For
those with limited time available in the Garden
Route but still seeking an informed guided nature
walk and hiking experience, Garden Route Trail offers
the following half day and full day guided walk
options:
Dune
Mole Rat Trail : Double Collared SunbirdA
6Km circular walk with bird eye views of Rondevlei,
Wolve Rivier and Swartvlei as you are guided through
the Dune Fynbos. Here Erica's and Leucodendron's
abound interspersed with Buchu. On this walk you
will discover the species of 'little' fauna of South
Africa's wildlife and learn the intricacies of the
Fynbos. The path traverses a wetland area and is
located in a Ramsar Heritage site because of it's
importance as a breeding site for numerous bird
species.
Equipment required : Day pack,
water, snacks, sunhat, sunscreen, camera, binoculars.
Robberg
Peninsula : Robberg Peninsula A wonderful
walk circumnavigating the Robberg Peninsula. Offering
spectacular views of the bay and Titsikamma Mountains,
you are guided through numerous geological profiles
and coastal fynbos passing a Cape Fur Seal colony
en route to the point for lunch. Returning on the
western side you cross over to a tambola island
with perfect beaches and safe swimming to view a
Cape Gull Colony. Between May and November this
walk offers wonderful land based sightings of Southern
Right and Humpbacked Whales breaching on both sides
of the peninsula.
Equipment required : Daypack, sunhat,
walking shoes with good grip, sunscreen, windbreaker,
camera, binoculars
Goukamma
Loop : Traversing the vegetated dunes in
Goukamma Nature Reserve you are guided through Milkwood
Forests into Fynbos on one of the tallest vegetated
and fossilized sand dunes in South Africa for 8.6km
before reaching the beach at Oysterbeds for lunch.
After a swim and lunch the walk takes you on the
beach for 9km to Platbank, passing numerous pairs
of African Black Oystercatchers and exposed litholised
sand dune before crossing over the dunes on a gravel
road back to the start.
Equipment required : Daypack, sunhat,
sunscreen and windbreaker/waterproof
Elephant
Walk : Towering tree fernsIn the Diepvalle
Forest, you will be guided along the Elephant Trail
routes through pristine Afromontane Forest. Your
senses will be heightened by the prospect of seeing
one of South Africa's only free roaming elephants.
Passing 800 year old Podocarp's and walking beneath
towering tree ferns you will be able to escape all
references to our modern world and enter the habitat
of Knysna Turaco's and Narina Trogons.
Equipment required : Daypack, camera,
binoculars, weatherproof.
Visit
http://gardenroutetrail.co.za/index.htm
for more information on Garden Route Hiking
