SOUTH Africans are ‘outdoor people’ thanks to the country’s great climate and natural beauty. With Covid-19 dominating our lives, with the new normals of masks and social distancing, it may be a good idea to get out doors and take a hike.
But one has to be careful.
Unfortunately, as exciting as outdoor adventures can be, many mountains have steep gorges, sheer cliff faces and ever-changing weather conditions. Add to these snakes, insects, wild animals or even an unhappy farmer’s bull could turn what was supposed to be a leisurely outing into a nightmare.
These are dangers which need to be considered while planning the trip. Other dangers include crime and muggings which are also becoming an unfortunate reality. With careful planning of the route, informing others of your movements and basic safety precautions, these can, however, be kept to a minimum.
While these factors cover most outdoor activities, hiking is one way of coming close to nature, with a certain amount of safety, if the rules are followed.
History of hiking in South Africa
Hiking through wilderness areas formerly started around 1958 with the late Dr Ian Player at the helm. Mainly through his efforts, half the iMfolozi Game Reserve (now part of the Hlulhuwe-iMfolozi Park) and a part of Lake St Lucia (now the iSimangoliso Wetland Park) were proclaimed the first two wilderness areas in South Africa.
Dr Player promoted access into these wilderness areas on foot, canoe or horseback. But, this was not the start of hiking in South Africa, as there are many areas which were, and still are, the mainstay of true adventurers who take to the likes of the Drakensberg (KZN) or the Cedarberg in the Western Cape.
Formal hiking routes
Marked hiking routes gained popularity in the mid-1970s, when the then Department of Forestry laid out permanent hiking trails on some of its land, with the Fanie Botha Hiking Trail outside Sabie in Mpumalanga being the first such trail.
This was the start of a proposed National Hiking Way System which was to extend along various routes from Musina to Cape Town on the same lines as America’s Appalachian Trail (AT). The AT is more than 3 500km and passes through 14 states, eight national forests, six national park units and numerous state parks, forests, and game lands. The first ‘organised’ hiking trail in South Africa is the Otter Trail, which was opened in 1968 in the Western Cape. It is situated on the coast between the Storms River mouth and Nature’s Valley.
Although the dream of a continuous hiking trail has not materialised, there are many trails offering varied degrees of difficulty and landscapes.
From the 10-day Outeniqua Hiking Trail, outside George, to short one-day hikes they all offer their unique experience. Why not try one this holiday season and encounter nature at its best? Hiking checklist
Although this is a hiking checklist, it can be applied to most outdoor activities. *Be relatively fit *Do not underestimate the terrain *Allow enough time to walk the envisaged section per day Weather *Check weather conditions *Wear a hat and sunblock
Gear *Carry a windbreaker or warm top *Wear sturdy shoes and take a walking stick *Have a map of your route *Take a cellphone with airtime and enter emergency numbers *Carry a simple first aid kit
Provisions *Take two litres of water per person per day *Take snacks *Carry an extra day’s rations in case of emergency
Environment *Keep all litter with you *Do not cause pollution *Stick to the hiking paths *Always take precautions when hiking
In emergency *Do not panic *If you get lost, retrace your steps *If weather conditions are poor, seek shelter, keep warm and dry, and wait it out.
General *Get permission from the landowner *Notify someone of your route and destination *If hiking in the Drakensberg, fill in the hiking register *Stick to the route *Hike in a group and enjoy the fresh air as you enter 2021.
