Currently we have 2 hikes with availability:
*Table Mountain 17/18 March.
*Whale Trail 22 to 27 February 2026
Details:
Slackpacking.
Two x Guides
Only carry daypack
Whale Trail: Including breakfast, dinner on Whale Trail
Table Mountain: Including light breakfast & dinner.
Own snacks and drinks
Day 5 of the 6-day Tsitsikamma Hiking Trail. Let me know if you want to join one of our future trails 👣 🌳😆 Our next Tsitsikamma is 23 April 2026.👣🎉
Heuningbos Hut to Sleepkloof Hut features a significant climbs over two main saddles—Splendid Pass and Nademaalsnek through beautiful mountain fynbos. It is considered the toughest, longest, and most scenic day, offering sweeping views of the mountains and sea before descending into indigenous forests near the Sleepkloof Hut.
Splendid Pass takes its name after the Mimetes splendidus protea.
Nademaalsnek, the second saddle, provides incredible, panoramic views of the ocean and the Storms River Gorge.
Witteklip River crossing marks roughly the halfway point.
Sleepkloof Hut is situated in a beautiful, secluded setting with a lovely swimmingspot close by.
Tsitsikamma Day 4 Keurbos Hut to Heuningbos Hut🌳👣🌿👩🏻🍳
The day begins with a 1.5km gradual descent from Keurbos hut through tall fynbos, followed by a climb up Rushes Pass. The path traverses mountain fynbos, crosses the Witteklip River (approx. halfway), and descends into the Heuningbos forest.
The route is challenging with significant elevation changes, particularly ascending to the saddles and descending into the river valleys.
The Tsitsikamma Trail Day3 Bloukrans Hut to Keurbos Hut 👣🌿🌳😀🚶♂️ 🚶♀️ 👩🏻🍳
You welcome to let me know if you want to join our next hike.
Day 3 is roughly 15 km, diving deep into mountains and forest with a few river crossings, beautiful ferns, ancient forest sections, and stunning rock pools, offering a remote feel with rewarding swims before arriving at Keurbos Hut.
The Tsitsikamma Trail is a southern Cape hiking paradise, journeying through extensive indigenous afromontane forest and mountain fynbos. Ancient river gorges and abundant rivers and streams remind us of the creative power of water and the origins of the word Tsitsikamma. This is an enchanted world where echoes of past giants such as elephant and buffalo can still be felt. Some of the finest specimens of South Africa’s national tree, the Outeniqua yellowwood, keep sentinel over the forest canopy while hikers clamber over their enormous roots beneath.
Beginning in Nature’s Valley and ending 62.3km further at either the Storms River Bridge or Village, this six day, unidirectional trail takes hikers through the heart of the Tsitsikamma Mountains.
A mountainous country with a temperate, alpine climate and the highest low point of any country in the world (lowest point 1400m above sea level.)
Basothos culture is reflected in symbols like the traditional Mokorotlo hat and their Wool blankets.
The economy relies heavily on agriculture and textile manufacturing. The garment industry, which exports significantly to the U.S., has made Lesotho the "denim capital of Africa".
Founded by Moshoeshoe I in the 19th century and remained independent until becoming a British protectorate before its independence in 1966. It is a constitutional monarchy with King Letsie III as the monarch and a Prime Minister leading the government.
Interesting facts:
It is one of the three sovereign enclaves in the world, similar to San Marino and Vatican City.
The Letseng diamond mine, though producing few stones, yields diamonds with the highest dollar value per carat globally.
The national motto is "Peace, Rain, Prosperity" in Sesotho.
Total Size: 30,355 square km About the size of Brandenburg in Germany 🇩🇪
General Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Geographical High Point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Hiking in Golden Gate National Park in the Drakensberg 🇿🇦 with a lovely group from Germany 🇩🇪
Wonderful! 🇿🇦👣⛰️🎉
The Drakensberg Mountains are a dramatic, towering mountain range forming the eastern portion of Southern Africa's Great Escarpment, located on the border between South Africa and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. Named "mountains of the dragon," they are also known as the uKhahlamba or "barrier of spears".
This UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, is a transnational property, recognized for both its natural beauty and the 4,000-year-old San rock art.
Famed for its spectacular natural scenery, significant biodiversity, historical rock art by the San people, and role as a crucial water source for the region.
Table Mountain
Two nights 🌙 ✨️ Three magical days 👣
Day 1 Hike 🚶♂️🚶♀️up beautiful Orangekloof. Evening enjoy a delicious dinner 😋 and enjoy sunset 🌞✨️🌙🍹
Day 2 Explore the mountain ⛰️! Early morning run around the dams.🏃🏻🏃🏻♀️ Followed by a scrumptious breakfast 😋 🍳🍎 After which we explored Tranquility Cracks, the dive board etc. 👣👣 Afternoon relax 📘☕️ Evening time at the fire 🔥 and a delicious braai 😋🥩🧀🍢
Day 3 Tasty Breakfast 😋 ☕️🍉🍌after which we hike down Skeleton Gorge 🚶♂️🚶♀️
Absolutely amazing!
Lionshead sunset 🌞 🌙 ✨️ hike 🚶♂️ 🚶♀️ with a lovely Swiss 🇨🇭 couple. Wonderful! 🇿🇦👣⛰️🎉 Privileged!
Europe 🇪🇺 2025 Part 5 (1) Family time Dublin City Tour 🥳 🇮🇪
Very interesting city walking tour with Yellow Umbrella 🌂 Very interesting. Learned a lot about Irish history and culture & Dublin city. Thoroughly enjoyed it
Europe 🇪🇺 2025 Part 5 (2) Family time Dalkey Lobster Festival 🦞 🥳 🇮🇪
We went to the renowned Dalkey Lobster Festival🦞 (before the rugby 🏉) with the kids and some of their friends. It was a feast and loads of fun 😋🍻🦞
Dalkey is a picturesque coastal town in south Dublin. A very popular yearly festival of
culinary indulgence, live music, street entertainment, and artisan exhibits, all before the children go back to school.
Castle street was transformed into “Cuisine de Dalkey” as all of the eateries up cooked festival favourites. Everything from lobster rolls, mussels, crab claws, oysters, paella, seafood chowder and fish n’ chips were on the menu. The Tramyard Village had market stalls everything from vintage clothing to art, jewellery, artisan products and everything in between. The Dalkey Town Hall showcased fine art and craft fair.🇮🇪 🎉
Europe 🇪🇺 2025 Part 5 (3) Family time Royale canal Greenway 🥳 🇮🇪
We cycled 🚲160km mostly along the Royal Canal Greenway from Dublin to Longford 🇮🇪 to visit dear friends, Chris & Marthie Potgieter. We had a wondeful time together 🥳 🎉 🎈 🤗 It was special!
The Greenway runs along the towpath of the Royal Canal which was constructed between Dublin and Longford at the turn of the 18th century to connect the River Liffey to the River Shannon.
Check out my ride on Strava: https://strava.app.link/Wnzro0dIzWb
Check out my ride on Komoot:
https://www.komoot.com/tour/2527662998?ref=aso
We went to Johnnie Fox's Pub & Restaurant the last night to say good bye to the kids 🤗 Dublin & Ireland 🇮🇪. It was a great time and a wondeful last evening together🥳🎉.
Johnnie Fox's Pub & Restaurant is one of the oldest pubs in Ireland, Established in 1798. Renowned for being the highest pub in the country. Nestled in the peaceful township of Glencullen and surrounded by the beautiful serenity of the Dublin Mountains.
Traditional music sessions are as much alive today as they were in the past. It is indeed something that Johnnie Fox's Pub & Restaurant has been famous for with sessions popping up ad hoc, as they say.
Storytellers are often around here during cold winter days and evenings sitting by the open turf fires in the pub. The live entertainment has been a trade mark at Johnnie Fox's and it continues to this day, all be it in a more structured way now with the availability of one of our many house bands or singers, or with the world renowned Johnnie Fox's dancers.
Europe 🇪🇺 2025 Part 4 (1) Family time Berlin 🥳 🇩🇪 🇮🇪 🇬🇷
Our Irish visas were finally issued! AND it was approved that it can be printed and put in our passports in Berlin 🇮🇪 🇩🇪 🥳🎶🎈🎉🇮🇪 Super happy!
We applied in April, it took 4 months! It felt to risky & we did not have enough time not enough time to DHL to South Africa 🇿🇦 and get it back in time for our flight.✈️
Therefore our cycle tour 2025 🚲 comes to an end sooner than what we planned. So, we look forward to continue our cycle 🚲 tour in 2026. 🥳
We took a train back to our base ( our wondeful friends, Retha & Johan Strydom ) in Hanau. Dropped off our bicycles 🚲 and then took the overnight train 🚆 to Berlin 🇩🇪 to be there early the next morning when the embassy opened. ⏰️
And of course we utilised the time to explore the historical city of Berlin! It always feel to me like I am walking through the pages of a history book 📖 . The beautifully restored buildings are also amazing. 🕍
But most off all we are very grateful that we can visit our children.
And are very thankful to Barry Heneghan TD Independent who assisted us to get everything arranged in time.
We had to take the train 🚊 back to Frankfurt/Hanau we got our newly approved Irish visas in Berlin since we bought our flight ✈️ tickets long ago when we still were under the impression that the Irish 🇮🇪 visas would be issued before we depart from SA.
On the way back from Berlin to Frankfurt, we visited friends. We had a wonderful time together, lots of laughter 😃, interesting discussions, enjoyed delicious food 🥘 and good wine 🍷 together. We also had the opportunity to cycle with their e-bikes. Although it is só much easier 🚲 than than normal bikes I still enjoy my "traditional bicycle".🚴🏻♀️🚴🏻♂️
It was such a privelege to see friends again after 8 years!!
We cycled from their home to and partially around the Dünnersee. Absolutely delightful day at the Dünner.🚴🏻♀️🚴🏻♂️🍦🍻 👙
The Dümmer or officially Dümmer See is the second largest lake in Lower Saxony 🇩🇪. It has a surface area of 13.5 km2 and an average depth of one metre. Dümmer is a popular resort for water sports, but also an important biotope for water birds and located in a zone especially frequented by migratory birds. 🦜🐦🦆A large section of its shore is protected by nature reserve areas.
Europe 🇪🇺 2025 Part 4 (3) Family time Corfu 🥳 🇮🇪 🇬🇷 ❤️
Off ✈️ to meet the kids and family on Corfu 🇬🇷 Super excited 🥳 and happy 😀 that we have our Irish visas 🇮🇪 and can also visit them in at their home in Ireland 🇮🇪
Europe 🇪🇺 2025 Part 4 (4) Family time Paxos 🥳 🇮🇪 🇬🇷 ❤️
We had lovely family time 🤗 on Corfu. 🇬🇷 Our abnb had a big balcony where we could relax, chat & enjoy delicious meals.🍉🍆🫒🥙🍹
From Corfu we took a ferry to the beautiful Island Paxos 🇬🇷 and then taxi to the Village Lacka.
Our abnb house in Lacka overlooked the pretty bay and had a fantastic balcony/stoep where we could enjoy the stunning views watching yachts arriving, mooring and leaving. We enjoyed spending time together, had lots of laughter, delicious meals & interesting discussions!
Lacka was lekker!!🤣
Europe 🇪🇺 2025 Part 4 (5) Family time Paxos 🥳 🇮🇪 🇬🇷 ❤️🚤
We hired 2 small little boats to explore the various caves &: beaches around Paxos. It was wonderful to enjoy this with the family !🇬🇷🎉🚤🤗
Cycling tour 2025 Day 1. We cycled along the Main River from Hanau to Freuedenberg (90km🚲). Beautiful landscapes and route. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
The last 2 hours it was pouring with rain. ⛈️. We were wet and cold. Luckily the rain stopped shortly after we arrived at the campsite and we could pitch our tent.⛺️ Enjoy a delicious dinner 😋cooked on our little Jetboil gas stove🫕 with a good bottle of Italian wine. 🍷And then we had a good night's sleep 😴 I would like to think, well deserved 😀
https://www.komoot.com/tour/2435987238?ref=avs&share_token=ayMCxXeQ89dDB3YFgfYupvDeO3F3sSHAMjRh2gH82Dq5YN8Kt3
Overnight ⛺️ http://www.seecamping-freudenberg.de/
One could so camp at verwaltung@camping-mainparksee.de which is anout 30km from Hanau.
Cycling tour 2025 🇪🇺 🚲Day 2. We cycled along the River Main Freuedenberg (85km🚲) to the confluence of the Main & Tauber Rivers at Wertheim. From there via the Tauber Valley to Bad Mergentheim
Beautiful landscapes dotted with 🌽 and wheat 🍞 & sunflower 🌻 fields. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
We had some rain on they way. ⛈️. Luckily the rain stopped shortly after we arrived at the campsite and we could pitch our tent.⛺️ Enjoy a delicious Spätzle 😋cooked on our little Jetboil gas stove🫕 with 🥗 & a good bottle of Austrian wine 🍷. And then we had a good night's sleep 😴 I would like to think, well deserved 😀
Check out my ride on Strava: https://strava.app.link/IfTXE1xwmVb
Overnight ⛺️ Natur Campingplatz Bad Mergentheim
Cycling tour 2025 🇪🇺 🚲Day 3. We cycled from Bad Mergentheim to Olenhausen, along the Jagst & Kocher Rivers (50km)
Beautiful landscapes dotted with 🌽 and wheat 🍞 & sunflower 🌻 fields. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
We had quite a lot of rain on the way. ⛈️. It gave me the opportunity to wear my new orange rain jacket 🧡 rain 💦🥳
The rain gave us a window of time, stopped for a short while, after we arrived at the campsite, and we could pitch our tent.⛺️ Fortunately there was an area under a roof where we could pitch our tent since it poured with rain during the night.💦 🌙
We wanted to go for dinner in town since we knew groceries stores are closed on Sundays. We discovered that there is no restaurant in Olenhausen. However, we were blessed by a kind lady, Inge (88 years young)
She walked passed the campsite and just came to say hello and started talking to me. I asked her where the closest restaurant is. Then she told us, there is no restaurant in town. She then said I should come with her. We sat down on her patio and some of the local people joined us. and had a lovely conversation. I enjoyed the time with the people of Olenhausen. I was so glad that I can speak 🇩🇪 😀
Inge gave us some bread 🍞 , tin of meat and fresh tomatoes 🍅 from her garden. It was extra delicious and tasty since she gave it with love! 🧡
To top a lovely evening was the arrival of André & Jean O'Kennedy at the Campsite. And we enjoyed a good German beer 🍺 together 🥳
And then we had a good night's sleep 😴
Check out my ride on Strava: https://strava.app.link/4t9swMOeZVb
Cycling tour 2025 🇪🇺 🚲Day 5. We cycled from to Neckarsulm to Stuttgart along the Neckar River.
We cycled through the beautiful university town of Heilbron. We very very impressed with the Experimenta Science Center, Germany's largest science center.
On the way Vineyards are planted on steeps hills, some planted like checker boards. As well as Beautiful landscapes dotted with Spinach 🥬, pumpkin 🎃, tomatoes 🍅, 🌽 wheat 🍞 & sunflowers 🌻 fields.
The cycle ride took much longer than expected due a number of detours where paths were blocked. We had an appointment with friends in Stuttgart and we came terribly late. They planned a very interesting & lovely afternoon for us but we arrived too late.
Luckily we could still join them for dinner. We went to a "gemütlichen" tradional wine house, Die Kiste. We had delicious "Schwäbisches" food and great company.
Typical Schwäbische food includes Spätzle, Maultaschen (the schwäbische Version of Ravioli) , roasted potatoes etc. Kartoffeln und Kraut beinhalten.
A wonderful evening, delicious food 😋 and good local wine. We enjoyed Spätburgunderfrom the region🍷 And fantastic to spend time with dear friends It was a heart warming evening.🤗
Then back to the campsite to pitch our tent, make our beds and we had a good night's sleep 😴 Another lovely day😀
Sunshine day !☀️ 🌞 Thoroughly enjoyed it
Check out my ride on Strava: https://strava.app.link/S8ExDaLGrVb
Overnight ⛺️ Canstatter Wasen Stuttgart
This morning we enjoyed a scrumptious breakfast at the hotel. It was delicious! 🥐🧀🍓
The Tour du Mont Blanc (TBM) a beautiful trail which passes through France 🇫🇷 Switzerland 🇨🇭 and Italy 🇮🇹. Starting from Les Houches close to Chamonix, it is a loop of more than 175 km and 10,000 meters of elevation gain around Mont Blanc. Breathtaking panoramas, crossing passes at more than 2,500 meters of altitude, and climbs facing glaciers on the way.
Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps
This alpine trek will inevitably stay etched in our minds forever!
Day 1 Les Houches to Le Pontet 🇫🇷
26km Elevation gain 1141m
Check out my walk on Strava: https://strava.app.link/6SRSmbJcfVb
Overnight Le Pontet ⛺️
Good campsite
Wifi in the reception area
Charge points
Washing machine & tumble dryer available extra charge
No shop. Best to buy food in town before the campsite
Small restaurant. Also serves a breakfast buffet
South Africa Tour I will go on a virtual tour through beautiful South Africa during lockdown 2020...
