The Tsitsikamma Trail is a southern Cape hiking paradise, journeying through extensive indigenous afromontane forest and mountain fynbos. This slightly shorter variation of the full 6 Day hike lets us enjoy just enough of the enchanted mountain landscape.
The Bloukrans hut is situated on the verge of a cliff and offers incredible views of the river gorges below and Peak Formosa and the Tsitsikamma Mountains to the north. A couple of hundred metres beneath the balcony a coca-cola coloured waterfall tumbles away. The hut can be reached via the access route from the old Blaaukranz forest station, or, for a long hike option can be reached from the Natures valley camp 17.7 Km away.
The second day takes one deep into the Tsitsikamma Mountains and forest. This is a wetter and more
remote world where a true sense of isolation begins to take hold. The trails weaves through a selection of fynbos over the ridges and enchanted patches of indigenous forest as the trail begins its eastward course through the mountains. The crossing of the Bloukrans River at Waterwitelsgat is always exciting and provides a
wonderful swimming and resting place. The rest of the day follows predominantly flat terrain through
flower-rich fynbos and relic forest to the hut which is situated in the wetter Keurbos forest.
The following day passes through very diverse habitat types and has many exciting river crossings. Hikers should proceed slowly up Rushes Pass, pausing regularly to appreciate the majestic views. Once over the saddle, large pockets of untouched indigenous forest become visible in remote mountain regions. The path then descends for a similar distance to follow the western bank of the Elandsbos River for almost a kilometre before reaching the Elandsbos River crossing point. Heuningbos indigenous forest has many hidden secrets awaiting hikers further ahead. After the final descent towards the hut, you will cross the Kleinbos River twice before reaching the Heuningbos Hut. A very pleasant swimming pool lies within rolling distance away.
The hike exits south towards the Boskor Sawmill 5 km away ready to be collected by a shuttle.
Accommodation
Basic cooking pots and braai grids.
Wood
Transfer
all additional cost
guides
Optional equipment porterage (slackpacking) now provides hikers with the chance of having their equipment transported between overnight huts. To be arranged prior to the Hike.
Enjoyed the upgraded facilities, huts where clean and in good condition. Bunks are comfortable and staff where accomadating when rain caused river levels to become safely impassable. - Eddie
We were a group of 10 people that did the hike and everybody had an unforgettable experience. We made use of the slackpacking option and every day after a long day of hiking our luggage was at the hut on time. The trail is well marked. The newly built huts are warm and clean. The Lapas and braai facilities have everything you need, enough wood, gas burners, pots etc. To be able to take a hot shower after a long day hiking was bliss thanks to the donkeys at each hut. The only negative aspect of the hike is that the map's distances and the actual distance that you hike are not the same. The map say 14km and then you end up doing 17km for the day. But I will do the hike again and again and again. All the facilities are well kept and maintained and the beauty surrounding it are amazing. Thank you MTO and staff who made our hike a very pleasant experience. - Elaine
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