Rim of Africa Hike

About Rim of Africa Hike

Start: Clanwilliam
Finish: George (or anywhere in between)
Duration: 56 days, 650 km
Fitness: super fit
Our tip: Rim of Africa holds an annual Summer Escape into the mountains for matriculants who have just completed exams; a time for discovery, slowing down and reflection...

The longest mountain traverse of its kind in Africa, the Rim of Africa is set to position South Africa, and the Cape, as one of the world's most desired hiking destinations.

Designed by Galeo Saintz and Ivan Groenhof this epic trail is a hikers' paradise – linking existing trails across the Cape mountains through multiple CapeNature reserves and 180 private properties between the Cederberg and the Outeniqua mountains.

The initiative links trails to conservation and involves local communities by training 'nature champions'. Rim of Africa is a not-for-profit public benefit trust and civil society organisation that works to support landowners, local conservation groups and to build a community of custodians, in cooperation with CapeNature, for the Cape mountains.

In all there are nine traverses that make up the the full Rim of Africa Route. All of them are aimed at fit and experienced hikers who are after a deep wilderness experience. How you walk the route is entirely up to you. You can do only one traverse, or link a few of them together.

Each traverse averages 7 days and covers between 60km and 100km. There are group dates that you can join on the rimofafrica.org website.

Traverse 1 – Cederberg (Cederberg to Middleberg Pass) is a guided hike of 50 km over mountainous terrain camping wild with buckets washes. It is one of the easier traverses and suitable for all levels of fitness.

Traverse 2 – Kouebokkeveld (Middleberg Pass to Onderboschkloof) is a strenuous hike that explores the secret valleys and towering peaks of the Kouebokkeveld whilst wild camping with bucket washes and no fires.

Traverse 3 – Agerwitzenberg (Onderboschkloof to Ceres) is ridge-line walking through mountainous terrain. Highlights include the rock pools on the first day and the ascent of Slab Peak.

Traverse 4 – Hex River (Ceres to Simonskloof) is seven days through the Hex River Mountains that includes hiking off-path and sleeping in the shade of a vast amphitheatre. This is a fairly strenuous hike.

Traverse 5 – Langeberg (Simonskloof to Montagu) is described as the 'ultimate ridge-line hike'. A strenuous 8 days over ridges is a challenge, with views that are out of this world.

Traverse 6 – Marloth Ridge (Montagu to Grootvadersbosch) takes in the vast views across the Boland and into the Klein Karoo. Seven days using different skills – path walking, off-path walking, mountainous terrain until, finally, entering the indigenous forest.

Traverse 7 – Grootvadersbos (Grootvadersbosch to Garcia Pass) – heads into the mountains north of Riversdale. A strenuous mountain hike there is some off-path hiking and incredible views.

Traverse 8 – Gouritz River (Garcia Pass to Gouritz) – this hike heads closer to the Garden Route, exploring secret valleys, rock art and tough off-path hiking.

Traverse 9 – Outeniquas (Gouritz to Outeniqua) heads into remote valleys, across ridge-lines that feed into the Outeniqua mountains. Tthis shorter hike (5 days) is, nonetheless, strenuous.