Here is your holiday hiking checklist

SOUTH Africans are ‘outdoor people’ thanks to the country’s great climate and natural beauty.

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?

Click HERE to find out more on Zululand hiking trails

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