The Whale Trail

We just joined Carol and some of her Joburg hiking club friends in taking on The Whale Trail in the magnificent De Hoop Nature Reserve. We all met at Potberg and spent the night in the hut. All of us chose to pay a little more and have our bags, and more importantly, cooler boxes, transported each day to the next hut. The accommodation along the way was more than adequate, with hot showers, comfortable bunk beds, great braai areas and fully equipped kitchens. The first 2 days sees you trekking to the top of the Potberg and then making your way through a vibrant landscape painted with proteas and fynbos. The path takes you along a ridge with views of the ocean to one side, the beautiful Breede River valley on the other and plenty of Cape Vultures circling above, possibly investigating the energy of those at the rear. A whale greeted us about half an hour after arriving at Noetzie, the first of the 3 coastal huts. The next 3 days was along the coast and I’m not exaggerating when I say that most the way we had whales alongside. For a relativley managable trail with varied landscape and nature in abundance, with the added benefit of not having to carry all your things, and hot showers, I don't think this can be beaten.