Hogsback, Amatola

On the western end of the forested Amatola Mountains lies a village, overlooked by mountains and surrounded by indigenous Afro-montane forests that are centuries old, called Hogsback. It lies only an hour-and-a-half’s journey from Grahamstown, yet Hogsback may as well be in another world.

The beauty of the surrounds is said to have inspired J.R.R Tolkein to write his Lord of the Rings trilogy, so you can imagine the dramatic splendour of the place. Hogsback is named after three mountain peaks, which look something like the wild hogs that frequent the forest, and trails through the forest are marked with hogs of different colours to denote various walks. The peace and quiet of the little village of Hogsback, the lower regions of which sometimes lie encased in snow during winter, are broken only by the intermittent call of the Knysna Lourie and the chatter of Samango monkeys; and if the forests don’t tempt you, the gardens of Hogsback will. Several exotic plants from Australia, Europe and further afield grace the gardens, and attract regular gardening tours from Cape Town and Johannesburg.

It goes to say that residents of Hogsback include numerous artists - potters, painters, musicians and poets - who choose the beauty of the place over the rush of city life. Walking, mountain biking, bird watching, mountain climbing and trout fishing are the attractions of the outdoors here, and the pure mountain air and waterfalls just add to the allure.