Trail Details

Between Stanford and Gansbaai, off the R43

Closest towns – Stanford & Gansbaai with the tourist hub of Hermanus a 45 minute drive.

Away from transport hub: Self-drive or shuttle by arrangement

Premium Option: Core Trail: 3 days / 2 nights, fully catered & guided slackpacking option.
Includes: Overnight accommodation at fully equipped Fynbos Retreat and Witkrans, two dinners, two lunches and two breakfasts,
Lomond wine tasting at Witkrans, expert FGASA accredited guide for three days, planting of indigenous tree at Stinkhoutsbos
Forest on day two lunch stop, fynbos gift on completion of trail and all luggage transfers. Exclusive tour to the Grootbos Florilegium
and Wenhold Botanical art gallery at the end of Day 3 (the only botanical art gallery in the Southern hemisphere).

Standard Option: Fully catered & unguided slackpacking option
Includes: Overnight accommodation at fully equipped Fynbos Retreat and Witkrans, two dinners, one lunch and two breakfasts,
(drinks excluded but you are welcome to bring along drinks and they will be transported to overnight stops and chilled for your
arrival) and all luggage transfers. This is a circular route that takes hikers all the way back to the start at Steynsbos.

Budget Option: Self catered & unguided slackpacking option
Includes: Overnight accommodation at fully equipped Fynbos Retreat and Witkrans (bedding and towels provided), route map
and narrative and luggage transfers. This is a circular route that takes hikers all the way back to the start at Steynsbos.

Start: Steynsbos Farm, Grootbos GPS: 34˚52’13.63 S / 19˚44’86.92 E (core trail)
or De Kelders GPS: 34˚54’76.39 S / 19˚37’68.28 E (coastal add on)

Finish: Grootbos Private Nature Reserve at the Floralgium Art Gallery GPS: 34˚54’19.68 S / 19˚41’20.99 E (Premium Option)
or Steynsbos Farm, Grootbos where your cars are parked  GPS: 34˚52’13.63 S / 19˚44’86.92 E (Standard Option & Option 3)

Day 1: 6.6km           Day 2: 11km    Day 3: 7.8km (Premium Option)

Day 3: 11km (Standard Option and Budget Option)

Day 4: 15km            Day 5: 10 (with Coastal add on)

On a grading of Easy – Moderate – Strenuous
This trail would be regarded as Moderate, with the single track path undulating and no steep climbs

This trail has been assessed by Green Flag Trails – http://greenflagtrails.co.za/hiking-trails-international/

A moderate level of fitness is required

Not technical and single path all the way. Elevation gain 534m at highest peak on Day 2.

Fully-equipped self catering farm cottages.  Wood fired Pizza oven on first night and outdoor wood fired hot tub on second night.  Indoor fireplace at both cottages for cold evenings.  Bedding and towels are included.  Cottages sleep 10 in 5 bedrooms

Premium Option and Standard Option are fully catered – all meals and lunch packs provided (own drinks and snacks)

Budget Option is self catered

All Options: All overnight luggage is transported, day packs only.

Premium Option is guided by fully trained and accredited guides.

Standard Option and Budget Option are unguided on a well marked route and a map is provided.

Access to privately owned land within the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy and Grootbos Private Nature Reserve that is otherwise not accessible to the public.

This area includes magnificent natural landscapes and unique biodiversity including over 1100 species of indigenous plants; 8 indigenous forests; waterfalls; early human cave sites; whale watching and birding hotspots.

High quality guiding with FGHASA guides, which brings the landscapes and stories of the area to life.

Packages integrate hiking with the conservation and community projects in the area.

Authentic, personally hosted farm accommodation

Fresh meals produced from local sources, primarily the Growing the Future Project on Grootbos.a

The Premium option ends with a guided tour at the Grootbos Florilegium at the Hannarie Wenhold Botanical Art Gallery at the Grootbos Private Nature reserve during your hike.  The breathtaking paintings, at South Africa’s first fynbos florilegium, are a perfect combination of nature and culture that you won’t want to miss

The business supports local conservation and social upliftment projects through partnerships with The Grootbos Foundation; Flower Valley Conservation Trust and the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy.  By hiking the trail, guests contribute directly to the conservation of the region and the upliftment of local communities.

The founder of the trail, botanist, Sean Privett has researched the biodiversity of the region and been instrumental in developing a variety of conservation programmes that the hikers experience during their journey.  The Premium guests receive a signed copy of his book, which is a field guide of the area and the culmination of 15 years of fynbos research.

Wine Tasting with award winning Lomond Wines with the Premium Option package

This product is far more than just a traditional hiking trail as it has been carefully designed to integrate the best of the natural environment with the fascinating social and conservation programmes of the region.

The Fynbos Trail takes hikers along a beautiful stretch of trail through coastal and mountain fynbos and remote forests.  Highlights along the trail include fascinating visits to local archaeological sites, learning about the exceptional diversity, threats and ecological wonders of the fynbos and fores

Rainy winters, hot dry summers.

This trail can be hiked all year, although mid-summer can be hot and mid-winter, wet. Best time: April – June; September – November

Minimum of 4 and a max of 10 (we do try and accommodate single hikers with mixed groups) and also go up to 14 on request.

Premium Option: Price – R5550 per person over weekend (or including Friday and Saturday nights)
Price – R5150 per person during the week (Sunday to Thursday night)

Note: Minimum group size of 4 required for this option and 6 over weekends.

Standard Option: Price – R4100 per person over weekend (or including Friday and Saturday nights)
Price – R3900 per person during the week (Sunday to Thursday night)

Budget Option: Price – R1950 per person
Note: Minimum group size of 6 required for this option and 8 over weekends.
Budget Option is only available for select weekend dates and is not available over long weekends.

All meals, guiding and transport back to the start. Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks are not supplied, hikers are welcome to bring their own.

The Fynbos Trail