The Camino Routes in South Africa. What is a camino route? Read more below and view our list of routes in SA.
If you are not specifically looking for a Camino Trail, please see our collection of Slackpacking Trails across South Africa.
The original Camino is a network of ancient spiritual walks criss-crossing Spain and France known as The Camino de Santiago. This is now a ‘hot’ marketing word in the travel industry and often refers to multi-day, slackpacking walks, but a Camino…
The Camino Routes in South Africa. What is a camino route? Read more below and view our list of routes in SA.
If you are not specifically looking for a Camino Trail, please see our collection of Slackpacking Trails across South Africa.
The original Camino is a network of ancient spiritual walks criss-crossing Spain and France known as The Camino de Santiago. This is now a ‘hot’ marketing word in the travel industry and often refers to multi-day, slackpacking walks, but a Camino should be much more than that. By definition, it’s a long distance route, more a journey than a hike, anchored in sacred principles, easily accessible to all, often community owned and usually with a sacred destination and spiritual or personal growth dimension.
Peggy at Cape Camino explains “Cape Camino is owned by the community who host it. It is not a private slackpacking experience owned by an individual or small group but a community collaboration owned by a nation. And this is what makes us unique- that we honour this definition and offer this broadly accessible experience to the world.”
The Camino’s we have listed below all include some or all of these characteristics as well as showcasing South Africa’s stunning natural beauty and cultural heritage, whether you’re walking through the Cape Peninsula on the spectacular Hoerikwaggo trail, traipsing along a West Coast beach or tracing the footsteps of Trappist Monks who founded eight missions in KwaZulu Natal.
Accommodation on Camino’s is chosen to reflect the flavour and culture of the area as well as involving the community; family and farm homestays, quaint local guest cottages…happy, cosy and real.
A Camino walk gives you the space for healing and transformation if that’s what you’re looking for but also just the powerful experience of daily walking, a pre-historic rhythm that the body responds so gratefully to. Beyond the physical and spiritual benefits it’s a deep dive into a particular landscape and area giving a sense of connection and belonging to a place rather than the usual hurried and sometimes superficial nature of the usual tourist activities.
