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South African’s sure do love to slackpack! If slackpacking continues to grow like it is, hiking just might start to compete with rugby as our national sport.

There’s something about getting it all-wonderful adventurous days of walking, nights under the stars, swims in mountain pools, but then, joy of all joys-not having to lug that monster pack on your back! Your bag gets whisked away to the next overnight stop, leaving you with a daypack, a water bottle, some snacks and, ideally, a pair of boots that have seen a trail before.

South Africa certainly has the weather and wonder lands for it. We have mountains, beaches, forests, fynbos, grasslands, valleys, deserts and idyllic farmlands and glorious sun-shiny days. You can experience all of this in destinations ranging from the dramatic Drakensberg and rugged Cederberg, to the beaches of the Wild Coast, Garden Route, West Coast and Overberg. Inland, Mpumalanga, the Free State, Eastern Cape, Midlands, Northern Cape and Baviaans offer their own distinctive landscapes and walking experiences. For something a little different, Cape Winelands routes combine walking with beautiful farming country, offering another memorable destination for slackpackers.

The beauty of slackpacking is that you get the satisfaction of walking somewhere under your own steam, seeing the landscape change in glacially slow technicolour rather than through the unsatisfying rush of a windscreen. You still get the forging of close bonds with the people you’re hiking with. You sleep somewhere different each night. And because you aren’t carrying a kitchen sink, a tent and enough food to survive the apocalypse, you can actually enjoy it!

South Africa has slackpacking routes for all sorts of walkers, from proper mountain days to gentle coastal wanders. Some are comfortable, some are rustic, and some will remind you that “slackpacking” isn’t always the easy way.

The rule is simple: walk all day, sleep somewhere decent, eat well, and let somebody else carry the heavy bag.

That sounds like the perfect arrangement.