Hiking in Kwazulu Natal

Hiking is definitely the best way to see the countryside, and in KwaZulu-Natal there is a lot of landscape to enjoy, from the steep slopes of the Drakensberg to the Wilderness areas in Maputaland, the coast and the Midlands. This province is crisscrossed with trails, many of them in nature reserves and game parks. You can enjoy an hour, a day, a few days of beauty.

It is important that you establish the distance, degree of difficulty, clothing and equipment required for each trail before you set out. Some trails necessitate prior booking, mostly those with overnight stops in caves or hikers huts.

Treat The Drakensberg trails with caution. The weather can change radically from one moment to the next, and at those high altitudes strong winds, mist, snow and extreme cold can arrive without warning. Be sure to complete the rescue register in full at any entrance to a Drakensberg area, even if you are only planning on going for a short stroll. You can never be too careful.

Hiking on offer in the different regions of KZN:

Drakensberg Day Walks and Hiking Trails

The Drakensberg is certainly a wayfarer's paradise. There are so many fascinating landmarks that can be reached with a comfortable walk and the minimum of climbing.

The hiking trails of East Griqualand

• Bokkiesberg( Die Kroon) trail

This is a two day trail

Location: Central East Griqualand on the farm Die Kroon. Self walk trail.

• Mount Currie Nature Reserve

There are no official trails up and around Mount Currie for people to hike on it is only self guided

Elephant Coast Hiking and Other Trails

The most well known hiking trails are:

• Amanzimnyama Trail

4 Days

• Baya Camp Trail

A 3km trail

• Bhanga Nek Community Tourism Camp Trails

View turtle breeding on the beach at night (October to Mid- January)

• Blinkwater Trails

1.5 - 2 Hrs, 15 kms

• Cape Vidal Trails

• Charters Creek Trails

2-3hrs, 7kms

• Dengezi Trail

Take malaria and tick precautions.

• Dungandlovu Trail

8.5kms

• Enseleni Nature Reserve Trails

2 Hrs

• False Bay Park Trails

8kms of easy walking. Anti-malaria precautions are necessary.

• Fanies Island Trails

• Gwalagwala Trail

Malaria and tick precautions necessary.

• Isikhova Trail Charter's Creek

2 - 3hrs

• Kosi Bay (Guided Walk)

• Masinda Trail

Malaria and tick precautions necessary.

• Mbhombe Forest Trail

30 Mins

• Mgobozeleni Trail

3 Hours, 5kms

• Mkuzi Fig Forest Walk

3kms

• Mkuzi Game Reserve

• Mndindini Trails Camp

Malaria and tick precautions necessary.

• Mpophomeni Trail

2 - 3hrs, 10kms and 7kms

• Mziki Trail

38km, 3days

• Ndumu Game Reserve Trail

• St Lucia Eastern Shores Trails

• St Lucia Game Park Trails

• St Lucia Wilderness Trail

5days

• Swinburne Trails

• Umfolozi Wilderness Trails

4 nights and 3 days

Malaria precautions necessary.

• Umfolozi Game Reserve Primitive Trail

3 days

Malaria precautions necessary.

• Umkhumbe (Red Duiker) Trail

5 kms

South Coast Hiking and other Trails

There a number of hiking, walking, 4x4, canoeing and horse trails in the South Coast area. Here are a few hiking trails:

• Ngele Hiking Trail
• Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve Trail
• Skyline Nature Reserve Trails
• The Mpenjati-Mbizana Walking Trail
• Umtamvuna Nature Reserve Trails
• Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve

Zululand Hiking Trails

• Dlinza Forest Nature Reserve Trails

1.5hrs

• Enseleni Nature Reserve Trails

  2 Hrs

• Entumeni Nature Reserve Trails

  1hr

• Mtunzini Chalets Trail

2,5 hrs

• Ngwenya Nature Reserve Trails

  There is 5km of trail in the reserve. A special children's trail is conducted on Saturday afternoons.

• Raphia Palm Monument Trail

  500m

• Tafelberg Trail
• Twinstreams Farm Trails

  Various well maintained trails

• Umlalazi Nature Reserve Trails

  4-5 kms