Weekend outings include camping, mainly in the Drakensberg Mountains or at the coast with hikes each day from the campsite followed by social braais in the evening. Hikes from well-equipped Berg Cottages are also included.
Other weekends are spent backpacking & over-nighting in caves in the heart of the mountains. Long weekends are spent either camping, or on beautiful 3-day trails with nights being spent in huts. Trails of 4 to 6 days are undertaken a few times each year & include many of South Africa’s most beautiful & popular trails.
Some of the trails completed in recent times include the 5-day Otter Trail, 5-day Giant’s Cup Trail, 5-day Tsitsikamma Trail, 5-day Strandloper Trail, 5-day Kosi Bay Trail, 4-day Pondo Trails, 3-days at Sehlabathebe Lodge in Lesotho, 3-day Mziki Trails, Organ Pipes / Ndumeni Dome / Tlanyaku Pass 3-day hike, 3-day Bald Ibis Trail, 3-day Black Wildebeeste Trail, Izemfene Hiking Trail, 5-day Whale Trail, 6-day Amatola Trail etc.
Not too long ago several club members undertook a five-week 4x4 expedition in Namibia & also completed the 5-day Fish River Canyon Hike (the second largest canyon in the world). Members completed another 4-week expedition to Namibia in August 2005. An enjoyable 5-day 4x4 & camping trip in Lesotho was completed previously where temperatures as low as –18C were recorded. Some members undertook the extensive “Coast to Coast” hike in Scotland. Others completed the “Pembrokeshire Coastal Trail” in Wales & the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland.
Four members of the club have completed the North to South “Drakensberg Grand Traverse” in conjunction with Mountain Backpackers. This is Southern Africa’s longest, most spectacular & most gruelling mountain challenge, 230 km over 13 days & with ascents totalling nearly 9000 metres. Four keen & brave lady members climbed Bannerman Pass to assist with the re-supply for this expedition.
Three members of the club are to undertake the “Grand Traverse” again in April 2006 but this time from South to North (Bushman’s Nek to Sentinel) which is even more strenuous, again in conjunction with Mountain Backpackers. Club members enjoyed a 5-day Mini-Traverse in September 2005 & another is planned for 2006.
Trails organised for 2006 include the 5-day Fish River Canyon & the 8-day Naukluft Trail (both in Namibia) plus 3-days on the Fanie Botha Trail followed by 3-days on the Blyderivierspoort Hiking Trail in April 2006.
Competent & experienced members, who have the appreciation & preservation of our beautiful country at heart, lead activities. Two hike leaders are professional guides & several leaders are accredited Rock Art Custodians.
Social evenings are held every month at Hilton Hotel starting at 7-30pm & often include snacks, interesting slide presentations or other entertaining functions – dates for the socials are included in the fixture lists.
The club has it’s own web site on www.gohiking.co.za where full details of the club can be accessed, including the latest hiking calendar & write-ups & photographs of hikes undertaken etc.
A club newsletter is published every two months which includes an introductory message from the chairman, write-ups of the completed hikes, details of the club committee & leaders, a hiking calendar of forthcoming events, hiking tips & other topics of interest.
New members & visitors are always welcome, experienced or not.