We’ve heard of the Otter Trail and the Fish River Canyon hike – and now there’s the Leopard Trail, which has only just opened. But once you catch wind of a beautiful, multi-day hike in the Baviaanskloof, what’s there left to do besides book immediately?
And that’s how we found ourselves huffing our way up sheer mountain sides and gulping in the endless views as we surfaced. We found ourselves taking detours to view rock art and share dips with frogs in cool canyon-shadowed pools, listened to bird calls echoing from valley walls and stopped to smell the multitude of fragrant flora around us.
Sonya (Getaway’s editor) and I walked this newly-opened 55km slack-packing trail, and we recommend you do the same. Read Sonya’s beautiful story in the April 2016 issue of Getaway.
Next thing I know, we’re at the top, and all around me is glorious plateau. A light breeze flows across it, channeled by gently rising hills on either side. A little way on is a clearing and in it, four horses pretty as angels prick up their ears and look at us with model faces and liquid eyes, then come nodding towards us. We pay the gatekeepers to this flat piece of heaven a precious water-saturated apple, and keep on. – Sonya Schoeman
For information on how to book, visit theleopardtrail.co.za
Read the full story in the April 2016 issue of Getaway magazine.
Our April issue is packed full of great holiday ideas for 2016. Get your copy today.