besthike.com

A wonderful hike – well maintained, easy to follow, varied, great facilities and they even gave me the best possible weather without a drop of rain in the middle of the rainy season but the most remarkable thing was I didn’t see ONE other person on the entire trail…?

115km of hiking

3 days and 3 nights

Over 2500m of elevation gain …

Mix of mountains, rain forest, waterfalls, pools, ridges, creeks, pine plantations, long grasses and more!

Starting/end point: the town of Sabie (few hundred kms from Jo’burg and Pretoria in NE South Africa) …

Smorgasbord of South African Beauty – Fanie Botha Hiking Trail

Luny posted a good map.

Starting points are either at the Ceylon Hut (on Ceylon Plantation), or the President Burger Hut (at Mac Mac Forest Retreat), or the Graskop Hut (near the town of Graskop) and parking is available at these points only.

It’s easy to section hike the Fanie Botha, especially with those big loops.

South African Hikes:

Maritzbos two day trail, total distance 17.1 km

Maritzbos circular three night trail, total distance 30.1 km

Bonnet/Mac Mac Pools two day trail, total distance 39 km

Hartbeesvlakte two night trail, total distance 30.1 km

Mount Moodie/y four night trail, total distance 58.8 or 49.5 km

Fanie Botha five night trail, total distance 71.8 or 62.5 km

Go magazine has a terrific trip article by Anim van Wyk and photographer Lawrette McFarlane:

Opened in 1973, the Fanie Botha Hiking Trail between Sabie and Graskop is the first formally designated trail in the country. …

Be careful on the bridge over the Mac-Mac River in the rain – it’s very slippery.

You hike past the spectacular Mac-Mac Falls – a national monument – on Day 5.

Who was Fanie Botha?

In the 1960s, one Paul van Zyl did a master’s degree on the Appalachian Trail in the United States of America – a trail that stretches over 3500 km in the east of the country. On his return to South Africa he convinced Fanie Botha, then minister of forestry, that hiking trails were a way to make better use of plantations.

Botha’s plan was to develop one long trail from the Soutpansberg all along the escarpment to the Cederberg in the Western Cape. This dream was never realised.

On 11 and 12 May 1973, about 30 hikers hiked the 45 km from the Lone Creek Falls over Mount Anderson to the Mac-Mac Falls, where Botha then officially opened the trail.

Botha promulgated legislation for the national hiking trail system and enabled the establishment of the National Hiking Trail Council in 1975. He could be called “the father of hiking” in South Africa.

There are four huts on the trail:

Ceylon Hut. This was the name of one of the first plantations in the former Transvaal.

Maritzbos Hut. It’s named after the Maritz family to which this piece of land once belonged. They felled trees to make supports for mine shafts.

Stables Hut. It used to be a mule stable. Mules are still used to drag out felled trees.

President Burgers Hut. It’s named after the president of the ZAR between 1872 and 1877.

The grand old man of Mpumalanga

If you want to sleep in the huts, contact Komatiland ECOTourism, Komatiland Booking office, Nelspruit:

Telephone: (013) 754 2724
Fax: (012) 481 3622
Email: ecotour@klf.co.za

related – Philip Jacobson VIDEO highlights

April 13, 2014April 11, 2014

Best Hike and Summit Stones

I got a shout out from SUMMIT STONES & ADVENTURE MUSINGS:

My friend Rick McCharles of Best Hike has been a wonderful Partner In Placing for many years now. …

“Adventuring The World Over…”

April 12, 2014

Bourke’s Luck Potholes

EVERYONE drives South Africa’s Blyde canyon highways carefully, dodging potholes. Yet EVERYONE stops at the Bourke’s Luck Potholes:

Sustained kolks in the Treur River’s plunge pools have eroded a number of cylindrical potholes or giant’s kettles, which can be viewed from the crags above. It was named after a local prospector, Tom Bourke, who predicted the presence of gold, though he found none himself. The pedestrian bridges connect the various overlooks of the potholes and the gorge downstream. …

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It really is a well done tourist attraction.

more photos

Parking permit required. ($5)

April 12, 2014April 9, 2014

Fitzroy and Cerro Torre

My hiking partner from Manaslu last year is in Patagonia.

He got some (rare) good weather at Fitzroy.

Mike Howarth:

Riding in to El Chalten there before me stood the Fitzroy massif bathed in sunlight. Monte Fitzroy, Cerro Torre, Poincenot, Inominata and many more …

After two days of fine weather, clear views of Fitzroy and Cerro Torre my business here is done. Autumn begins and its time to head north and begin the next leg of the journey; The Carretera Austral.

El Chalten: Fickle Weather and Enchanting Granite

April 11, 2014April 11, 2014

personal BEST hikes

Brandon Esparza of Florida Outdoors RV polled experts in the outdoors to put together a list of their FAVE hikes:

El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, Sonora, Mexico

Shining Rock Wilderness in Pisgah National Forest of Western North Carolina

Little-Big Econ State Forest in Geneva, Florida

Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario

Gasterntal Valley, Switzerland

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

Florida Trail, Ocala National Forest, Florida

High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Blue Ridge Mountains

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Smoky Mountain National Park, North Carolina

West Coast Trail, BC

High Country Pathway, Michigan

Swiftcurrent Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana

Hallett Peak, Colorado

Cottonwood Lakes, Eastern Sierra, California

Rainbow Springs, Ocala National Forest

Wheeler Geologic Area, La Garita Wilderness, Colorado

Experts Weigh in on Their Favorite Camping/Hiking Spots!

Click through for details.

April 11, 2014April 9, 2014

perceptions of HIKING

Posted by Andrew McManama on Facebook.

Driving to the trailhead is far more dangerous than walking the trail, of course.

On the other hand, I fell down while walking without a pack the other day. Cut up and bruised my hands. 😦

April 11, 2014

Mt. Nimbus Via Ferrata

Have you heard of this adventure in Canada?

Rick Mercer travels to the Purcell Mountains in British Columbia to climb Mt. Nimbus Via Ferrata. Watch the FUNNY video.

That would cost you about $2000 with CMH heli-hiking.

April 10, 2014August 3, 2014

Dientes de Navarino Circuit

Dientes de Navarino are a mountain range in Navarino Island, Chile, located just south of Puerto Williams, along the Beagle Channel coast.
The Dientes Circuit is recommended as one of the best hikes in the world.

Also known as:

* Isla Navarino Circuit
* Circuito Dientes de Navarino
* the teeth of Navarino

Victory Cruises

Charming, entertaining and original, be sure to watch this video trip report by rlciq from Brazil before heading to Patagonia for the Teeth of the Navarino.

This is the true last trek on earth! High mountain on low altitude. Few people. Lots of beavers. Amazing landscapes. No fee. Perfect balance between challenging and fun!

Click PLAY or watch part 1 on Vimeo.

Click PLAY or watch part 2 on Vimeo.

Check out Dientes information page.

April 9, 2014April 9, 2014

new eBook – trek Everest Base Camp

In collaboration with Frank and Sue Wall, Jay Reilly announces a new eBook. Jay lived in Nepal for 6 years, a professional trekking and mountain guide:

Remember To Breathe

It includes a comprehensive guide to frequently asked questions, the best time of the year to go, your health and required first aid supplies, training to get prepared for the trek, equipment you’ll need and where to find it, and comprehensive track notes.

This 70 plus page downloadable PDF eBook is written with the first time visitor to Nepal in mind. It is packed with inside knowledge and tips to help you plan and execute your trip.

Best still – as it is a downloadable eBook you can have it today (with no need for delivery fees) It’s just $A15.99.

Our Hiking Blog – How to trek to Everest Base Camp – a independent guide book

That’s the best link for details on the book.

Remember to Breathe

Click to see a sample.

I have a review copy. It looks great.

In 2014 I prefer eBooks to hard copies. On my laptop, eBooks are a dream — so easy to search.

On my phone, on the trail, it’s a little more challenging to find exactly what I want, when I want it.

Having trekked to Everest Base Camp a few years ago, carrying two heavy guidebooks, I wish I’d had this resource instead.

One point of confusion in the book:

“The TIMS Card can only be issued by a trekking agency that is registered with TAAN (Trekking Agents Association Nepal)

Along with the TIMS Card, you are required to take a Nepalese “guide” with you. The cost of this should be about 1200 NRP per day for the guide. This includes his food. Be sure to negotiate this before you pay any money.”

Only 6 months ago you could purchase a TIMS card for yourself at the Tourism Board office in Kathmandu. It was not necessary to have a guide to go to Everest.

Has something changed?

Jay’s reply:

Nothing has changed, you can still get a TIMS Card at the Ministry for Tourism if you wish. It’s a different card than the one issued by trek agents, that registers you as an ‘independant’ trekker, not requiring a guide. However-not all the check post guys know this and to them you are a trekker without a guide, and in their eyes, doing something wrong. I’ve heard of people being turned back even though they have the Ministry issued TIMS. Buyer beware…

The guide suggests Rabies shots. I’ve not encountered many trekkers who have had them. Cyclists generally do, as they are at far greater risk of being nipped at by guard dogs.

Jay:

Regarding rabies, I never personally got the vaccination, but some doctors recommend people do. Bottom line-consult a doctor and make your descisions based upon professional medical advice.

I’m planning on Nepal again Oct/Nov 2014.

April 9, 2014April 9, 2014

Giant’s Cup Trail, Drakensberg – day 3

Trip report by site editor Rick McCharles.

day 1 | day 2 | day 3

Easy day. Only 12km to finish the Giant’s Cup Trail at Bushman’s Nek Hut.

I departed Swiman hut late.

Glorious. Glorious.

Skies were clear. The landscape empty aside from me. And THIS GUY.

I later did some research … but couldn’t confirm the species. Leave a comment if you know.

Again, each time I got saw some significant shade, I cooled off.

This crude wooden bridge had obviously flooded recently.

BABOONS!

This afternoon I saw 4-5 different troops of Baboons in the distance.

This was my best photo.

DUNG BEETLE! … Actually, there are plenty of Dung beetles on this trail.

Frog.

I had great views of a big herd of Eland.

And again saw grey rhebok.

South Africa is a hot, dry country. But there’s no shortage of water in the Drakensberg during the rainy season.

Civilization.

I’d held on to a Summit Stone for the entire trip, waiting on some “highlight” of the Giant’s Cups Trail.

But there was no one highlight. The Giant’s Cup is all good. I left this one in the final cairn before dropping down to Bushman’s Nek.

I saw a sign pointing to Bushman’s Nek hut, but ignored it as the trail looked faint.

Instead I stayed on the trail more trodden.

Turned out that took me to the KZN Wildlife office. I had to backtrack about 1km in the rain.

Alone again. Bushman’s Nek hut is in a very pretty location.

It was nice to wash my dusty, hot feed in the nearby waterfall.

Rather than sleep under a roof, I again set up my tent under cover. And watched the night fall.

more photos from this day
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Logistics

Next morning the KZN Wildlife office called a bush taxi from a local hotel. It took me to Underberg town for about $50 (expensive).

I was there for about 4hrs waiting for the mini-bus to Pietermaritzburg to fill. Though tourists are often advised not to take the local transport, in Underberg they are fairly used to shuttling hikers out from the Giant’s Cup.

You might consider starting at Bushman’s Nek and hiking to Sani Backpackers or Sani Pass Hotel. Travel logistics would be easier and cheaper if you don’t have your own vehicle.

If you wanted to hire a guide, I’d recommend booking through Drakensberg Adventures.

• Drakensberg Tourism

• Giant’s Cup Trail Run 2014

• EKZ’s Giant’s Cup Trail page

• my hiking guidebook – Cicerone Walking in the Drakensberg

day 1 | day 2 | day 3