Amatola Trail

The Amatola Mountains in the Eastern Cape boast open, golden-grassed, huge-viewed plateaus and peaks, superb indigenous pristine forest, waterfalls, and gorges. The mountains boast fascinating wildlife (much of which you are, needless to say, unlikely to see): leopards; genets and caracal; buck; monkeys and baboons.

There are various walking options here.

The pedestrian royalty here is the 6 day Amatola Trail, which traverses the range, from Maden Dam (near King Williams Town) to the charming village of Hogsback. 

Day 1 – climbs 700m through Pirie forest to the lovely hilltop Gwiligwili Hut with its huge views. 11km.

Day 2 – up to 20km through fantastic, rich, varied, beautiful indigenous forest and across undulating slopes to the Dontsa Hut.

Day 3 – to Cata Hut. You emerge from the forest onto the high plateau grasslands today, with huge views, before dropping back into forest to the hut. 19km.

Day 4 – to Mnyameni Hut.  Climb a steep 600m to Geju, at 1,880m, the route's high point. Then drop steeply into the Malan Forest and the Mnyameni Gorge (plan to bathe in the enticing pools). 13.5km.

Day 5 – 18km to the Zingcuka Hut: and undulating day, with time out of the treeline, but some in the wolf River Forest. More swimming opportunities.

Day 6 – a final 15km, in the Schwarzwald Forest (enjoy the waterfalls), then climbing 800m to Hogsback Peak at 1,845m. Then a long descent to the Tyume River area. 3km on to Hogsback town.

You can also walk a 2 day Zingcuka Loop from Hogsback, which is also a remarkable route: a demanding day 1 to the Zingcuka Hut, then a return on Day 6 of the Amatola Trail.

These are demanding and remote trails where, while you will not be camping, you will need to be  experienced and self-sufficient. You have to carry all your kit. Bring your own food, cookers, sleeping bags, water bottles and purification tablets. All huts bar one have running water and showers. So, come prepared. Experienced backcountry walkers only.

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