How do you like the idea of slackpacking through a beautiful Word Heritage Site Wilderness Reserve for 4 days? If that sounds like your jam, the Leopard Trail in Baviaanskloof is hiiiighly recommended. In short: reasonable daily distances, drop-dead-gorgeous views, modern, clean, and well-kitted huts. This hike really has it all…

 

We arrive in the early evening after Friday’s half-day of work and half-day drive. You know you’ve arrived when you start weaving through deep valleys between jutting cliffs. The sun is just setting as we pick up the keys and the orange glow over the surrounding Baviaanskloof wilderness is kind of foretelling of the epic views to come. Okes are excited.

 

Day One

 

Our first day is only 10km so we have a slow breakfast and a relaxed start. Highlights: Kickstart Hill is exactly as it sounds, and don’t miss the quick detour to Gabriel’s Pools. If there’s been recent rainfall, you can swim here, but we hiked during one of Eastern Cape’s droughts so the little water that remained in the kloof was stagnant. Still worth it for the scenery.

 

Day Two

 

A little tougher than the first day, Day Two is an 18km meander. We took the detour to Cedar Views and spotted what we think may have been a leopard den. (How cool? That’s why you ALWAYS take the detours, folks!) Reflection Pools was a stunning lunch spot despite the drought. Keep your eye out for Dragon’s Ridge in the afternoon when the landscape notches look like a giant sleeping Smaug.

 

Day Three

 

Now that you’re warmed up, Day Three is a lekker 22km challenge. There are three peaks to climb, cutely named Honeybush Hill, Inconvenient Truth and Ain’t So Bad. “Ain’t So Bad” is a damn lie so we mentally renamed her Pretty Bad Afterall. After Draaipunt, you’re the furthest away from civilisation so pause and examine the sandy patches for animal prints from baboons, bokkies and small cats – if you’re lucky, you may spot elusive leopard tracks.

 

Day Four

 

The final day starts with a shady morning along the kloof floor. After a few easy k’s, you start the climb up Fond Farewell to reach one of the best vistas of the whole trip. Our summit was watched by an audience of Klipspringers across the valley. After a substantial descent, the day’s 13km hike is behind us and there’s nothing left to do but crack open a beer and jump into the icy freshwater pool.

 

 

Tips before you go…

It’s worth staying a night at Cedar Falls base camp the night before, and if it’s in your budget, the night after too. The central Red Cliffs Farmhouse and Cedar Farmhouse are the best for group sharing, and the Just For Two Cottage and Cob Cottage are each quite far off on either side of the main area so they’re ideal for couples or singles who want a little bit of alone time.

 

The camps each have a well-kitted, shared kitchen and balcony area plus farm pools to cool down in. The separate sleeping cabins are basic but modern and clean. The braai set-up is rad and there is a small fridge-cooler that gets driven along part of your group’s slackpack luggage each day, so you don’t need to stick to lightweight, rehydrated food by any means. Extra beers always recommended.