more details, contact Esti Stewart on whatsapp 073 825 0835 or chokkatrail@gmail.com