The Amatola Path was our first multi-day trek in South Africa. After spending a variety of time trekking in Nepal and South America we determined it was time to discover extra of our personal nation. We actually loved the path and since then we’ve accomplished a number of long-distance hikes within the nation together with the well-known Otter Path, Outeniqua Path, and Cape of Good Hope hike.
Amatola path is an incredible hike close to Hogsback, a small city in Jap Cape province in South Africa. The path size is 100 km, it begins at Maden Dam and finishes within the city. You hike Amatola path in 6 days and 5 nights, each night time you sleep in a hut, common strolling time 7 hours per day and distance between 14-20 km. In 6 days you stroll by the rain forest, mountains, and fields, cross many waterfalls, swimming pools, and lookouts on the way in which. Should you like climbing, exploring, and observing nature you’ll undoubtedly benefit from the Amatola path. We hope our Amatola path climbing information will likely be useful and galvanizing so that you can do that great hike.
Learn how to e-book the Amatola Path?
You’ll be able to e-book it immediately by the Amatola trails workplace as we tried first however it didn’t work for us. We phoned there and so they promised to ship an electronic mail with banking particulars that we may make a cost however we by no means acquired it. They aren’t opened at weekends we needed to wait until Monday. Ultimately, we booked and paid by Away with the fairies hostel it was straightforward and quick. They booked the hike for us and the value was the identical.
The price of the path
The trek prices between ZAR 1900 and ZAR 2500 per particular person for six days/5 nights. Youngsters and college students get a reduction. The worth consists of the doorway payment, 5 nights lodging on the path (huts), and pre and post-hike lodging (2 nights tenting/dormitory/personal room at Away with the Fairies), and a shuttle to the beginning of the path. On meals for the hike, we spent about ZAR 350 per particular person.
The place to remain earlier than and after the hike?
Hogsback is the closest city to the path so most individuals keep there earlier than and after the hike. As I mentioned we booked Amatola path by Away with the fairies hostel the place we stayed for 2 nights. The place is superb, stunning, peaceable with a pleasant vibe and really pleasant individuals. Should you’re driving from Cape City to Hogsback you may prolong your journey and mix it with exploring the Garen Route.
The most effective time to hike the Amatola Path
You’ll be able to hike the path all 12 months spherical although in winter (June to August) days are shorter and temperatures are decrease. Snowfalls can happen excessive within the mountains. Summer time months (December to February) are generally known as wet months; it’s hotter than in winter and days are longer however heavy rains is usually a ache. December is as properly a peak season because of the Christmas holidays so it may be crowded and also you’ll in all probability need to e-book the path beforehand. October and November is an efficient time for climbing; the climate is sweet and there are only a few individuals on the path.
We did it on the finish of November – starting of December and had been the one individuals on the path. It was very straightforward to e-book we did it simply 2 days earlier than the hike. In 6 days we didn’t see another hikers and even individuals (solely locals from far-off). The path is well-marked and straightforward to observe simply at all times test for yellow footprints that you will discover painted on bushes or rocks.
Lodging on the path
Each night time you sleep in a hut so no want to hold a tent and sleeping pad. All huts have beds with mattresses, showers, bogs, working water, hearth, garbage bin, and outdoors or inside eating space. No electrical energy on the path don’t count on to cost your units or learn with electrical gentle.
What to pack for the hike?
Garments
- Good climbing sneakers
- Lengthy climbing pants (the path goes by the bush)
- A rain jacket
- A fleece
- 2-3 T-shirts
- Flip-flops
- Sleeping garments
- 3 pairs of socks
- A cap/hat
- Sun shades
- Swimming costume
- Underwear
- Should you hike in winter you’ll want extra heat garments.
Gear
- A sleeping bag. Relying on while you hike we did it in summer season and had gentle summer season sleeping baggage.
- Cooking pots
- A range and fuel
- Plastic cups
- A lighter
- Plates (we ate from pots lids)
- Utensils
- A can opener (if in case you have any cans)
- A water bottle
- A towel
- Firelighters (to make hearth in the event you plan to make use of hearth locations)
- First support equipment
- Bathroom paper
- A torch
- Sunscreen
- Mosquito repellent (we didn’t have many mosquitoes although)
- A sponge to scrub dishes
- Cleaning soap
- Toothpaste and toothbrush
- A e-book or/and taking part in playing cards.
Meals
- Breakfast – oats with sugar and low with cookies;
- Lunch – biltong with crackers;
- Dinner – spaghetti or immediate mashed potatoes with a can of tuna and a can of curry beans/greens.
We had simply sufficient meals and had been fairly hungry every single day earlier than dinner I’d counsel packing extra snacks e.g. vitality bars, cookies or candies. The benefit of not having a variety of meals was that our backpacks had been fairly gentle.
Learn how to get to the place to begin of the Amatola Path?
The path begins at Maden Dam which is about 1h30min. drive from Hogsback. There is no such thing as a parking place close to the doorway so most individuals take a shuttle bus from Hogsback. You’ll be able to go away your automobile in Hogsback at secure parking of Away with the fairies hostel as we did. It’s free in the event you stick with them if not you pay ZAR 50/US$4 for the entire interval.
Whether it is too far to drive all the way in which out of your hometown to Hogsback you may fly to the closest airport and lease a automobile on the airport of Port Elizabeth or on the airport of East London. Port Elizabeth is 260 km from Hogsback, East London airport is 140 km away.
If you wish to go to Hogsback as part of your backpacking journey throughout South Africa and renting a automobile is just not an possibility you should purchase a versatile ticket to BazBus, a mini-bus shuttle service that runs between Cape City and Durban with many stops in between. You will get on and off as many occasions as you need. They cease at greater than 200 lodging (inns, hostels, guesthouses) alongside the route it’s principally a door-to-door service. It’s an excellent possibility for solo vacationers to fulfill individuals and discover a firm for additional adventures.
Like climbing and reside in Cape City or planning to go to the town? Make certain to take a look at these superb hikes in Cape City that supply gorgeous views of the town and its environment.
Journey insurance coverage for South Africa
Should you’re a foreigner and planning to discover South Africa and do some outside actions it’s extremely really useful to have journey insurance coverage. Make certain to decide on a dependable firm. We will advocate utilizing World Nomads. They provide very versatile insurance coverage insurance policies that may be bought on-line at any time earlier than or throughout your journey. It takes solely a few minutes to get journey insurance coverage.
Amatola path climbing itinerary
All the time observe yellow footprints they’re in every single place alongside the path, you may see them each 50-100m.
Day 1. Maden Dam – Gwili Gwili hut, 13 km, 5 hours
- The beginning of the Amatola path is on the suitable aspect of the fence, don’t undergo the gate, test for a yellow footprint on the tree;
- At a few locations, the path splits at all times take the suitable ones;
- Lengthy up, about 500 m, from Maden Dam to Gwili Gwili hut.
Our shuttle bus left at 8.30 am from the hostel and after 1h30min. we arrived at Maden Dam. There was no person on the entrance we discovered footprints and began strolling. The primary day is the shortest one solely 13km however don’t let it idiot you there’s a lengthy typically steep ascent from 600m to 1100m. Fortunately after tackling a number of climbing trails up Desk Mountain we had been ready for ups and downs on this hike.
The primary 3km had been flat and straightforward by the indigenous forest with many small streams and rivers on the way in which the place you may get recent water. Then we had a gentle uphill until 7km and from there steeper up all the way in which to Gwili Gwili hut. It took us simply over 4 hours to get there with some brief stops on the way in which to refill water bottles and take pictures. We arrived on the hut at lunchtime. At the present time you stroll within the shadow of the forest no want to fret concerning the solar.
Gwili Gwili hut
A giant picket home with two bedrooms and one eating room with tables and benches. Every room has 10 beds with mattresses. There are two bogs, 4 showers and a donkey (sizzling water boiler) so you may get sizzling water. A giant fire-place with sufficient wooden to make a hearth. The place is sweet neat and clear and has a wonderful view over the hills and forest. Uphill behind the hut, there’s a eating desk the place you may eat breakfast and luxuriate in an incredible view. The principle door may be locked from the within in addition to each rooms’ doorways and the home windows. With the intention to get working water open the valve on the left of the hut.
Day 2. Gwili Gwili hut – Dontsa hut, 19,5 km, 7,5 hours
- An extended however straightforward day, not actual ups largely down however no steep neither lengthy, about 200 m for the day;
- Lack of consuming water on the way in which, ensure you carry sufficient water with you for the day, we had 2,5l and refiled twice on the way in which. The primary stream is about 45 min. stroll from Gwili Gwili and the following one is 15km later.
It was an extended day. We began at 7.30 and arrived at Dontsa at 3 pm on the way in which we stopped a number of occasions for resting, lunch, and pictures.
The path goes primarily by the indigenous forest typically by pine plantations. Many ups and downs however not very lengthy or steep. Within the first half, there are a number of lookouts with gorgeous views over the mountains and the valley. At the present time within the forest about 6km from Gwili Gwili hut we noticed many Knysna Louries.
Dontsa hut
It is rather much like Gwili Gwili one; an enormous home with a typical eating space and 4 rooms with 4-5 beds every. Some beds didn’t have mattresses. There are a fire-place and a few wooden behind the home. In addition to one bathe and one bathroom a bit away from the home. You will get sizzling water utilizing a donkey (heater).
The hut is subsequent to the gravel street that goes to the pine plantations. We noticed employees driving away at 3 pm and driving again at 7.00 am the following day after that there was no person round. The principle door may be locked from the within, in addition to the home windows however the rooms’ doorways don’t have locks.
Day 3. Dontsa hut – Cata hut, 19 km (optionally available 16,8 km), 9 hours
- Lengthy ups and downs; first 500 m up, then 500 m down, then 300 m up;
- First path possibility at 5 km you may go over Doorn Kop mountain (more durable) or round it (simpler);
- Should you go over Doorn Kop at all times observe yellow footprints it’s straightforward to confuse the path with certainly one of many cow paths there;
- Second path possibility on the backside of Eseka Valley; the Higher path (shortest and best); the Center path (a bit longer) and the Decrease path (the longest and the toughest however essentially the most stunning by Waterfall Forest);
- Refill your water bottles on the second waterfall from the hut subsequent water supply is hours away.
It was an extended and fairly robust day. We began at 7.30 am and arrived at Cata hut at 4.30 pm however we stopped a number of occasions for swimming, lunch, and pictures. Throughout at the present time we had two lengthy ups and one lengthy down.
The primary ascent begins proper at the start after the primary waterfall and continues until the second waterfall and a bit extra additional. Right here we noticed many monkeys. At 5 km there’s a cut up we took the suitable path that goes excessive of Doorn Kop. The view from there was gorgeous. After reaching the highest, you begin an extended descent to Eseka Valley. On the way in which down we noticed many dassies working round and Black Eagles gliding above.
As soon as on the backside, you’ve gotten three choices; to take higher, center, or backside paths. We took the underside one which goes by Waterfall Forest. It’s the longest and essentially the most troublesome although essentially the most stunning means. We noticed many small and large waterfalls the final two had been particularly stunning. After the waterfalls, you’ve gotten fairly an extended steep uphill to the hut. Should you arrive early sufficient and aren’t very drained you may go and test some swimming pools which can be 5-10 min. stroll from Cata hut in direction of Mnyameni.
Cata hut
The hut has 4 rooms every with 4 bunk beds with mattresses. There are a bathroom and a bathe with a donkey for heating water exterior. An outdated half-destroyed brick hut now serves as a eating room and fire-place. The hut is in the course of nowhere between mountains and fields. The doorway door and the home windows may be locked from the within, rooms’ doorways haven’t any locks. The hut’s roof makes a variety of noise particularly if the wind blows.
Day 4. Cata hut – Mnyameni hut, 13,5 km, 8 hours
- The primary 5 km is a steep ascent for about 500 m;
- Midway up there’s a brief lower in case the climate is just not good otherwise you really feel drained;
- After up you’ve gotten lengthy down, about 800 m, until you attain the hut;
- Sunscreen, a hat, and sun shades are should you stroll all day within the solar;
- Put together a swimming costume there are lots of good falls and swimming pools;
- Refill your water bottle in one of many waterfalls, to start with, you’ll want it for an extended climb up.
We began a bit late at 8 am as a result of the strolling day promised to be brief. Proper from the start, we had an extended and fairly steep ascend all the way in which to the highest of the mountains. On the way in which, we handed a number of waterfalls with good swimming pools for swimming. The view from the highest was superb! Right here we noticed many Black Eagles gliding across the cliffs and plenty of different smaller birds.
From the highest, we began to descend first to the pasture fields with some gorgeous views over the canyon. We once more noticed many eagles right here gliding alongside the canyon in addition to dassies working away like loopy.
After a brief flat half, there was a second descend for the day, all the way down to the river, about 3,5 km to Mnyameni hut. We walked by the forest with many stunning waterfalls with swimming pools. That was the principle motive why we took so lengthy we stopped at each second pool for a brief dip and pictures. General the fourth day was essentially the most spectacular for us.
Mnyameni hut
It is rather much like Cata hut simply every part is a little more dilapidated and unattended. Once we had been right here there was no working water so no bathe or washing. Fortunately there’s a river proper subsequent to the hut we may get some water for cooking and consuming. The hut has 4 rooms with bunk beds and mattresses, bathroom, bathe, and fire-place are exterior. The lock at one entrance door was damaged so we used an enormous log to maintain it closed. The home windows may be locked from the within however the rooms’ doorways haven’t any locks. This hut was the most popular we needed to go away home windows open for some recent air. The hut is in the course of nowhere no roads or homes close by.
Day 5. Mnyameni hut – Zingcuka hut, 18 km, 8 hours
- First 2 hours uphill, about 300 m;
- Final 2 km down all the way in which to the hut, fairly steep to start with;
- Use sunscreen, hat, and sun shades;
- Lengthy climbing pants and lengthy sleeve shirt is preferable some elements you stroll by the bushes with thorns;
- At Zingcuka hut to get working water it’s a must to open a valve (behind the bathe).
At the present time we began earlier at 7.00 am with a purpose to have extra time for swimming in swimming pools and arrived at Zingcuka hut at 3 pm. First two hours or so it was fairly steep up by the bush. Right here for the primary time on the path we heard and noticed baboons, they had been making loud noises however by no means got here nearer or bothered us.
As soon as the up is completed right here comes essentially the most stunning a part of the day many waterfalls with good swimming pools for swimming. Close to the primary fall, we noticed a deer within the forest. The most effective had been the primary and the third waterfalls. In complete there are about 5 – 6 however not all are straightforward to entry. After the final waterfall, you stroll about 2-2,5 hours to the hut. At the present time we once more noticed no different individuals.
Zingcuka hut
It’s positioned within the forest, in a wonderful and tranquil place, there isn’t a street entry to it. The hut has two massive rooms with 10 beds with mattresses every, two showers, one bathroom, an open-air eating space, and a hearth. We tried to make use of a donkey to get sizzling water within the bathe however it didn’t actually work. The doorways of each rooms haven’t any locks so we needed to transfer one bunk mattress to maintain it secured.
Day 6. Zingcuka hut – Hogsback, 16,5 km, 7 hours
- Lengthy and steep up, about 800 m;
- Lengthy and steep down for 700m;
- The final place you may refill your water bottles earlier than the steep up is on the picket bridge;
- The top of the path is 1,5 km from Hogsback the place you stroll alongside the gravel street for about 30 min.
We wished to see a little bit of Hogsback earlier than leaving the following day so we took an early begin. We left the hut at 6.15 am. The primary little bit was all the way down to the waterfall. There’s a cut up 15 min. after the hut the place you may select to go all the way down to the waterfall or simply hold strolling by the forest, we took the primary possibility. As soon as down on the waterfalls, it was time to start out steep lengthy up. Right here you once more have two choices to climb over Hogsback 1 peak or to observe the gravel street and skip the robust half. We went over the height although it was very cloudy within the morning by the point we climbed it cleared up and we had superb views. It took us about 3,4 hours to get to the highest after which 2 extra hours down and to Hogsback.
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