The Fynbos Trail

About

The Fynbos Trail began its meander in 2001, and crosses through the following areas:

• Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy
• Cape Nature Walker Bay
• Grootbos Foundation
• Witkrans Nature Farm
• Bodhi Khaya
• Lomond Wine Estate

Forest Restoration Project

“The Fynbos Trail is embedded in a long conservation heritage and its founders, Sean and Michelle Privett, are members of Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy. 

The trail traverses several member properties of the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy, a collaborative conservation partnership between nearly 50 private landowners who collectively own more than 22,000 hectares of endangered lowland fynbos and forest habitat. More than 1,100 Indigenous plant species have been recorded, including seven new to science. 

This natural landscape includes many threatened habitats, including rare forest patches, incredibly diverse mountain fynbos areas, endangered limestone, and wetland vegetation. The conservancy is also home to a wide variety of fauna, including 106 bird species, 30 mammals, 46 reptiles, 22 amphibians and an incredible diversity of insects.

By hiking the trails, you contribute towards the conservation and social development of partners within the conservancy. Some of the funds generated by the trail are re-invested by the conservancy into clearing alien vegetation, managing fire and documenting and monitoring flora and fauna within the conservancy. Many meals along the route are made with fresh organic ingredients produced at Growing the Future, a sustainable agriculture project on Grootbos Nature Reserve.

Hikers on the Premium Trail can taste the magnificent wines from Lomond Wine Estate, a dedicated conservation partner in the Walker Bay Conservancy. They can also plant an indigenous tree as part of the Future Trees forest restoration project and visit the Florilegium at the Wenhold Botanical Art Gallery on Grootbos. This is the only botanical art gallery in the southern hemisphere. It is dedicated to raising awareness and conservation support for the region’s flora and fauna.”

The Fynbos Trail

The Fynbos Trail limits bookings to three groups per week.

Start Days

• Monday (premium, standard, budget)
• Tuesday (budget)
• Wednesday (premium, standard budget)
• Friday (premium, standard, budget)

Trail Season

• 1 February - 15 December

Duration

• Three days

Distance

• 26.5km

Trail Itinerary

Day 1: 

• Duration: Three hours
• Distance: 6.5km 

Day 2: 

• Duration: Most of the day
• Distance: 11km

Day 3: 

• Duration: Four hours
• Distance: 9km 

Fynbos Trail Premium

The Fynbos Trail Premium is a guided, catered slackpacking experience. 

Trail Season

• 1 February - 15 December

Cost

• Weekends (including Friday and Saturday nights) - from R 6,450 per person
  During the Week (Sunday to Thursday night) - from R 6,050 per person

Duration

• Three days

Distance

• 26.5km

Fynbos Trail Premium Includes

• Access to The Fynbos Trail through Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy’s fynbos and forests
• Three-day guided walking trail with a knowledgeable FGASA-accredited guide
• Overnight accommodation at the Fynbos Retreat and Witkrans
• Two dinners, two breakfasts and two lunches (all delicious home-cooked meals)
• Lomond wine tasting at Witkrans
• Tree planting as part of the Stinkhoutsbos forest rehabilitation project, at Flower Valley
• Exclusive tour of the Grootbos Florilegium and Hannarie Wenhold Botanical Art 
• Gallery
• All luggage transfers
• A Fynbos gift on completion of the trail

Note:

• Limiting bookings to three groups a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday start dates)
• A minimum group size of four is required for this option during the week
• A minimum group size of six is required for this option over weekends
• If you book for eight your group will have exclusive use of the trail
• If you book for less than eight, others may join your group

Contact The Fynbos Trail for more information and an itinerary. 

Fynbos Trail Standard

The Fynbos Trail Standard is a self-guided, catered slackpacking experience. This circular route takes hikers back to the start at Steynsbos.

Cost

• Weekends (including Friday and Saturday nights) - from R 4,900 per person
• During the Week (Sunday to Thursday night) - from R 4,700 per person

Duration

• Three days

Distance

•  26.5km

Trail Season

• 1 February - 15 December

Fynbos Trail Standard Includes

• Access to The Fynbos Trail through Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy’s fynbos and forests
• Overnight accommodation at Fynbos Retreat and Witkrans
• Two dinners, two breakfasts and one lunch (all delicious home-cooked meals)
• All luggage transfers

Note:

• A minimum group size of four is required for this option during the week
• A minimum group size of six is required for this option over weekends
• If you book for eight your group will have exclusive use of the trail
• If you book for less than eight, others may join your group

Contact The Fynbos Trail for more information and an itinerary. 

Fynbos Trail Budget

Fynbos Trail Budget is a self-guided, uncatered slackpacking experience.

Cost

• From R2,150 per person

Duration

• Three days

Distance

• 26.5km

Trail Season

• 1 February - 15 December

Fynbos Trail Budget Includes

• Access to The Fynbos Trail through Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy’s fynbos and forests
• Overnight accommodation at Fynbos Retreat and Witkrans
• Both cottages are fully equipped for self-catering
• All luggage transfers

Note:

• This option is only available for select weekend dates
• This option is not available over long weekends
• A minimum group size of six is required for this option during the week
• A minimum group size of eight is required for this option over weekends
• If you book for eight your group will have exclusive use of the trail
• If you book for less than eight, others may join your group

Contact The Fynbos Trail for more information and a detailed itinerary. 

Fynbos Trail Run

Enjoy two challenging runs over the mountains in the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy between Gansbaai and Stanford, at your own pace.

Cost

• R2,150 per person

Duration

• Two Days

Distance

• 28,5km (17,5km + 11km)

The Fynbos Trail Run Includes

• Accommodation at Witkrans Farm (self-catered)
• Two challenging runs over the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy’s mountains  between Stanford and Gansbaai at your own pace

Itinerary

Day 1:

• Arrive at Witkrans Farm
• Welcome brief and route details provided by the trail manager
• Settle in, relax and prepare for the run

Day 2:

• Self-drive to the start of the run at Steynsbos (15 minutes)
• Your vehicle will remain at this safe location for the remainder of your stay
• Start your 17.5km run at your own pace through the gorgeous fynbos and forests
• The day’s run ends at Witkrans Farm

Day 3:

• Run about 11kms at your own pace from Witkrans Farm back to Steynsbos where your vehicle is parked (your bags will be there waiting for you)

Contact The Fynbos Trail for more information.

Reviews

“The Fynbos Trail has beautiful views of nature and is such a nice hiking trail. Fynbos has an amazing smell! We spent quality time with friends and the local farm dog at the dam. There are canoes and paddle boats available to use. A very tranquil and peaceful atmosphere and the sounds of birds and insects in their natural surroundings are music to the ears.”  Janelle Jasson

“Fantastic guided hike. Well-informed guide, wonderful food. The Fynbos Trail comes highly recommended!”  Hope Hornby

“This was a wonderful nature retreat. The Fynbos Trail takes you on three hikes over three days. Each day you hike to your next accommodation. The different biomes that you hike through are spectacular. You head underneath the forest canopy and then move through the Indigenous fynbos. It’s an experience for your eyes and nose. This is also a wonderful bird-watching route. We managed to see a black-shouldered kite circling quite close to us.”  Cameron Worthington