Baviaans Canyon 5-day hike (slack-packing): 1 – 7 March 2026

The Baviaans Canyon Trail is a 5-day and 4-night hike set in the magnificent Baviaanskloof World Heritage Site Wilderness Reserve. This is a slackpacking hike – each day we transport your bags and food from one overnight hut to the next, leaving you to walk with only a day pack. In addition to the 5 day / 4 nights on the trail, accommodation for the night before and after the trail is also included.

The Canyon Trail is a moderately difficult hike with 4 of the days being 16km, and one day 8km. The route is designed for people of good hiking fitness.

We transport your bags so you can walk with just a day pack with the essentials for a days hike. You are provided plastic boxes in which you put everything you want transported. We recommend you do not put valuables such as laptops and cameras in your bags – rather leave them in your car at the Base Camp where they will be safe or carry them with you. Dimensions for the boxes are 465mm x 736mm, and 350mm deep. Please note that we do not offer laundry service, make sure to pack what you need for the duration of the hike.

The Baviaans Canyon Trail has been carefully designed to showcase the natural splendor of the Baviaanskloof World Heritage Site. The 5 days traverses a wide circle taking in a multitude of diverse Biomes and landscapes.

The start and end point of the trail is the Baviaanskloof Interpretive Center at the Western entrance to the Baviaanskloof. Arrive the night before you start the trail to be ready the next morning for your briefing and to pack your slack packing boxes. Accommodation for the night before is provided.

The first two days head into the foothills of the Kouga Mountains to the South and east of the Base Camp. This is the same landscape through which the Leopard Trail, our sister hike, traverses, and will have a familiar feel to those that have hiked the Leopard Trail.

Day three is an exceptionally special day taking you into the spectacular Paradise Kloof, with long stretches of majestic slot canyons and deep forest filled ravines.

Day four and five head back to base camp through the Baviaans Mountains on the north side of the Baviaanskloof, ensuring you end your hike filled to the brim with natural beauty. This landscape has flat plateau sections, leading to ridge hopping along high rugged mountain edges and repeatedly dropping into more steep ravines with slot canyons.

Accommodation for the night before (1 March 2026) and the night after (6 March 2026) is included.

Our overnight sites each have three sleeping units (sleeping 4 per hut in 2 rooms, with 2 people per room) and one central catering unit. The catering units are there to give you a communal space for your group to hang out, make food and have a great time with your hiking mates. There is solar lighting in each unit. Inside each catering unit are gas stove tops, cooking and eating utensils – no need to bring those along. There is also a wood burning fireplace. Each site has a braai area and braai grid – bring your own wood or buy from our shop.

You will need to clean all the kitchen equipment and utensils before leaving in the morning – the next group of hikers will appreciate it.

The sleeping units have mattresses – all you need is a sleeping bag and pillow. If you are going to sleep outside of your sleeping bag, or open it up, you will need to bring a single sheet to cover the mattress.

Each campsite has flush toilets, and hot showers.

Each site has a splash pool.

The Baviaans Canyon Trail is a relatively difficult hike, with days averaging 16km per day. The hike is designed for people of good hiking fitness. Unfit hikers should not attempt the trail. The recommended age range of 12 to 65 years is used as indicative, due to the physical demands of the trail. We will not stop hikers outside of this age range except children under the age of 6 – but encourage you to be realistic about your own ability and limits. All hikers 6 to 12 years of age must be accompanied by their parents/guardians who will be legal signatories to Indemnity Forms. There are relatively steep ascents and descents, so please be cautious if you have previously injured your ankles and/or knees.

Inclusions:

• 5 days hike
• 4 nights Glamping Tents on the trail
• 1 night accommodation before the trail
• 1 night accommodation after the trail
• Slack Packing Service
• Conservation Fees
• Administration & organisation fees

Exclusions:

• all items of a personal nature
• transport
• meals
• gear, etc
• bedding and towels

As I had to make payment upfront and in full to secure the booking, no refunds will be given. If you need to cancel, please let me know asap so that someone from the waiting list can take your spot – in which case I will do a refund, less a 5% admin fee. Please make payment of the deposit as soon as possible to book your spot, as space is limited.  Should the booking be cancelled by the organizer for any reason, a full refund will be issued.

No refunds will be given for cancellations 2 weeks prior to the event as this is usually too short notice for someone to take over the spot.