Cape of Good Hope Overnight Hike
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just finished hiking around the southwestern most point of the African continent: the Cape of Good Hope Overnight Hike.
here’s some Instagram inspo to get ya goin’: magical sunset over the peninsula // full hike recap
also please check the SANParks website for the most up-to-date info!
now onto the hike recap.
SO.
am i exhausted? yes. am i sunburnt? to a crisp. am i sore? i am the mayor of soreville. did i at times question whether i would make it out alive? honestly kinda.
am i HELLA PROUD OF MYSELF AND GLAD I DID IT AND FEEL LIKE I CONQUERED THE WORLD OR AT LEAST THE WESTERN CAPE YES YES I AM AND I DO 💪🏼👊🏼🙋🏼♀️
THE ROUTE
the Cape of Good Hope Overnight Hike is a ~37km loop according to my Apple Watch Ultra, you can choose your direction — we went clockwise, but i think i’d recommend doing counter (day 2 was a STRUGGLE so rather get it over with) ⌚️
book in advance through Cape Nature, park at the main gate. collect your key & start hiking before 9.
day 1 stats: 15.5 km, 523m elevation, 5.5 hrs including a lunch break and a couple photo opps of the stunning cliffside views.
traversing down the east coast, we conquered 3 kopjes (judas peak, paulsberg, kanonkop) as we made our way south towards cape point, eventually with the hilltop huts in view. stopped at buffels bay for a proper toilet/picnic stop (keep an eye out for ostrich friends, we saw a baby!). AMAZING coastal views the whole way and blinding blue water with twinkling kelp forest underneath, but defs was tuckered & parched by the time we got to the hut! (luckily could shower/chill/nap/eat from 2pm onwards!!)
day 2 stats: 21.5km🥴, 543m elevation, took 6.5 hrs including a couple quick snack stops and an unintentional detour (which i’m not really sure if it added or detracted from our time).
start by hiking down along the beach, past the most GORG white sand dunes and vibrant blue waves, twinkletoe across a boulder beach and then across a loonngg flat stretch of fynbos inland across the peninsula (this is where i was ready to call the chopper 😳). just when you think you’re done, you gotta climb one final peak (rooihoogte).. which turns into another peak.. and another. i tapped into my reserve tank to power through these last climbs (i’m telling you i would slay on survivor) but tbh was pretttty over it by this point, a very long 21.5km day and it’s all exposed under the scorching sun so this is why i would do reverse order to get this part over with!
there are some signs but would definitely recommend downloading alltrails offline map and carrying the map given as the route was not always crystal clear 👀
THE HUT
you book your hut through SANParks (ours was r1575 for 6-sleeper); Erica hut is THE BEST for catching sunset & sunrise & both coasts of the peninsula!!!
it has a tap (you can drink but i just brought bottled h2o), shower (!! luxury !!), stove with kettle, dishes, braai (bring your own charcoal & firelighters). our hut had 3 bunk beds with mattresses (jury’s out on the cleanliness factor).
WHAT TO PACK
sleeping bag, pillow, change of clothes, sunscreen (did i say sunscreen?), hat, day pack, lots of water (seriously so parched) meals for 1 lunch/dinner/breakfast & plenty of shnacks.
one of my fave things about this hike is you can hire a porter to bring your bags so you dont have to carry your whole life with you! it’s r250 for bags of max 6kg each & small coolers of max 4kg each.
THE SAFARI NEVER ENDS
keep an eye out for angulate tortoises, ostriches, bontebok, baboons, african fur seals, snakes, birds!
message me at @adventurelust.travel to book the rest of your south africa adventures!
