William Blake summed up the Overberg.
"To see a world in a grain of sand And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand And eternity in an hour."
Sure, he wrote this in the 1800’s and never set foot in Africa, but those famous words certainly describe the feeling of the place. The Overberg is perfect for slow, contemplative travel, so what better than travel by foot. It’s the epicentre of the Cape Floristic Kingdom; walks become treasure hunts for the next rare and spectacular bloom or spectacular coastal caves. From fynbos to white sandy beaches, mountains, glinting gold wheat fields, vineyards, quiet roads, coastal cliffs and little towns where locally lekker lunches are surprisingly gourmet. The Overberg is food country. Wine, apples, bread, cheese, farm stalls and excellent restaurants all have a habit of appearing when you least expect them.
Only a light backpack could pair with such delights and so slackpacking is fast becoming the best way to experience the Overberg.
Given its unique biodiversity the Overberg abounds with nature reserves and conservancies offering huge scope for hiking.
Areas around Hermanus, Greyton, Stanford, Elgin and the Kogelberg offer very different experiences, from mountain trails to gentler countryside walking to sea-buffeted cliff walking where whale spotting is part of the deal.
Wonderful boutique wine farms are woven into routes, as are gorgeous guest houses and award winning eateries. Walking, eating, comfy sleeping. What could be better
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