Slackpacking is the luxury-lover’s answer to backpacking hiking trails. Forget about cumbersome, tightly-crammed rucksacks, sleepless nights camping on rough ground, and eating dried food from zip-lock bags. The new slackpacking Chokka Trail in South Africa’s Greater St Francis region (Eastern Cape) is fully catered and includes bed and breakfast, packed lunches, dinner at the various accommodations, and a canal cruise. Your luggage is transported on your behalf between stops, while you carry only a day pack. And how much more Dolce & Gabbana can you get than navigating some of South Africa’s most beautiful coastline?!
The 4-day Chokka Trail passes through St Francis Bay, Port St Francis, Cape St Francis, and Oyster Bay; small seaside villages teeming with fishing boats and holidaymakers. The shoreline that connects the villages is a natural wonderland. Rugged boulders offset silky sand dunes. Blankets of indigenous fynbos give way to shimmering wetlands. Barrelling waves beat upon rusty shipwrecks and unspoiled beaches. And all along the way you have the chance to spot animals like the blue duiker, bushbuck, mongoose, porcupine, and caracal scurrying through the undergrowth. From the coastal track you can look out for Southern Right whales and dolphins in the ocean, otters sunbathing on the rocks, as well as water birds like the greater flamingo, oystercatcher, kelp gull, tern, and turnstone. Walking the Chokka Trail is the best possible way to see and experience just how captivating the area is.
Route Outline
Day 1
Distance: 14km
Meet at St Francis Links where you will leave your car for the duration of the hike. From there you are transported to Oyster Bay Beach Lodge where you can chill out on one of South Africa’s most unspoiled beaches or take the easy out-and-back walk to Thysbaai. The trail hugs the rugged shoreline, passing through fynbos and low coastal thicket, with only the occasional fisherman showing any sign of human life. At low tide you can see ancient fish traps in a rock gulley, built by the Khoi San over 2,000 years ago.
Day 2
Distance: 18km
Navigating the length of the Sand River to St Francis Bay, this highway of shifting sand dunes is the longest section of the trail. Shaped by the prevailing westerly winds, the dunes slope gradually up before dropping steeply. Keep an eye out for shell middens (heaps of shells left by the Khoi San who relied on shellfish for their diet) and enjoy the wonderful view of the Baviaanskloof Mountains in the north. The extent of the hike’s challenge will depend on the day’s weather conditions, but no matter how it goes, you will be rewarded with a hot shower, sundowners, dinner, and a comfy bed at Cape St Francis Resort.
Day 3
Distance: 16km
Setting off from Mostertshoek, on the Wild Side of Cape St Francis (so named for the untamed sea that crashes onto the rocks), the trail passes through the Coastal Cradle of Humankind towards St Francis Bay. Highlights include a stop at the SANCCOB penguin rehabilitation centre and a calamari (chokka) tasting at Port St Francis, the only privately owned working harbour in South Africa. From the Port, the Two Harbours Walk takes you to the Heritage Eco Centre in St Francis Bay. En route to your accommodation, Brisan on the Canals, you’ll visit a restored chokka boat to see how the fishermen live and work while at sea. Brisan will then treat you to a cruise on the famous St Francis Bay canals (weather permitting) before your well-earned sundowners and dinner.
Day 4
Distance: 11km
Finish your journey with a boat trip along the canals to where the Kromme and Sand rivers meet. The trail meanders along the river bed to the side gate of St Francis Links, a world class Jack Nicklaus golf estate with its own network of secret pathways winding through forest and wetlands. You’ll eventually come to the road that leads to the clubhouse where your farewell lunch will be waiting.
Visit the Chokka Trail website or contact Esti Stewart on 073 825 0835 or 082 394 7363 for more information.
The Greater St Francis area is rich in fauna, flora, culture, and history, and I could think of no better way to explore this coastal wonderland than on the Chokka Trail. With rare flowers, ancient fishing traps, shell middens, hidden pools between dusty dunes, and the chance to spot shy creatures like the blue duiker; every step of the trails holds a beautiful surprise.
Keep an eye out for these 5 venomous snakes you may come across while hiking in the Cape. Other hikes you may want to try include Lions Head, Kalk Bay Caves, and the new Chokka Trail. Here’s what to pack for a day hike.
What trails do you recommend in South Africa?
