Darling Stagger
25 kilometres in 2 and a half days:
One of five slackpacking trails in the Cape West Coast Biosphere, the Darling Stagger emphasises food and wine, together with a walk and a cycle that allow one to experience the surrounds of the gorgeous town of Darling.
The Darling Stagger trail follows a route once walked by both the short-necked giraffe, and the San. This incredible history, and the more recent culture of wine and olive tasting, combine to form the backdrop of the slow-paced 2.5 days. The trail route is divided into three legs. The first is a gentle seven kilometre cycle from !Khwa Ttu San Cultural Centre on the R27 just outside Darling, down to the sea and along the coastline to Yzerfontein. The second is a 13 km hike across farmland in land from !Khwa Ttu, into the olive groves and vineyards of the Darling hills, and finally into Darling itself.
The third leg is a little 5 km meander through Darling, followed by lunch at the wonderful Groote Post farm. Your accommodation is in one of a selection of guest houses in Darling for both evenings, and there is plenty of time too for afternoon naps as well as any one of the following: drinks at Nicolaas Martiz's art gallery, an evening at Evita se Peron, or Aunty Ivy 'voorkamer festival'.
Darling Stagger is not called such for nothing. The fabulous food and wine will give you no option but to stagger homewards to your guest house, replete and imbued with the Darling vibe. This 25 km walking trail is for those who know how to experience the good things in life.
Contact Details:
To book or enquire about trails:+27 (0)86 187-2457
Cape West Coast Biosphere Central Office:+27 (0)22 492-2750
Where to Stay?
For accommodation before or after your adventure on the Darling Stagger, see Darling Accommodation (with preview images and description) or consider Darling Hotels (ranging from 3-5 star). If you prefer to do it the self catering way, you will find our list of Darling Self Catering options useful. Also see Cape West Coast Accommodation and Cape West Coast Hotels for overnight options in surrounding towns.
Cape West Coast Trails

Cape West Coast Biosphere Trails
The Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve (CWCBR) is a recognised UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, one of only 6 in South Africa and just over 600 world-wide. It extends from Diep River in Milnerton in the south, to the Berg River of Velddrif in the north, Malmesbury/Moreesberg in the east, and the Atlantic Ocean in the ... more information

Berg River Canooze
The Berg River Canooze, one of five trails that take place within the Cape West Coast Biosphere, is a relatively easy downstream kayak from Hopefield to Velddrif, with farm stays en route. The emphasis of this trail is on relaxation. There are no rapids and all of it is downstream ... more information

Eve's Trail
The theme of this trail, as the name suggests, is walking in the footsteps of Eve, who is regarded as the mother of all human life. The spectacular scenery and lack of human activity gives one an idea of what it must have been like to be governed only by the sun, the stars and the tides. The idea is that ... more information

Five Bay Trail
The trail starts with a late afternoon stroll along the beaches of Paternoster as far as 'Tweede Mosselbank' (named such by local fishermen) and on to dinner at a local restaurant. Day two takes one through the fishing village of Paternoster along the beach to Cape Columbine Nature Reserve and ... more information

Wheels of Time Trail
Aimed more at recreational cyclists than Absa Cape Epic trainees, the mountain bike ride traces the secondary roads of the West Coast, with varying destinations and overnight stops. You can be assured of incredible scenery and fun, but at times challenging, cycling. The trail can be divided up ... more information
Doing the Darling Stagger?
Also see Things To Do in the Cape West Coast or check out Things To Do in Cape Town & Western Cape to view activities by category, including watersports, sightseeing activities, hiking trails, sports, arts & crafts and many, many more.









